The Bookwallah is a literary journey that took six writers and a ‘first of its kind’ travelling library across India (from Mumbai to Pondicherry) by train in search of stories, conversations and connections
With the train set to leave Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus inMumbai, one compartment stood out more than the rest. The one that containedsix writers, two coordinators, two designers, six suitcases and 230 plasticbags worth of books.
Part Australian, and part Indian, these writers were on ajourney that would redefine their literary careers. Their aim: to meet peoplealong the way, and grasp and understand their lives, as inspiration for whatjust might be ‘that special story’.
The writers had, unique luggage in the form of a portablelibrary, in tow with them. Courtesy designers Soumitri Varadarajan and GeorgiaHutchinson, the group transported custom-made suitcases that opened andtransformed into bookcases, filled with volumes of Australian books. The reasonfor this was to provide, “A cross between a library and art installation, wherevisitors can browse, sit and read, or take part in intimate library events,”according to Nic Low, one of the two founders of the Bookwallah programme.Books from this library were donated to universities and local libraries alongthe group’s travels.
Low, is a Melbourne-based writer and artist. When asked whatthe criterion for selection of these authors was, he humorously replies,“Nothing more than good looks.” The former director of the National YoungWriters Festival then goes on to explain, “We wanted to incorporate Australianwriters that had ‘a natural curiosity’ about India. Because of this they werethe right ones for the programme.”
Annie Zaidi, one of the traveling writers and an avid poet,essayist and playwright could barely contain her delight at being part of theunconventional venture. “I love quoting lines from ‘The Bad Boy’s Guide to theGood Indian Girl’. The series of narratives about young women’s lives is anexcellent culture shock for some. I recall Kirsty explaining the difficultiesof getting one’s first book published, before wryly explaining that I hadnone,” she says with a wink.
Kirsty Murray laughs in response. In her typically affablemanner, she says, “I was merely trying to explain that it is a tough industryto gain recognition in. I believe that the literature we are exposed to as childreninfluences our understanding of the significance of our culture. I thereforewrite about characters aged 20 and below. I lose interest in my charactersbeyond that age.” Murray’s work has gone on to win as well as make theshort-list for numerous awards in Australia.
The tour kicked off at ‘Literature Live! The MumbaiLitFest’, before pausing briefly in Goa at the Literati bookstore, in Candolim.After a short sojourn, the tour continued on its way southward and collaboratedwith the ‘Bangalore Literature Festival’, before heading west to Chennai. Fromthe capital of Tamil Nadu, the group headed into the last leg of its tour inPondicherry.
