Express Book Service, Pune: A Heritage Bookshop That Shaped India’s Literary Culture Since the 1950s

Founded in the early 1950s, Pune’s iconic Express Book Service has hosted legends from Nehru to Narayan Murthy, launched over 4,000 books, and won Best Book Shop in India 2025.

January 3, 2026 | Pune – Express Book Service, operated under Rohit Enterprises, stands as one of India’s most iconic and enduring bookshops, with a legacy that dates back to the early 1950s. Located in Pune, the heritage bookstore has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s literary, cultural, and intellectual ecosystem for more than seven decades, earning national recognition and the admiration of readers, authors, and thought leaders alike.

From its early years, Express Book Service became a cultural landmark, frequented by some of the most influential personalities of India and the world. Over the decades, the bookstore has been patronised by eminent figures such as Jawaharlal Nehru, J.R.D. Tata, Ratan Tata, Narayan Murthy, Sudha Murty, Raghunath Mashelkar, Raj Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar, Bhimsen Joshi, Jagjit Singh, Pankaj Udhas, Dimple Kapadia, Simon Taufel, and Osho (Rajneesh). Narayan and Sudha Murty, in particular, were regular visitors during their time in Pune, reinforcing the store’s deep association with India’s intellectual community.

Express Book Service has gone far beyond being a retail bookstore. It has emerged as a platform for authors and ideas, having hosted book launches and author interactions for more than 4,000 writers to date. These include globally respected names such as Nandan Nilekani, R. Gopalakrishnan, Raghunath Mashelkar, Radhakrishnan Pillai, Harish Bhat, Prakash Iyer, Ashok Soota, Eliyahu Goldratt, John Elliott, Rujuta Diwekar, Shiv Khera, Ravi Venkatesan, Brett Lee, and Gita Piramal. Numerous music albums and books have also been launched at the store, cementing its status as a cultural hub.

Innovation has remained central to Express Book Service’s journey. The store pioneered the concept of “Books on Wheels,” taking reading beyond physical boundaries. It also recreated book stalls inside corporate offices and shopping malls to promote reading culture among new audiences. Literary festivals have been another major contribution, with Express Book Service co-hosting the Pune International Literary Festival and organising festivals in Lonavala, Khandala, Mumbai, and Panchgani, including a dedicated children’s literary festival.

In 2019 alone, children’s literary festivals were organised in over 25 schools, reflecting the organisation’s strong commitment to nurturing young readers. Rohit Jerajani, the driving force behind Express Book Service, has also conducted speed reading classes for children at Azam Campus for several years, focusing on reading awareness and education.

For nearly four decades, Express Book Service has actively participated in prestigious cultural events such as the Bhimsen Joshi Sawai Gandharva Music Festival and Swar Jhankar, bridging the worlds of literature and classical arts. Even during the pandemic, the organisation adapted by hosting virtual author events, ensuring continuity in literary engagement.

The bookstore continues to stay connected with readers through monthly book talks held on the last Saturday of every month in Pune, with attendance often exceeding 100 participants. It also circulates a monthly newsletter of new non-fiction releases and sends daily SMS updates featuring newly arrived books.

Rohit Jerajani is also a co-organiser of the Pune International Literary Festival, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the first person to conceptualise and execute a sports-centric literary festival, bringing together 42 Indian and international athletes to discuss books. He has also spoken extensively on copyright and piracy across various platforms.

Recognised for its exceptional contribution, Express Book Service was awarded Best Family Run Business in Pune 2024 and Best Book Shop in India 2025. As of January 2, 2026, Express Book Service continues to stand as a living symbol of India’s reading culture, proving that a bookstore can be far more than a retail space—it can be a legacy.

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