Gift A Book Rail Reading Campaign: Odisha’s MEMU Train Turns Into a Literary Journey
In a unique initiative blending literature with travel, the East Coast Railway partnered with Walking Book Fairs to launch the Gift A Book Rail Reading Campaign aboard the Bhubaneswar–Daspalla MEMU train.
The campaign turned a routine commuter journey into a literary festival, with 200 books and 100 readers joining the ride.
Passengers received free books, participated in a silent reading hour, and exchanged poetry while setting aside mobile distractions.
Renowned authors and scholars, including Jerry Pinto, Christoph Ransmayr, Sarat Chandra Das, Aakriti Mandhwani, and Chandrahas Choudhary, joined the journey, engaging commuters in conversations on literature and storytelling.
At Daspalla station, the campaign hosted Poetry on the Platform, featuring live readings by established and emerging voices.
The return journey continued with literary discussions over local delicacies like Mudhi Masala.
The initiative showcased how literature can seamlessly integrate into daily life, transforming public transport into a cultural bridge that connects strangers through books, poetry, and shared experiences.
