Kamal Ghorui
Pune is rewriting its reputation as a booklovers’ city. This World Book Day, we look at how the act of reading is no longer confined to hushed libraries or café corners. Instead, the city itself is becoming a sprawling, open-air reading room where stories unfold amid the bustling daily life.
Finding my quiet corner in the Pune Metro (Photo Jignesh Mistry)
“The reading sessions are about rhythm. There’s this concept of body doubling, when someone else is doing the same thing as you, and you feel connected. The draw is as much about connection as it is about books — Kashvi Ruparelia, a student and avid reader
A Saturday book-reading session at Kamala Nehru Park featuring diverse titles, from mythology to fiction and philosophy (Photo Jignesh Mistry)
The reading sessions as about rhythm. There’s this concept of body doubling, when someone else is doing the same thing as you, and you feel connected. The draw is as much about connection as it is about books-Kashvi Ruparelia, a student and reader
THE JOY OF COLLECTIVE READINGAcross the city, reading communities are transforming familiar locations into vibrant literary zones. At places like Mahatma Phule Mandai and the leafy expanse of Kamla Nehru Park, readers are gathering not just to read, but to share experiences. These are not traditional book clubs bound by silence or structure. They are participatory spaces featuring storytelling sessions, poetry recitals, and collective reading circles. At the heart of this movement is accessibility.
“We are a community, not a club,” says Sonal Dharmadhikari, curator of Pune Reads, adding, “There is no registration, no fees. You can come and read for ten minutes or three hours. It’s up to you.” The format is intentionally unstructured. Participants bring their books, read at their own pace, and engage organically. The appeal lies in its simplicity, in reading without pressure, but in the comforting presence of like-minded people.
Pune Reads saturday session at Kamala Nehru Park(Photo Jignesh Mistry)
A national networkThis model echoes a growing movement. From Cubbon Reads in Bengaluru to Lodhi Reads in Delhi, Bandra Reads and Juhu Reads in Mumbai, Hyderabad Reads , Kochi Reads in Kerala, similar communities are reclaiming public spaces for literature, building a powerful network of readers.
Readers at Bookbar, Pune (Photo Jignesh Mistry)
“It has become extremely important to replace the smartphone with a book in your hands. When you dive into the story of the book, you create your own world that is open to interpretations. It fosters imagination instead of being spoon-fed everythingvia videos on social media — Swarda Kadam, from East Pune Reads, Joggers Park, Kalyaninagar
Readers at East Pune Reads saturday sessions, Joggers Park, Kalyaninagar (Photo East Pune Reads)
