Bhubaneswar’s Bakul Foundation, known for spearheading a library movement in Odisha, organized the first-ever ‘Blind Date with Books’ event on Sunday at Bakul Library in Satyanagar. The innovative literary event brought book lovers together for a unique reading experience, where they explored books they had not personally selected—akin to a blind date, where one meets someone without prior knowledge of them. The event was designed to surprise readers with books curated specifically for them based on their reading preferences. When participants registered for the event, they were asked to share their reading interests. Bakul Foundation volunteers then carefully selected books matching these preferences, ensuring an engaging and meaningful reading experience.
However, the highlight of the event was the treasure hunt, an interactive activity that added excitement to the reading experience. Participants had to solve four sets of clues to discover their assigned book, making the process more engaging and encouraging them to explore the vast collection at Bakul Library. The event saw an overwhelming response, with more than 50 readers participating. While a majority of the attendees were young college students, the event also attracted notable writers like Anil Dhir and Panchami Manoo Ukil, who actively participated in the treasure hunt and enjoyed the challenge of finding their “book date.”
Reflecting on his experience, renowned writer Anil Dhir shared, “The clues were intriguing but easy to follow. I didn’t expect such an interactive experience. I thought I would simply walk in, pick up a book, and read, but the treasure hunt made it much more engaging. It took me around 10-15 minutes to find my book, and interestingly, it matched my preferences perfectly. This initiative is a fantastic way to promote books. If someone picks up a book and reads even for 30 minutes, the objective is fulfilled.”Similarly, 12-year-old Sidiksha Dixit, an avid reader who attended the event with her father, expressed her excitement, “I find this concept really exciting! It’s a new and fun way of discovering books. Solving clues, exploring the library, and getting to know different book sections made the experience exhilarating.”
Speaking about the initiative, Bakul Foundation’s founder, Sujit Mahapatra, highlighted how the event was designed to attract college students and young readers who might otherwise not visit the library.
“Bakul Library is often seen as a children’s library, but we have a rich collection for young people and adults. We wanted to encourage college students to explore our collection and develop a love for reading,” he said. Mahapatra also emphasized Bakul’s ongoing efforts to revive interest in libraries through unique initiatives such as Reading Marathons and Human Library sessions, aimed at reluctant readers. He firmly believes, “A person who doesn’t read has simply not found the right book yet.”
Encouraged by the overwhelming response and positive feedback from participants, Bakul Foundation plans to organize the ‘Blind Date with Books’ event every few months. The initiative aligns with its mission to create an engaging reading culture and make libraries an attractive space for readers of all ages.
Bhubaneswar’s Bakul Foundation, known for spearheading a library movement in Odisha, organized the first-ever ‘Blind Date with Books’ event on Sunday at Bakul Library in Satyanagar. The innovative literary event brought book lovers together for a unique reading experience, where they explored books they had not personally selected—akin to a blind date, where one meets someone without prior knowledge of them. The event was designed to surprise readers with books curated specifically for them based on their reading preferences. When participants registered for the event, they were asked to share their reading interests. Bakul Foundation volunteers then carefully selected books matching these preferences, ensuring an engaging and meaningful reading experience.
However, the highlight of the event was the treasure hunt, an interactive activity that added excitement to the reading experience. Participants had to solve four sets of clues to discover their assigned book, making the process more engaging and encouraging them to explore the vast collection at Bakul Library. The event saw an overwhelming response, with more than 50 readers participating. While a majority of the attendees were young college students, the event also attracted notable writers like Anil Dhir and Panchami Manoo Ukil, who actively participated in the treasure hunt and enjoyed the challenge of finding their “book date.”
Reflecting on his experience, renowned writer Anil Dhir shared, “The clues were intriguing but easy to follow. I didn’t expect such an interactive experience. I thought I would simply walk in, pick up a book, and read, but the treasure hunt made it much more engaging. It took me around 10-15 minutes to find my book, and interestingly, it matched my preferences perfectly. This initiative is a fantastic way to promote books. If someone picks up a book and reads even for 30 minutes, the objective is fulfilled.”Similarly, 12-year-old Sidiksha Dixit, an avid reader who attended the event with her father, expressed her excitement, “I find this concept really exciting! It’s a new and fun way of discovering books. Solving clues, exploring the library, and getting to know different book sections made the experience exhilarating.”
Speaking about the initiative, Bakul Foundation’s founder, Sujit Mahapatra, highlighted how the event was designed to attract college students and young readers who might otherwise not visit the library.
“Bakul Library is often seen as a children’s library, but we have a rich collection for young people and adults. We wanted to encourage college students to explore our collection and develop a love for reading,” he said. Mahapatra also emphasized Bakul’s ongoing efforts to revive interest in libraries through unique initiatives such as Reading Marathons and Human Library sessions, aimed at reluctant readers. He firmly believes, “A person who doesn’t read has simply not found the right book yet.”
Encouraged by the overwhelming response and positive feedback from participants, Bakul Foundation plans to organize the ‘Blind Date with Books’ event every few months. The initiative aligns with its mission to create an engaging reading culture and make libraries an attractive space for readers of all ages.
