[INDOLOGY] South Asia Books

[Dan Lusthaus]

South Asia Books was cutting back on displaying at conferences even while Jerry was still alive. He was having medical problems, and the price of shipping, booths, etc. were escalating, so not worth his time and effort. Also, when India raised the tariffs on books sold abroad, that severely cut into his profit margin, so that books that previously sold for a happily affordable $15 or less, suddenly could cost $60 or more. Jerry stopped coming to the Madison South Asia conference, etc., but after his death his successors were still coming to the AAR, but little else. The “store” in Columbia, Missouri was basically their warehouse, with a counter up front. One could roam the high stacks seeking the books one wanted, or try to order them from India at the counter. If that is closed and abandoned, then the operation has been disbanded.

Their website no longer exists, which, along with the loss of the warehouse, seem to be the definitive signs.

It’s a shame. South Asia Books was also generous with discounts, especially for students.

Dan

> On Nov 7, 2018, at 8:19 PM, Antonio Ferreira-Jardim via INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info> wrote:
> 
> Yes they had an operational website selling Indological books as recently as January this year. 
> 
> The most recent HOS-Opera Minora Volume ("Vedic Sakhas") was only published last year. 
> 
> Kind regards,
> Antonio
> 
> On Thu., 8 Nov. 2018, 11:15 am Ashok Aklujkar via INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info <mailto:indology at list.indology.info> wrote:
> 
> As I recall, Jerry / Gerald Barrier (Dept. of History, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211) had circulated a notice before closing his book-selling business. He probably gave his entire unsold stock to Amazon. What one should check is whether there is any evidence of Amazon selling “South Asia” books published after 2010, said to be the year of GB’s death. 
> 
> South Asia Books also acted as an agent of Motilal Banarsidass in the USA / North America and published a modest newsletter,
> 
> a.a.
> 
> 
>> From: "Witzel, Michael via INDOLOGY" <indology at list.indology.info <mailto:indology at list.indology.info>>
>> Subject: Re: [INDOLOGY] South Asia Books
>> Date: November 7, 2018 at 2:21:38 PM PST
>> To: Indology <indology at list.indology.info <mailto:indology at list.indology.info>>
>> Reply-To: "Witzel, Michael" <witzel at fas.harvard.edu <mailto:witzel at fas.harvard.edu>>
>> 
>> Dear All,
>> 
>> recently there was a news item on this list that South Asia Books had shut down in July.
>> 
>> (They never told me though they distribute our HOS-OM books).  Does anybody know more?
>> 
>> A local colleague graciously drove by their location and here is the answer:
>> 
>> "I went by the address, and South Asia Books is completely gone. There is no longer a sign, and the store is closed and empty. “
>> 
>> A mystery.
>> 
>> Michael
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