Aligarh – Established in 1925, the Educational Book House has stood as one of the most influential bookshops and publishers in Urdu literature. Founded by Mohammed Shaheed Khan, the shop refused to relocate to Pakistan after partition, despite repeated appeals from relatives and friends. A nationalist at heart, Khan chose to remain in Aligarh, anchoring the store’s identity with the city and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
Today, his sons Asad Yar Khan, 85, and Ahmed Sayeed Khan, 79, continue the work their father began. Since its early days, the bookshop has been closely tied to the AMU community, attracting generations of writers, scholars, and students. It moved to Shamshad Market in 1951, a hub for student life with shops, eateries, and conversation corners.
The Book House has played an important role in Urdu publishing, producing works of iconic writers such as Qurratulain Haider, Rasheed Ahmed Siddiqui, and Ale Ahmed Suroor. It has also published Urdu textbooks for AMU schools, higher studies, and competitive examinations like UPSC.
Asad Yar Khan, once a passionate horse rider and member of AMU’s riding club, recalls growing up in close contact with academics and the literary world. Over the years, he modernized the publishing wing by improving printing and binding quality.
Despite its legacy, the future of the store faces uncertainty. The next generation has chosen other professions, raising questions about the continuity of this century-old cultural landmark.
