Ten-second takeaway
Watch out for the book truck, Walking BookFairs, which will make a stop in Bangalore as part of its pan-India tour.
Bookish venture
When Odisha-based couple {and bibliophiles}, Akshay Routray and Satabdi Mishra, noticed the lack of bookstores or libraries in farflung areas and villages during one of their trips together, they decided to do something about it. Motivated by the thought "why not take books to places", they started carrying books in backpacks while travelling. Supported by friends, they soon bought a second-hand omni van and there began their venture, Walking BookFairs {in January 2014} to promote books and a reading habit. With Satabdi at the wheel {Akshay confesses that he doesn't know driving}, the couple has already covered all 30 districts on Odisha {a distance of over 10,000 kms}.
Books on wheels
The duo had an exciting experience when popular author, Ruskin Bond, personally visited their van in Bhubaneswar and appreciated their initiative. Supported {with books} by publishers like Harper Collins India, Pan Macmillan India and Parragon Publishing India, the couple have embarked on their first pan-India tour, Read More India, all set to cover 20 states in 90 days. And, what's more, they are going to make a two-day stopover in Bangalore!
Welcome to the ooru
After crossing Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the van will make its way to Karnataka {hitting Mysore first}, reaching Bangalore on January 13 and will be here for two days {January 13-14}. Look forward to a truckful of books, including everything from children's fiction, classics and bestsellers {Agatha Christie and Sidney Sheldon fans needn't be disappointed} to award-winning books. And, all at a discount of 20 per cent! While the location hasn't been confirmed yet, keep a close watch on their Facebook page to get regular updates.
When: Wednesday-Thursday, January 13-14
Contact: +91 8598013877, walkingbookfairs@gmail.com
Find them on Facebook here.