From humble beginnings in Chungking Mansions with just HK$50 in hand, Mohan Mirchandani laid the foundation for one of Hong Kong’s most beloved book retailers. Today, the Mirchandani family stands at the helm of Bookazine, a cornerstone of the city’s English-language book scene.
The story begins in the mid-1970s, when Mohan left Mumbai for Hong Kong after an arranged marriage. Unable to afford a ticket for his new wife and infant daughter, he lived frugally — surviving on condensed milk sandwiches — until he could bring them over. That daughter, born in 1973, recalls her first “memory” of Hong Kong not as her own, but one passed down — running into her father’s arms at Kai Tak airport.
Mohan came from a large, impoverished family in India. After his father’s death when he was just three, he began working at 16 for an uncle in the book trade. The family’s entry into publishing was catalyzed by Mahatma Gandhi’s push for local products during India’s independence movement. Though money and food were scarce, books were always present.
In Hong Kong, Mohan initially worked for a relative selling books and magazines. Spotting an opportunity, he soon launched his own distribution business, importing cheaper American titles during a time when most of the market relied on pricier British imports. He expanded quickly, supplying local chains like Watsons and ParknShop.
By 1977, the family had settled into their own flat and that same year, Mohan and his wife Nisha founded Far East Media. As their children grew, Nisha opened their first bookstore — Bookazine — in Hopewell Centre in 1985. Though intended as a modest side project, it became a passion. By 1986, a second store opened in Prince’s Building, and in 1998, their flagship location in Alexandra House launched the brand into the city’s consciousness.
From a cramped room in a shared home to a household name in Hong Kong retail, the Mirchandanis built their legacy on resilience, foresight, and a deep love for books — a story of how one immigrant family turned the page on poverty.
