Beyond The Scroll: Inside Jaipur's growing tribe of book lovers
Jaipur Book Lovers (JBL) club, one of the active literary communities in the city, began with just four readers when Ayush Jain founded it in 2014, and has since grown into a 4,000-strong group. With over 200 meetups under its belt, including themed sessions that dive into everything from Russian literature to the poetry of Gulzar, JBL is redefining how people engage with books.
"Themed sessions help readers explore new genres and widen their knowledge," says Prashant Gupta, a senior member and operator of the travelling bookstore Kitabi Kaarwan.
"We've seen casual readers evolve into passionate bibliophiles. In today's digital world, clubs like ours are a ray of hope," he adds.
Among the youngest members of JBL is 11-year-old Manan Rao, who finds entertainment and connection in reading. "The club has inspired me to exchange books with friends and talk about plots and characters," he says, embodying the spirit of a new generation of readers.
A quieter yet equally impactful initiative is taking place under the trees of Central Park.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
NRIs Living In Germany Are Eligible For INR 2 Lakh Monthly Pension. Invest 18K/Month
investmentlife.policybazaar
Get Offer
Undo
Co-founded in 2023 by Nishkant Jain, Jaipur Reads invites participants to engage in silent reading. With over 220 members, the group encourages readers to bring their mats and current reads to enjoy three hours of peaceful solitude. "It's like a silent disco party, but for books," says Nishkant. This unique gathering fosters a connection not only with literature but also with nature.
Adding to the rich tapestry of the city's literary scene is the Jaipur Book Club, formed in 2019 by Madhulika Jain.
Now led by political consultant Varun Saxena and HR professional Vishnu Kant Verma, the club's structured approach helps members restart their reading journeys, engaging in themed discussions and lively exchanges. "The club is known for its themed discussions, rant corners for disliked books, Secret Santa exchanges, and wrap-up recommendation rounds," says Varun.
Straddling both physical and virtual spaces is Read With Us, established in 2022by Aastha Anand, Khushi Rungta, and Sukaina Majeed.
"Our club invites everyone from toddlers to professionals to join in on the reading fun. The club hosts readalongs, author interactions, blind book exchanges, and inclusive chats," says Jaipur coordinator Khushbu Mathur, a software engineer.
Lastly, the all-women's club Books and Beyond merges literary discussion with social purpose, supporting community causes through its annual fee. "Start introducing books at six months by reading out stories to babies. That's how you raise lifelong readers," emphasises founder Vineeta Thakur.
As these clubs continue to grow, they remind us that the magic of reading is not just surviving; it is thriving in the Pink City.
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and
silver prices
in your area.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Raksha Bandhan wishes
,
messages
and
quotes
!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
CAG flays Goa Tourism for profligacy, poor execution
Panaji: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has criticised Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) for serious lapses, wasteful expenditure, and poor execution in projects sanctioned under the Centre's flagship Swadesh Darshan Scheme. It found violations of guidelines, procurement of equipment before sites were ready, and failure to maintain assets, undermining the scheme's goal of boosting tourist infrastructure. The Swadesh Darshan Scheme, launched in 2015 by the Union tourism ministry, allocated Rs 199.3 crore to Goa for developing two coastal circuits. GTDC received just under Rs 100 crore for nine projects in circuit-I — covering Sinquerim-Baga, Anjuna-Vagator, Morjim-Keri, Aguada Fort, and Aguada jail — and Rs 99.3 crore for 18 projects in circuit-II. The CAG's audit of coastal circuit-I projects revealed that detailed project reports often ignored scheme guidelines and suffered from defective planning. According to the CAG report, which was tabled in the House, GTDC took up projects on private land without obtaining permission. In some cases, poor coordination with local panchayats forced changes mid-way, such as the relocation of the Aguada helipad. One of the most glaring findings was the expenditure for 10 toilet blocks that were to be built at a total cost of Rs 14.6 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Walmart Photos Which Are Not For Everyone Old Money Style Undo However, just five were built after spending Rs 14.2 crore. The cost of each toilet block worked out to Rs 2.6 crore. GTDC spent Rs 3.9 crore on sound and light show equipment meant for Aguada jail, but since the renovations were incomplete, it shifted the equipment to Baga beach in 2018 and handed it to a private agency without a formal agreement. When the Aguada jail works were eventually taken up, GTDC once again bought similar equipment, spending Rs 3.3 crore more. The audit flagged ineffective operation and maintenance, with assets lying abandoned, deteriorating, or missing. In multiple instances, buses and other assets were procured before the sites were ready, leading to idle investments or diversion. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Haritha hotels in for revamp to increase profits & footfall
