Grit + Passion = WalkingBookfairs @ Bhubaneswar

Books define my space and they are my escape to a different reality. Reading is therefore a lifeline to avoid the stress of traffic or even unwarranted conversations and people (yes, I let you in that secret!). Therefore the tremendous respect for the duo of Walking Bookfairs - Akshaya and Satabdi Mishra.

I first heard about them in January 2016 when I snatched an article that there was a travelling book truck with the singular objective of spreading the love of reading. The book truck was travelling across India, in association with Penguin and was to drop into Bangalore on January 13 / 14. I missed it because of many reasons including a Mika Singh concert at work (Sigh!). But the bond was sealed with these folks.

They are 2 folks who want the country to read and read a lot. I understand that but I am in awe of their passion to take it to the grassroots. They are located in Bhubaneswar (BBSR henceforth) and had a book truck and a small store where they hosted poetry sessions etc. I follow them on Facebook and find them a great gifting options to my friends in BBSR for their birthdays or milestone celebrations. They have been featured on Discovery Channel and even recently did a scooter ride from BBSR to Kochi to receive an award for the most enterprising Bookstore, and on the way.. yes you guessed it "ride", gave away books to folks who needed them most!

This was the easier part. A few weeks ago, and ironically after their return from Kochi with the award, were asked to vacate the place which housed their bookstore. Reasons, many and I am not privy. But wait, the lesson is yet to come. They would have searched high and low for an alternative. Help and suggestions poured on their Facebook page but it looked like the bookstore would be on a hiatus. Before this their booktruck was vandalized too and it looked all very bleak.

But that's when the Phoenix rose, again. They stocked the books in the truck and parked in places for folks to buy. They scouted for a place and built a bookstore within a month. Yes actually brick by brick they built back the bookstore. Today, November 6, 2016, as it strikes 18:00 hours they will throw the doors open of the store to the friends and family. I promised to be there in spirit but I felt a better tribute would be to share it with others on this platform.

To me they are a case study and a living proof that impossible is nothing. Odds and unfair life are a given and most of us fight it for personal and professional reasons. But these folks have fought for a cause that is so large and literally unattainable in a country like India where reading and libraries need more breathing space. And when I say reading I mean the stuff that provokes people to think, converse and raise the bar of intelligence in a community that is well read and even well heeled. On the other end of the spectrum, we have to get people to put their children in school, appreciate the value of being educated and then hopefully the society as a whole will rise above the current woes.

It is a long road ahead and maybe we need many book trucks and scooter drives to get the message across. But till then more power to you Akshaya and Satabdi.. Walkingbookfairs denotes GRIT!

P.S. - This is not a commercial plug for them.