On a cloudy Saturday morning towards the end of June, visitors to Bangalore’s Cubbon Park are welcomed by an unusual sight. In one section of the park, hundreds of individuals are spread out on colorful sheets or directly on the lush grass, engrossed in their books. The scene is a picture of serenity amidst the hustle and bustle of India’s tech capital. The rustling of leaves, chirping of birds, and occasional sounds from children or pets are the only noises that punctuate the calm.
The monsoon rains, which typically reach India in the first week of June, are alarmingly delayed. Although a gentle shower a few days prior has cleansed the surroundings, it has not left any residual moisture. The scent of fresh, crushed grass lingers in the air.
This gathering of book lovers began in December 2022 when friends Shruti Sah, a 31-year-old marketer and baker, and Harsh Snehanshu, a 33-year-old co-founder of the writing app YourQuote, started cycling to Cubbon Park every week. Officially known as Sri Chamarajendra Park, this 300-acre green oasis was established in 1870 and is linked to colonial-era administrator Mark Cubbon.
Each Saturday morning, Sah and Snehanshu would settle near a massive tree and spend a few hours reading. The co-founders do not actively engage with the attendees, apart from exchanging nods and brief, whispered conversations with a few regulars. This unintrusive approach has perhaps encouraged other hobbyist groups to adopt a similar format.
Now, the readers at the park are accompanied by members of Cubbon Paints, Cubbon Writes, Cubbon Knits, and Cubbon Folds (origami). All of these groups gather “to create together in silence, with experiences of attendees cross-pollinating each other,” according to Snehanshu.
The popularity of Cubbon Reads comes at a time when India is experiencing a tightening of freedoms, including access to public spaces. As a result, it is tempting to interpret the enthusiastic response to the initiative as a form of silent resistance.
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