Once upon a time, on a bicycle…
In 1989 Govind Seshadri, a schoolteacher in Mysuru, saw children still waiting for books weeks after school began. So he tied two boxes of books to his bicycle and delivered them himself.
Our story
Making the first day of school happy since 1989
Hi there! We're Sahitya Books. Sahitya means “literature”, and for more than 35 years we've packed textbooks, notebooks and stationery for children at 450+ schools across South India, so every child opens a brand-new set of books on day one.
Started on a bicycle
Story time
The Sahitya storybook
One bicycle, five branches and lots of happy first days.
Hello, “Book Thatha”!
Children started calling him Book Thatha, Book Grandpa. Soon 40 schools in Mysuru trusted Sahitya with their whole book lists.
The family grows
Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore and Kochi joined in. Now we're 5 branches across 3 states, and Mysuru is still home.
Books, now online!
The bicycle became a fleet of vans, and parents can order their child's whole class kit from home in just a few taps.
…and the next chapter starts with your child ✏️
Meet our Founder
Say hello to Govind Seshadri
Govind started Sahitya Books, but most children just call him “Book Thatha”!
He taught maths in a Mysuru school for eleven years before he swapped his chalk for a bicycle. Today he leads a team of 120+ book helpers across five branches, working with 450+ schools and 200+ publishers.
Every June he still packs the very first kit of the season himself, and he still believes in the moment that started it all: a child opening a brand-new set of books, with crisp pages, shiny covers and that lovely new-book smell, on the very first day of school.
By the numbers
Big numbers, one goal: happy first days
Every year since 1989, our team packs class-wise kits so children have their books before school reopens.
0+Years of service
0+Schools supplied
0+Publishers stocked
0Branches
0States served
0+Team members
What we care about
Our four pinky promises
To every parent, every school and every child.
Promise #1
The right books
Lists are checked with every school, so nothing is missing or wrong.
Promise #2
Always on time
Kits arrive before school reopens — not in the second week.
Promise #3
Safe payments
Only through our website. Never via QR codes or personal numbers.
Promise #4
Real, friendly people
120+ team members across our branches, ready to help.
Visit us
Come say hi at a branch
- Mysuru — Head officeSahitya House, 14 Temple Road, Lakshmipuram · 9:30 am – 6 pm
- Bengaluru27, 4th Cross, Malleswaram · 10 am – 6 pm
- Chennai12, Kavi Bharathi Street, Mylapore · 10 am – 6 pm
- Coimbatore45, Book Market Lane, R.S. Puram · 10 am – 6 pm
- KochiSahitya Corner, Chittoor Road, Ernakulam · 10 am – 6 pm
Ready, set, school!
Let's get your child's books ready
Find your school, pick the class, and we'll pack the whole kit for you.