There’s nothing that brings greater pleasure than reading. 

But over the last few years, my outlook to reading has changed. 

I don’t read to impress and charm anymore. 

I don’t read to be an activist. 

I’ve read, not to change the world, or illuminate it, but to look for traces of light within me. 

I’ve read to understand & change myself; hopefully, for the better. (That’s a big enough mission for a single life, I think). 

Also, from time to time, I read to escape the banality of life (and how it often falls short!). 

I also now read to understand ‘otherness’. With a genuine desire to know what it means to be somebody else; to step into someone else’s skin and walk the town in it. 

I’ve read : to temper my desire to be lost, with the longing to be found (Billy Collins). 

And in doing this, I’ve found kindred spirits (some of my best friends now!) through reading and this mutual love for books.

One of the resolutions this year has been to read more and be inspired by my fellow readers, and learn with them – about life, the universe and everything, one book at a time. 

Yes, this is a book club that I propose to start with you. 

We’d read books and poetry together and – on the whole – help each other be more humble, better people and better readers. 

If you’re interesting in being a part of this, write to me at : bharat.law06@gmail.com with the Subject : “The Reading Society”. 

I propose to host reading sessions at our office in Delhi, or any other convenient venue, or on zoom. Let’s see how this plays out.