Digital Shift Hits Hyderabad's Historic Abids Book Market as Sales Plunge Up to 80 Percent Hyderabad's iconic Abids Sunday Book Market faces severe downturn due to e-commerce apps and smartphone usage, with long-time vendors reporting up to an 80 percent drop in business. The vibrant footfalls at Hyderabad's iconic Abids Sunday Book Market are fast diminishing, as smartphones and the widespread adoption of e-commerce platforms reshape reader habits across the city. For decades, this historic open-air market hosted book lovers searching through sidewalk displays every weekend. Today, vendors find themselves waiting through quiet Sundays with significantly fewer visitors. Two Decades of Decline: Sales Plummet by Up to 80 Percent Farooq, operator of the Rahaba Book Center, along with his elder brother Mohammed Arifuddin, has been selling literature in Abids for 40 years. According to them, business has contracted by 75 to 80 percent over the past two decades. Farooq recalls that 15 to 20 years ago, Sunday crowds were so dense that sellers barely had a spare moment to pause or converse, as readers eagerly scouted for secondhand titles. E-Commerce, E-Books, and Screen Time Take Their Toll The digital shift has fundamentally transformed how people access reading material. The convenience of shopping apps such as Amazon, paired with the popularity of digital e-books and seamless internet connectivity, keeps potential buyers from visiting physical stalls. Vendors also point to a noticeable drop in reading enthusiasm among younger generations. Rather than spending time with physical books, children and teenagers increasingly allocate their leisure hours to smartphone screens. A Haven for Affordable Books and Competitive Exam Prep The hallmark of the Abids Sunday Market has long been its extensive diversity of titles offered at deep discounts. Visitors could browse through general literature, fiction, novels, comic books, and children's storybooks alongside specialized study material for competitive examinations, all available at fraction of original retail costs. An Appeal to Preserve Reading Habits for Future Generations Faced with an uncertain future, local vendors are appealing to parents and community members to keep the culture of reading alive. Farooq emphasizes that learning should remain a lifelong pursuit. He believes that when parents regularly read books, children naturally follow their lead into the world of literature. Spending money on books is never a wasted expenditure, he notes, but rather a long-term investment in a child's future that also sustains the livelihoods of historic booksellers. What this means for you • Across India: The rise of digital platforms and screen time is exacerbating economic pressures on traditional physical bookstores and second-hand book markets nationwide. • In Hyderabad: The decline of the historic Sunday market in Abids impacts local book enthusiasts seeking affordable, rare, and secondhand reading materials in person. Questions & Answers 1. How old is the Abids Sunday Book Market tradition mentioned by vendors? Farooq of Rahaba Book Center and his brother have been selling books in Abids for 40 years. 2. How much has business declined at the Abids Book Market? According to local book sellers, business has dropped by 75 to 80 percent over the last two decades. 3. What are the primary reasons for the sales decline at Abids? Online shopping apps like Amazon, e-books, widespread internet access, and increasing smartphone screen time among children are the main factors. 4. What kinds of books are available at the Abids Sunday Market? The market offers general books, fiction, novels, comics, storybooks, and competitive exam preparation materials at discounted rates. Inspiration & Lessons • Leading by Example: Parents can encourage reading habits in children by actively picking up books themselves and modeling the behavior. • Investing in Knowledge: Expenditures on physical literature yield lifelong returns in intellectual growth and personal learning. • Supporting Heritage Vendors: Preserving traditional street markets and local booksellers helps maintain unique cultural spaces alongside modern digital convenience. https://trendkia.com/en/culture/hyderabad-ke-aitihasika-abids-buka-marketa-para-dijitala-daura-ki-mara-80-pratishata-taka-simata-kitabon-ka-karobara-13895 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.