Reading clubs play cupid as we fall in love with books, again

A woman lays out a checkered cloth under a tree and sits down to read, and a man sits on a bench, plugs in his earphones and listens to his audiobook. It’s 8 a.m. on a Saturday and in Pune’s Kamala Nehru Park, you can spot a group of people getting ready for a reading session. They are part of Pune Reads, a silent book-reading community that has been meeting every Saturday morning for a year to escape their daily routine. “I joined in 2023 and it’s been a great experience. I found a community that I had been looking for a long time. I didn’t have many friends who liked to read but I found it all here. It grew to be much more than a reader community,” shares Shruti Siddharud, a member of Pune Reads. The scene is not very different in other cities, where people are reclaiming open spaces, with just a book in their hands.
“We began on June 3, 2023, and we had 40 readers back then. We were apprehensive if the club would grow during the rains but people would show up and read in the gazebo irrespective of the weather. There hasn’t been a single session when no one has turned up” – Sonal Dharmadhikari, founder/ curator of Pune Reads

Nikhil Dwivedi, a product manager at an MNC and a regular at Delhi’s Silent Book Club, says, “Reading amid nature in Sunder Nursery and in natural light, feels therapeutic. I feel it’s easy to dive into the author’s world when you are outdoors. I see new people in each meet and I am sure that the charm of reading in open spaces and the excitement of meeting fellow bibliophiles are two major attractions for them.” Rachna Kalra, who started the Delhi and Gurgaon chapters of the Silent Book Club, says, “I chose Sunder Nursery because it gives you the calmness and peace you require while you read. The sounds of nature, the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves enhance the reading experience, making you want to keep coming back. In every session we have about 40-50 people joining us.”

Lodhi Gardens, Delhi (Image: Lokesh Kashyap)

Reading in picturesque Delhi
Nabiha Tasnim, co-curator, Lodhi Reads shares, “Reading outdoors in a space like Lodhi Garden, which is full of greenery, history and culture, is a great boost to the love for reading, and even for mental health. Lodhi Garden has a character to it, which adds not only to our reading experience but also to how we experience the city.” “The amount of focus I have here is better than when I am reading alone. As a dog lover, it is nice to have furry companions around while reading and Lodhi Reads has quite a few four-legged regulars,” shares Sidharth Das, a web and graphic designer, a regular at Lodhi Reads.

Besant Nagar Beach, Chennai

Chennai’s sea-kissed reading group
If you fancy reading by the sea, Bessy Reads conducts reading sessions at the Besant Nagar Beach in Chennai. “The gorgeous shores and sounds of waves crashing is a great environment to read every Sunday morning and discuss books in a bonding session,” says Vasantha, a participant.

Jogger’s Park, Mumbai

Mumbai says ‘you do you’
Amie Fazulbhoy and Abhimanyu Lodha co-founded the Bandra Reads in June 2023. “In the last year, our community has met every Sunday from 8 to 10 am at Jogger’s Park. Everyone has been consistent and braved Mumbai’s heat, humidity and rains to be a part of this silent reading community.” The best part? You can do anything you want: Read, crochet, sketch. But in silence.


Hyderabad’s tranquil retreat
Avinash Denduluri, a filmmaker and organiser of Read A Kitaab in Hyderabad, loves taking part in outdoor reading events. “We gather monthly at Lamakaan – a popular cultural space and read together. It’s a tranquil environment where ideas and poetry flow freely,” he shares.

Rabindra Sarobar, Kolkata

Kolkata, by the lake
Rain or sunshine, the members of this community are present for every edition. If any onlooker or passer-by wishes to partake in the activity, they are welcomed by the readers, who offer books from their collections, creating a sense of belonging. This sentiment resonates with Dr Charulatha Banerjee, a member of the Sarobar Book Club in Kolkata. “If someone is travelling and is in the city for a few days, they are welcome to join us,” he says, adding, “We started seven years ago and selected Rabindra Sarobar Lake because any activity done near a waterbody is extremely refreshing. One does not always need to go to a café to read, these open places are ours. We should claim them and use them for such activities.”

Cubbon Park, Bengaluru

Bengaluru’s bestsellers
Shruti Sah, co-founder of Cubbon Reads, a silent reading community that meets regularly at Cubbon Park, believes it’s important to unite readers without the intellectualisation around books. Today, the group has over 500 attendees in each session. “A park is an informal space, unlike a library, and people can lounge, laze and even sleep with no policing. It is reminiscent of home,” she shares.

— Inputs by Yvonne Jacob, Shivika Manchanda, Anna Fernandes, Arnav Khanna, Mantha Surabhi, Sundas Jawed, Raima Ganguly, Debarati S Sen and Shrestha Mukherjee