The novel initiative seeks to disconnect book lovers from social media and WhatsApp, giving them the opportunity to read a book in peace.
Voracious readers Rashmi Baruah and Sandeep Malhotra, who kick-started 'The Reading Social' - a series of gatherings at a pub or a cafe to engage in silent reading - a month back in the city, have launched an 'anti-social initiative' aimed at connecting readers with books without the constraints of technology. The novel initiative seeks to disconnect book lovers from social media and WhatsApp, giving them the opportunity to read a book in peace.
Speaking about the initiative, Rashmi said, "The Reading Social is a social movement aimed at giving readers the opportunity to enjoy downtime with a book. The platform encourages silent reading and allows book lovers to interact with other bibliophiles. Since reading sessions are held in a bar or cafe, book lovers can get their own books, grab a drink, disconnect from the world and read without interruptions for about three hours."
After the success of the first session, the second session will be held on the morning of October 2 at Khar Social. Furnishing other details about the initiative, Rashmi said, "My friends and I were always on the lookout for peaceful corners in the city that would allow us to read without disruptions. We would even travel out of the city. After a few gatherings, the group grew in size. This 'anti-social' form of reading was a hit! Around 20 book lovers from across the city attended our first session last month."
Readers who join the group are given reading tips, which include switching off communication devices and finding a comfortable reading spot.
Co-founder Sandeep Malhotra said they were overwhelmed by the response they received for the first session. "The first session generated word-of-mouth buzz. We had over 20 book lovers join us for the session. We have increased the reading time to three hours for the next session. We initiated the activity because we wanted to form better reading habits. We have about 150 people inquiring about the event already."
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