“I am not a great reader, but I do take a lot of references from books and places I visit. These observations inspire me to find books, which can be more information about the culture, language and food of the communities residing in that specific location,” says Aslam Saiyad aka ‘Bombay ka shana’, a photographer, documentary filmmaker and co-founder of the ‘Hallu Hallu’ heritage walks in Mumbai.

While he may not consider himself a voracious reader, Saiyad’s book collection at his private workspace does not fail to captivate visitors. Known for his exciting walks around the lesser explored parts of Mumbai such as Dahisar river, Uttan, Gorai, Marol, interiors of Bandra, Sion and Mahim, one would rightly expect a mighty collection of books on the city’s landscapes, environment and communities on Saiyad’s shelf.