Let’s Go Back to 1997
Back in 1997, Chandigarh lacked the kind of reading
spaces we loved in cities like Delhi. So The Browser began
as a conversation on a veranda between a young couple
dreaming of a place to read, linger, and belong.
That half-thought, half-dream took shape in May 1997, in
a 600 sq. ft. basement at SCO 497–98, Sector 35.
The Library That Built
a Community
At the time, bookstores in Chandigarh didn't encourage
browsing. But browsing was exactly what we loved in
libraries on our trips to Delhi. That belief shaped our
name: The Browser.
What began as a bookstore soon expanded into a library,
growing into an L-shaped space shaped as much by its
readers as by its shelves. And before cafés were
everywhere, we offered the Magnum Lounge to our
members—a corner to sit, read, and lose track of time.
Our earliest tagline summed it up: Bookstore with a
difference.
What stayed with us for long: Buy. Borrow. Browse.
When Books Became Events
In the late ’90s, the city had no book fairs and no major
literary events. So we did what book lovers with too much
enthusiasm and too little patience usually do—we started
hosting our own.
OUR FIRST READING CAMPFIRE IN 1998
Our first week-long exhibition in 1999
P.S. We teamed up with big names at the time like
Penguin (via India Book House), Oxford, and USPD to bring
an incredible range of titles to the city. It was inaugurated
by Lt Gen JFR Jacob, the then Governor of Chandigarh
Our first author event with Rupa Bajwa
P.S. Long before The Sari Shop made waves and went on
to win the Orange Prize for Fiction, Rupa was one of our
library members. At her event, she surprised us by sharing
that much of the book had been written in our library.
Evolving With the City
As the city evolved, we shuffled shelves, stretched walls,
and grew along with it.
1999: We expanded to two floors in Sector 35. More space,
more books, more reasons to stay longer.
2002: A fresh chapter began with our move to Sector 8.
New address, same browsing spirit.
2010: We gathered everything onto one floor, becoming a
compact yet deeply loved neighbourhood bookstore.
From Booksellers to Publishers
After years of living and breathing books, we crossed
over to the other side of the bookshelf and started
publishing in 2018.
Drummer’s Call was where we began—our first step into
military publishing, which later found a home under our
military-exclusive imprint Fauji Days: For the Fauji Within.
From there, we explored more—poetry, children’s books,
non-fiction, and beyond—always with the same joy of
bringing writers and readers together.
Being lifelong readers, we couldn’t resist the classics
either. That’s how Cuppa Classics came about, starting
with The Bell Jar.
Our Love for Children’s Books
We’ve always had a soft spot for young readers, which is
our love for children’s books turned into publishing them
too. With our One Amazing Series, The Shih Tzu Scrolls,
and many more on the way, we’re filling shelves with
stories to amuse & educate young readers.
Meet Our Team
Every chapter of The Browser has people behind it. Meet
the couple who started it all, and the team that continues
to bring the space to life.