The morning commuter train leaving Bhubaneswar carried its usual contingent of passengers on Sunday, but the cargo on board was far from routine.
Among the daily commuters were 200 books, a hundred avid readers, and a shared ambition: to turn a standard train ride across Odisha into a moving celebration of the written word.
Travelling on Train No. 68429, the Bhubaneswar–Daspalla MEMU, participants took part in the “Gift A Book” Rail Reading Campaign. Organized by the East Coast Railway in collaboration with Bhubaneswar-based Walking Book Fairs, the initiative set out to break down the walls of traditional literary spaces and bring books directly into everyday public transit.
The journey was inaugurated by Parmeshwar Funkwal, General Manager of East Coast Railway, who joined the literary group on board. Prominent authors and literary scholars—including Jerry Pinto, Christoph Ransmayr, Sarat Chandra Das, Aakriti Mandhwani, and Chandrahas Choudhary—also travelled along, engaging directly with commuters and sharing poetry, reflections, and storytelling throughout the trip.
Shortly after departure, participants distributed roughly 200 free books to fellow passengers, inviting daily commuters to pause and immerse themselves in a story. Inside the coaches, the typical rumble of train travel gave way to a shared silent reading hour. Passengers put away their mobile phones, making room for physical books, poetry exchanges, music, and quiet conversation.
The literary experience extended beyond the train ride itself. Upon arriving at Daspalla Railway Station, the group converted the platform into an open-air stage for “Poetry on the Platform,” featuring live readings by both established authors and first-time participants. On the return trip to Bhubaneswar, the literary dialogue continued alongside a local touch—servings of regional “Mudhi Masala” shared across the aisle.
By foregoing traditional auditoriums and formal panels in favor of a MEMU coach, the campaign highlighted how literature can seamlessly integrate into daily routines. For some passengers, the complimentary book received on board was a pleasant distraction; for others, an introduction to a new habit. The initiative demonstrated that reading does not need to remain a solitary activity restricted to libraries, but can serve as a shared bridge between strangers on a everyday journey.