Hyderabad: In an effort to improve footfall and increase profits, the Telangana Tourism Development Corporation (TGTDC) is set to renovate tourism hotels in the state. The state has 25 Haritha hotels, as the tourism hotels are called, which haven't been refurbished in over 10 years. Almost 20 of them face issues such as broken doors, leaky roofs, and old and dingy furniture. "We recently conducted a survey of the hotels and realised that there is scope for improvement in some of them. Our customers deserve only the best experience, and presently, in terms of stay, we can do a lot better," Valluru Kranthi, managing director of TGTDC, said. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Some of the hotels, especially the ones in Hyderabad such as the Hotel Tourist Plaza, and the Haritha Hotel in Warangal, were recently renovated last year on account of the Miss World event held in May this year. Despite the sorry state of some of the hotels, the business continues to be profitable, according to officials. They also say that the hotels get 50% occupancy on weekdays and some are fully occupied on weekends during tourist season. "Last year, we made a profit of 11 crore through these hotels. But our target, after the upgrade work, is to reach the 25-crore mark, and also encourage tourists to use these hotels even more," Kranthi added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your IQ Is 140 If You Can Answer 10 Of These Questions Correctly IQ International Undo In addition to upgrading the hotels, officials said they plan to establish at least four more hotels in the coming years. The initiative is part of the recently announced Telangana Tourism Policy (2025-30), which aims at propelling the state as one of the most sought-after destinations of tourism in the country. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
From jails to hospitals, siblings celebrate festival of bonding
Ahmedabad: Brothers and sisters celebrated the special sibling bond on Saturday, from Sabarmati Central Jail to various old age homes and from traffic signals to hospitals in Ahmedabad, as the festive spirit added to the weekend mood for citizens. It was an emotional scene at the prison as sisters met their brothers behind bars for the day and wished for their well-being. At hospitals, the staff members tied rakhi to patients and support staff. For many families, it was a time for a get-together as sisters visited their brothers' homes and tied rakhi. Some NGOs also tied rakhi to police personnel. Citizens also visited temples to mark the festivities. The celebrations, however, also saw many making sense of the heavy traffic on several roads. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Niketa Patel, 40, a homemaker, was out to celebrate Rakshabandhan on Saturday morning. Soaked in festive spirits, what she experienced, however, was commuters' agony. "It was absolute chaos from Shyamal Char Rasta to Prahladnagar. There are so many cuts in the middle of the road that vehicles come from every direction and there was nobody to manage the chaos," she said. "It took me about 30 minutes to cover the distance of 2.5km." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This overweight owl's weight loss journey is inspiring Undo The scene was similar on stretches at Ranip Crossroads and Jivraj Park, where commuters had to wait for clearer roads. Meenu Shah, a city-based professional, was travelling back to Ahmedabad from Vadodara after meeting family on Rakshabandhan. "We experienced major traffic jams on NH8. We got stuck for about 45 minutes near Aslali. As the bridge construction is going on, the service lanes are used for commuting, which slowed traffic considerably," she said. N N Chaudhary, additional CP (traffic), said that the traffic issues came to the fore on Friday evening in some parts of the city. "Due to festivities, the movement of vehicles from outside the city has increased. The festive period also generally reports higher vehicular volume. We have deployed teams to ease the jams," he said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
