Trivandrum Reads, an ardent group of bookworms in Thiruvananthapuram, celebrates reading and books

The Hindu

2 days ago

A weak, watery sunshine envelopes the green expanse of the Napier Museum grounds in Thiruvananthapuram. Raindrops twinkle on the damp grass and leaves. Occasionally a breeze showers a few raindrops. However, Vipin S is soaking in the rain that pours through the words of Gabriel Garcia Marquez' Love in the Time of Cholera, which narrates the romance of Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza, protagonists of the grand novel. When Florentino is caught in a shower after attending his love Fermina's husband's funeral, Vipin is transported to that Columbian town where the story unfolds.
In a quiet corner, outside the heritage building, oblivious to the rain or the picturesque greenery, a small group of youngsters are absorbed in their books. Sitting cross-legged on the steps leading to one of the entrances of the Museum, Vipin, a die-hard fan of Haruki Murakami and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, is romancing magical realism and Florentino's pursuit of Fermina. Besides him is Binny Baburaj, re-reading his favourite writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's endearing satire in Malayalam, Sthalathe Pradhana Divyan. Sandeep S Pradeep has his nose in Hermann Hesse's Siddartha. Divya Velayudhan, an author herself, is turning the leaves of her book. The readers are engrossed in their books even as some visitors rush in to take shelter from the sudden rain.
On that rainy day, about 15 voracious readers have gathered for their weekly tryst with stories in the Museum grounds. By 11am, they get up, stretch themselves and are ready to return to the mundane material world.
Binny, a content writer, says Trivandrum Reads, a community of bookworms, began in 2023, when he and a few like-minded friends were inspired by the reading community, Cubbon Reads, in Bengaluru.
'We reached out to the founder of the community in Bengaluru to understand how to go about it. It was such a good idea to connect with Nature and books, to disconnect from the screen,' recalls Binny.
After learning how they went about spreading the word about the community through Instagram, Binny and some of his friends held their first reading session on June 10, 2023. Although they expected only a few readers, they were pleasantly surprised to see more than a dozen readers turn up with books, mats, water bottles and a fruit, all to catch up on their reading.
Techie Bhageerathi Sreedevi, one of the regulars, says that it helped her connect with a community after she returned to her hometown after a stint in Bengaluru. 'We read from 8am to 11 am. There is no talking or book discussion. That silent bonding over reading is one of the attractions of the community. We are all on the same page,' she says.
There is no advertisement other than a post on their Instagram account, @trivandrumreads. . 'If it rains, we shift to Kanakakunnu Palace or the portico of the Museum. Otherwise, we bring a mat and sprawl under the trees to enjoy our book,' says Vipin, a pharma employee.
It could be a reader discovering a new author or enjoying another reading of a favourite book. Once the session is over, snaps are taken of the readers and the books read that day are arranged for a photograph, all of which are posted on their Instagram account.
Binny asserts that the community is a self-sustaining one run by small group of volunteers. 'There is no admin taking decisions or vetting members. If you enjoy books, you are welcome to come and join us on Saturdays,' he adds.
Over several Saturdays, some of them have formed a deeper connection and after the reading session is over, they go to a makeshift eatery in the vicinity for tea and small eats. 'That is when we might discuss the book we are reading or get introduced to a new author,' adds Vipin.
Bhageerathi, for instance, recalls how she was introduced to Michelle Zauner's Crying in H Mart by a reader in the group. Vipin says almost sheepishly that he was more into the classics of English and Malayalam and it was only after he joined the group that he expanded his reading to include younger authors in Malayalam.
Sandeep, a graphic artist, has been with the community from the first reading in 2023. He admits that he was not a regular reader and he joined the group to focus on his reading. 'It is a time to connect with books and readers and I have come to enjoy the silent sessions when all we do is read in the open. There is a charm that comes from being with Nature,' says Sandeep.
On July 5, Trivandrum Reads will hit a century. They insist that there will be nothing official to mark the milestone. But they hope to cut a cake and invite an author to join them to read on that day. It is another chapter for the community, an endeavour they are confident will keep adding to the story of the community of bookworms.