India, Feb. 15 -- In the cultural city of Kolhapur-known for its rich literary tradition-stories are not preserved only in libraries or universities. Some are quietly protected inside a modest bookshop tucked away on a busy street: Chand Book Store.

For more than three generations, the Lad family has been devoted to preserving Maharashtra's rare literary and historical heritage-often without fanfare, and frequently at personal cost.

The journey began on a footpath in Laxmipuri, where Chand Lad, fondly remembered as Chandbaba, started buying and selling books. What began as a small roadside setup soon evolved into a meeting point for writers, historians and scholars. Renowned literary figures such as GD Madgulkar, RC Dhere and Ranjit Des...