Don’t we all want small breaks from everyday life - students from studies, workers from jobs, homemakers from home? And what’s an ideal way to enjoy your break than reading your favourite book in the midst of nature and at peace.
On a sultry Saturday in June at 4 PM, with the sun blazing brightly, the trees of Victoria Memorial provided shade to a group of readers, young and old, who were immersed in their books. They were absorbed in their own world of fiction, unbothered by the children playing Kabaddi, families enjoying picnics, or youth playing reels aloud on their phones.
This was the first gathering of Victoria Memorial Reads, a silent reading community hosted by Rajanya Sen, who was inspired by Cubbon Reads in Bangalore and wanted to start a silent reading community in Kolkata, known best for its love for literature, art and culture.
Cubbon Reads is the idea of Shruti Sah and Harsh Snehanshu, who prefer to term it a "silent reading community" rather than a "book club." Every Saturday between 9 AM and 2 PM, a diverse group of people, ranging from young students to adults, gather at Cubbon Park, all with a common interest in books and solitude. The reading community can be found in 50+ cities including Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Goa and more. It has also grown on a global scale, with reading communities in Amsterdam, New York City, and Dublin. Recently, PM Modi has also appreciated the initiative and encouraged people to get into the joy of reading.
When asked why meet at Victoria Memorial, Rajanya says, “For people residing in Central and South Kolkata, Victoria Memorial is an ideal place as it has good commuting convenience.”
With a lush green lawn, huge trees providing shade and a pleasant summer breeze, Victoria Memorial is no less than heaven for a reader to dive into the world of fiction and forgets worldly matters.
“I knew about Cubbon Reads when I was in Bangalore and I was looking for something similar in Kolkata as I recently moved here. That’s when I came across Victoria Memorial Reads Instagram page. We rarely get across a silent reading community and a place like Victoria Memorial is a perfect ambience for readers,” said Drishanu Dey, who travelled all the way from Barasat.
For their first meeting, Victoria Memorial Reads had 8 readers. The bright afternoon gradually transformed into a thunder and lightning storm, causing the first reading session to be cut short. However, the meeting did conclude with some relief from the heat, gratitude for the rain, and enthusiasm for the next Saturday.
Victoria Memorial Reads is an ideal space for people who want to read, surrounded by fellow readers, without the need of communicating and enjoying their solitude. The meetings are held every Saturday from 4 PM to 6 PM at Victoria Memorial which is located in the heart of Kolkata. For all the latest information and updates about the next meeting, readers can follow the community Instagram page @victoriamemorialreads.