The Jerajani family originally hails from Jamkhambhalia, Gujarat, and later migrated to Mumbai’s Colaba area before establishing their first bookstore, ‘Happy Book Stores.’
‘Express Book Service,’ a renowned bookstore offering an extensive collection of Marathi, Hindi, and English books on history, literature, politics, art, biographies, and novels, has been recognized at the national level. The bookstore was honored with the prestigious ‘Best Bookstore 2025’ award at the ‘Indian Reading Olympiad’ festival, held in Hyderabad.
Established in the 1950s, ‘Express Book Service’ has played a vital role in nurturing Pune’s reading culture for over seven decades. The recognition has brought immense pride and joy to store owner Rohit Jerajani, who was visibly emotional upon receiving the award.
The bookstore was founded by Rohit’s grandfather, Jamnadas Jerajani, at a time when the Camp area had very few bookstores. Initially, readers from diverse linguistic backgrounds—English, Hindi, and Marathi—flocked to the shop out of curiosity. Over the years, ‘Express Book Service’ became a trusted name for book enthusiasts, known for its ability to source rare and hard-to-find books, even from international publishers.
The Jerajani family originally hails from Jamkhambhaliya, Gujarat, and later migrated to Mumbai’s Colaba area before establishing their first bookstore, ‘Happy Book Stores.’ The success of this venture led to the launch of ‘Express Book Service’ in Pune.
Beyond Books: A Cultural Hub
Over the years, the bookstore has grown into a cultural hub, hosting literary events, book launches, and interactive sessions with authors. Rohit’s father, Manubhai Jerajani, initiated several literary programs, including children’s workshops and author meet-and-greets, further expanding the bookstore’s influence. To date, more than 4,000 books have been published at the store, with signed copies by renowned authors being a unique attraction.
Despite the rise of online book retailers, ‘Express Book Service’ has sustained its success by building deep, lasting relationships with its customers. The store continues to be a beloved destination for book lovers who value personal interaction and the charm of a physical bookstore.
A Store Frequented by Legends
‘Express Book Service’ has been visited by several distinguished personalities, including Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Ratan Tata, Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Narayana Murthy, Sudha Murthy, Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, and the Mangeshkar family. Over the years, the Jerajani family has also built close relationships with many literary and cultural icons.
Expressing his gratitude, Rohit Jerajani said, “My grandfather built ‘Express Book Service’ as a legacy, and it is my responsibility to carry it forward. Serving our customers gives us immense satisfaction, and I am committed to continuing this journey of literary enrichment.”
source/content: thebridgechronicle.com (headline edited)