Do you remember the last time you held a book and lost yourself in its pages? The last time you spoke to a friend for hours about your favorite character, or sat in a library until the world outside disappeared?
For many of us, these memories feel like they belong to another life.
And yet, in Jharkhand’s Dumka, something extraordinary is happening. Satwik Vyas, an Indian Forest Service officer of the 2018 batch, Jharkhand cadre, currently serving as the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Dumka, has dared to return to basics with a beautiful initiative called Book Baithak.
Book Baithak began quietly; a small circle of readers, writers, students, and book lovers came together to share the joy of reading. Slowly, it grew into something larger. Every fortnight, people gather — some young, some old — united by their love for stories. What makes it magical is its simplicity. There are no stages or microphones and there are no buzzing phones to distract. Everyone keeps their devices aside so that the only notifications they receive are from the turning of pages and the flow of conversations.
Every language is welcome here, whether Hindi, English, Bangla, Santhali, Urdu or any tongue that carries a story. Even those who have not read the book are invited to sit and absorb the warmth of the baithak.
From the second meeting onwards, they too read along because by then, the atmosphere itself has done its work.
But Satwik wanted to go further. He dreamed of giving Dumka a space where reading could live and breathe every day. And so, inside Dumka Park, a public green space managed by the Forest Department, a free community library is being built. Anyone can come, read, donate, or exchange books. This library is especially precious for rural communities around Dumka, where many children and families cannot afford to buy books. Here, stories are free, no matter who you are.
And then came one of the most heartwarming ideas of all: every Sunday, whoever shows a book at the entrance gate of the park gets free entry. The book literally becomes your ticket. Normally, the park entry fee is Rs.10, but on Sundays, a book in your hand waives that fee. If someone does not carry a book, they simply pay Rs.10 and walk in. It is a novel concept, one that has perhaps never been seen before in India. It actively encourages people to read while also making them value books as gifts to the community. Imagine families walking in with novels tucked under their arms, children clutching comics, elders carrying treasured volumes, and all being welcomed into greenery because they brought a story to share.
This is more than a cultural event. It is a lifeline. In a time when anxiety and loneliness are rising, when people are forgetting how to slow down, Book Baithak offers an antidote. Reading is not just about knowledge; it is about healing. Parks are not just about greenery; they are about peace. And when the two come together, something transformative happens.
As authors, we feel deeply moved by what we see here. We have watched children who were shy with words suddenly speak with confidence. We have seen elders who thought reading had left their lives pick up books again. We have seen strangers turn into friends because of a shared story.
Dumka may be a small district, but the dream taking root here is large enough for the whole country. Book Baithak reminds us that reading is not old-fashioned, it is timeless. Public spaces can be alive with ideas. Books are not just paper and ink, but bridges that connect generations, heal minds, and bring back wonder to a world that desperately needs it.
Satwik Vyas has planted a seed in Dumka, but it has been nurtured by many caring hands. The Instagram page Dumka Diary and the tireless efforts of Yaduvansh Pranay have been instrumental in spreading the word and building this community. And Satwik hopes this idea will not remain limited to Dumka Park alone. For now, it operates only within his division, but with time, he dreams of seeing it spread across Jharkhand and eventually the rest of the country.
If more towns and cities across India follow this path, imagine what we could build: a nation where children grow up curious again, where communities meet in parks and libraries, where mental health is nurtured not only by doctors but by dialogue, imagination, and stories.
When books and nature meet, they do not just create readers. They create healthier, kinder, and more connected human beings.
And perhaps that is the story India needs most right now.