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Mumbai: It’s 11am on a Sunday. A motley group of people is gathered in a room holding animated discussions and exchanging views. There’s an AI scientist, a speech instructor, biologist, banker, and lawyer, among others. But this isn’t a scene from a residential society general meeting where the gravity of the problem at hand pulls them out of their much-earned Sunday slumber. It’s a gathering of book lovers—the ones who beat the weekday blues, eke time out to read a book and meet up once a month on a Sunday to bond over books.
Meet Malliketh Nagda and Bhumika Sankhla, founders of Mumbai Literary Club who host a congregation for member readers to hold in-depth discussions on one book a month at Crossword’s Krishna Curve store in Santacruz.
With this monthly book club, the duo aims to create a space where reading, often a solitary act, transforms into a communal experience. “The idea is to create an open, inclusive space where readers can explore a wide range of genres, dive deep into the essence of a book and unravel intricate layers of each,” says Sankhla, a management consultant by profession.
The books for each month are announced two months in advance to give everyone ample time to finish reading. “Then, once a month, on a Sunday, we meet to discuss the book. After quick introductions, we dive straight into the conversation. From characters, plot and themes to writing style, symbolism and even the author’s intent and inspiration, the discussion is exhaustive and insightful,” says Nagda, a banker when he’s not hosting book lovers.
The Book Club, initiated in April 2024, and holding its 10th session today, Jan 19, boasts readers of all age groups, right from 16-year-old students to septuagenarians, bringing to table a wide range of perspectives and experiences.
What attracts passionate readers to this club is more than just the love for books. Amid the cacophony of everyday hustle and bustle and the city’s demanding work schedule, the club offers a safe haven for the shrinking tribe of readers to escape into the world of stories and imagination, meet new people and forge new bonds.
“Initially, I found it a bit difficult to manage time on a Sunday, but attending these events is immensely rewarding. I got to meet a lot of fun people, built amazing friendships and was exposed to fresh perspectives from such a diverse demographic. It helped me build a more nuanced understanding,” says club member Ritusha Jakkula, an economic research analyst.
What sets this book club apart is the fact that it goes beyond just the bestsellers, allowing member readers to discover and enjoy books they wouldn’t have picked up otherwise. “We explore books across genres, eras and themes. It could be a 700-page epic, a Sci-fi (Klara and the Sun), historical fiction (Sea of Poppies, Demon Copperhead), translations (My Brilliant Friend), dystopian fiction (Handmaid’s Tale), classics (Little Women), or even an epistolary (On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous). The community remains our evergreen source of books that we can explore,” says Nagda.
The Crossword Book Club helps provide a cozy community of like-minded readers for discussions to flourish. “We’ve always believed in the power of storytelling to bring people together. Our book club has been a beautiful reminder of that—watching readers connect, share and grow together. The best chapters are still ahead,” says Nidhi Gupta, director, Crossword.
The pick for next month (Feb 16) is “Room” by Emma Donoghue — a deeply moving story told through the innocent perspective of a five-year-old boy that captures love, resilience, and the bond between parent and child.
Registration to the club is free with a form available on its Instagram page: @mumbailiteraryclub.
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