Pune’s literary circle rekindled its bond with Hindi literature through Manav Kaul’s books

Pune, 19th November 2025: Clutching well-loved copies of Manav Kaul’s books, more than a dozen readers gathered on a cool November 16th evening—one of those winter dusks when the sunlight still hangs softly in the sky. The venue, Monalisa Kalagram in Koregaon Park, was bathed in a gentle, artsy calm, making it the perfect space for an intimate literary gathering.

The event, titled “Conversations around Manav Kaul Books,” was organized by Pune-based poetry collective KavitaKAFE as part of its literary initiative “Kitaabon Se Mulaqaat, Shabdon Se Baatcheet.” In collaboration with Monalisa Kalagram, the program brought together Hindi literature enthusiasts for an evening of readings, reflections, and open-hearted discussion.

As the literary event unfolded, Manav Kaul admirers such as Ameya Tarde, Keshava Shukla, Surbhi Jain, Sachin Sharma, Bobby Mittal, Ragini More, Ravi Acharya, Shekhar Jha, and Devv dove into the many layers of his writing. Readers reflected on the emotions and images his books leave behind—those lingering impressions that draw them back to his pages. Many spoke of Kaul’s gift for blurring reality and imagination, creating spaces where memories melt into dreams. His stories, they said, have the power to comfort, unsettle, and liberate in equal measure, often revealing something deeply personal.

Garima Mishra, founder of KavitaKAFE, opened the evening by sharing the vision behind the initiative. She said that her aim has always been to spark a genuine love for Hindi reading and writing and to nurture emerging voices through varied, thoughtfully designed literary formats—not just open mics. She admitted that planning an event solely around Hindi literature felt risky at a time when reading habits are steadily declining, yet she chose to pursue it. Being an avid admirer of Manav Kaul’s work and aware of his impact on younger urban readers, she felt it was only fitting for KavitaKAFE literary initiative – Kitaabon Se Mulaqaat, Shabdon Se Baatcheet – to begin with conversations around his books. Encouragement from fellow readers strengthened Mishra’s resolve. While she wasn’t expecting a large turnout, she was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming enthusiasm from Manav Kaul fans who arrived with palpable excitement.

Lisa Pingale, founder of Monalisa Kalagram, expressed her delight in supporting the initiative. “At Monalisa Kalagram, our endeavour has always been to celebrate art in all its forms—be it music, painting, dance, poetry, or books. As this event was dedicated to nurturing love for Hindi literature, we were more than happy to support it wholeheartedly. Such gatherings remind us how powerful and diverse the world of art truly is,” she said.

Citing Kaul’s books such as Tumhare Baare Mein, Rooh, Theek Tumhare Peeche, Chalta Phirta Pret, Bahut Door Kitna Door Hota Hai, and several others, the participants discussed his poetic simplicity—how pauses, silences, and rhythmic repetitions form a language of their own—and reflected on his recurring themes of loneliness, nostalgia, memory, and self-love. His sensitive, non-judgmental portrayal of women and relationships sparked meaningful dialogue. The session grew intimate as readers recited favourite lines and shared how Kaul’s writing has shaped their perspectives, relationships, and even their own creative voices.

In keeping with the group’s vision of weaving multiple art forms together, the evening was beautifully enriched by percussionists Sachin Sharma and Omkar Zanjote, whose handpan and guitar melodies added a serene musical layer. The cherry on the cake was the presence of participants who had not read Kaul at all—yet joined purely out of their love for literature—such as Romita Suresh, Vivek Dube, Bhavna, Richard Clement, and Omkar Zanjote.

The event’s success is a powerful affirmation that the spirit of reading is far from fading. And for everyone who attended, November 16th became more than a date on the calendar—it became a celebration of stories, companionship, and the quiet magic of books.