Came across an article on The Guardian (Link), lamenting the closure of WH Smith bookstores and the subsequent loss of magazines, which the author used to peruse.
The article was quite triggering, and as I read it I tried but failed to recollect when was the last time I bought a magazine. Growing up, with much less access to resources than currently available, I remember magazines were bought and read and stored and re-read. Special editions (related to festivals, mega-sporting events, elections, year-end editions) were much sought after and became collectibles. Magazines provided glimpses of the world far beyond and guess that is why they were treasured.
And there was a wide range, widely displayed in the magazine shops and newspaper stands
- For the children and teens there were Champak, Nandan, Suman Saurabh, Chandamama, Golukalam, Target. All accompanying the growing up years
- India Today & Outlook catered to the current affairs, as did Dharmayug
- Manarama, Grihashobha, Femina for the ladies.
- Sportstar for the sports buffs with a bonus pullout poster
- Competition Success Review for the UPSC aspirants (and a few more which slip my mind)
- And in the hair cutting saloons were found the likes of Filmfare & Cine Blitz
- The Telegraph newspaper also brought along its own magazine every Sunday
- Readers Digest was a niche in itself, coming via mail order service. National Geographic was another niche delivery.
- And there was one for the tech bros of the 90s, which came in its own packaging alongwith a CD!
- And there were quite a few others, but memory fails!
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| Magazines 90s edition (AI Generated Collage) |
And fast forward to today. While magazines are still being published, the numbers certainly have dwindled and it is more and more difficult to access them. Every trip had to have a new magazine bought to kill the time, unlike today when the smartphone serves it all!
Times keep changing but the nostalgia remains!
P.S. Magic Pot - the one purchased most recently
