Sometime last year, city-based poetry curator Garima Mishra went to watch Traasadi, a Hindi play written by Manav Kaul. What caught her pleasantly off guard wasn’t just the brilliance of the play—it was the audience. The theatre was brimming with youngsters in their early twenties, many of whom were clutching Kaul’s books, animatedly discussing his characters and lines even before the curtain rose.
That sight gently challenged Mishra’s long-held belief—that Hindi literature was largely the domain of middle-aged readers and senior citizens. “It was refreshing,” she recalls, “to see young people reading, discussing, and feeling Hindi literature so passionately.”
Inspired by that moment, Mishra decided that her next event under her initiative कविताKAFE—a platform dedicated to celebrating Hindi poetry and literature—would be centered around Manav Kaul’s writing. And so, the idea for ‘Conversations Around Manav Kaul’s Books – Kitaabon se mulaqqat..shabdon se baatcheet’ was born. The event will be held on November 16 at Monalisa Kalagram, Koregaon Park, from 4:30 pm to 6 pm, and promises to bring together both ardent fans and first-time readers curious about Kaul’s deeply introspective and lyrical style. “Just imagine—a cool November evening, a touch of soft sunlight, a cup of hot chai in your hands, and a few kindred souls to talk with about Manav Kaul’s books,” says Mishra, adding that Kaul’s evocative storytelling—seen in works such as “Bahut Door, Kitna Door Hota Hai” and “Rooh”—resonates deeply with young readers, who find comfort and inspiration in his poetic narratives and exploration of contemporary themes.
One of the participants, Surbhi Jain, an IT professional, shares, “Though I’ve read a few other authors before, there’s something magical about Manav’s writing. His stories may unfold in worlds far removed from my own, yet they feel achingly personal. That effortless emotional connection keeps me going back to his books—and now, I’m eager to meet others who’ve felt that same pull.”
For Keshava Shukla, a poet himself and author of the Hindi poetry collection Anargal aur Anayaas, Manav Kaul embodies what he calls a Romantic Fool. “That gentle foolishness, that unguarded sensitivity—readers find it beautifully relatable. The simplicity of his language and the honesty of his emotions make his writing timeless,” he says.
Keshava ShuklaAs KavitaKAFE readies to host this heartfelt gathering, it aims to do more than just discuss literature. “This literary event hopes to create a space where readers, dreamers, and lovers of Hindi words come together to celebrate the language, and the man whose stories have given them a reason to feel, reflect, and belong,” stated Mishra, who herself is particularly fond of two of Kaul’s books – Tumhare Baare Mein and Theek Tumhare Peeche. Mishra says, “It’s a modest event on a small scale. While Manav Kaul won’t be attending the event in person, his presence will be deeply felt—in his words, his books, and in the conversations they inspire among us.” Should this gathering receive an encouraging response, KavitaKAFE envisions hosting more such literary evenings in the future—keeping alive the dialogue between readers and the written word, and celebrating the legacy of writers like Munshi Premchand, Neeraj, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Harivanshrai Bachchan, and many more
