It’s not only in June that the popular stationer and book selleron the busiest street near Pimpalkatta in Margao “ M/s. T G Borkar, gets allthe more crowded with school children, parents and teachers, but TG is aone-stop solutions for all school and office stationery, all year round.
“Founded by my late uncle Tukaram Gopal Borkar in 1934, ourshop will turn 80 next year,” shares Gopal S Borkar, himself 79, who spent 49monsoons of his life taking care of the business before retiring in April 2012,due to health reasons.
Gopal joined his uncle in April 1963after graduating in Artsat Belgaum and is in Goa since then. “I do not handle the business any more,but still spend some time of the day here,” says Gopal who has handed over thereigns to his nephew Shirish Keni. The next generation has successfully taken overand now Shirish’s son Sharmad is also joined the team. “I have plans torenovate and give our shop a new look as well and add IT accessories,” statesSharmad.
Recalling the business in good old days Gopal cannot resistcomparing it with today’s scenario. “Originally from Borim our family came toMargao for schooling. I used to sit on this shop after school hours. Till Goa’sliberation, we sold Portuguese school books and stationery from England,Germany and Portugal. There were few brands and we could offer and not muchchoice but the customers never complained. The relation with the customermattered more to us than profits. Ours was the only shop that accepts goodsbought by the customers, if they want to return them for some reason. We stillmaintain this legacy of our founder T G Borkar, a man of principles.”
Gopal recalls their only help Motilal Divkar who worked forthem from 1950s till he passed away. “Today to get good aid is difficult and ittakes time to train workers,” says Shirish who is vocal about the problems andhardships of booksellers in the state. “Once upon a time the season used tobegin with T G Borkars, but now we have to wait for customers. Sarva ShikshaAbhiyan is good but their scheme of distributing free books to schools has cutour main as well as allied business,” Keni laments.
