30 June,2026 07:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Pic/Satej Shinde
Women perform rituals around a banyan tree in Borivli on the occasion of Vat Purnima on Monday
As July begins, the Nehru Centre Library in Worli is turning its spotlight on books, poetry, and storytelling with a month-long celebration of National Reading Month.
A child looks at a book collection. Pics courtesy/Arati Desai
One of the first sessions will feature young author Shania Sarup. "In today's times, libraries are challenged by the drop in reader footfalls. It is our constant effort to celebrate National Reading Month through various interesting initiatives," said Arati Desai, librarian and documentation officer, Nehru Centre Library. Desai observed that reading is finding its place again among young people.
Participants at a previous session
"The youth in Mumbai attend reading events, book clubs and sessions with great enthusiasm. That's definitely a good sign," she said, adding, "Reading is like meditation. It soothes the soul and increases focus."
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. Pic Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons (right) Sharmishtha Saha
AMIDST the shining legacy of his contributions to social reform, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule's literary legacy is often overshadowed. Aside from being one of India's foremost educators in the 19th Century, Phule was also a playwright. On July 19, theatremaker Sharmishtha Saha will join artistes from across India for the first ever performed reading of the play, Trutiya Ratna at Studio Tamaasha in Andheri. "It is ridiculous that when we speak of the history of Indian theatre, we fail to mention him. He wrote it in 1855, and it has never been performed since," revealed Saha. The artistes will read from the 2023 English translation of the work by Rohini Mokashi-Punekar, Third Eye (Orient Blackswan). "Interestingly, the work is typical of the plays written post the period - a social drama about oppression, the role of education, and women in the upliftment," she told this diarist.
A Putul Naach performance by artistes of Gramin Puppet Theatre in West Bengal. Pics courtesy/Indranil Mukherjee
A slice of Bengal's rich folk heritage will find its way to Mumbai this Durga Pooja. Come October and the photography community of VIBGYOR Photography will host Gramin Puppet Theatre from Padmatamli village in Medinipur, West Bengal, for performances in the city. The traditional Putul Naach troupe combines handcrafted puppets, live folk music and storytelling to communicate social messages through entertainment.
"Through entertainment, people become more conscious of building a better lifestyle. No digital gadget can create the same lasting impression," said Indranil Mukherjee, founder member and mentor of VIBGYOR Photography. "If we forget our roots, we will be cheating the next generation," he added.
What goes into decision making at the highest echelons of business? On July 4, business leaders, policymakers and behavioural science enthusiasts will gather at The Quorum, Mumbai for Decoding Behavioural Insights, a discussion that seeks to offer an insight into how behavioural thinking influences decisions beyond markets.
The session will feature Sutapa Banerjee (below right), board director, and Nadir Godrej (below left), chairman of Godrej Industries Group. With Govind Ethiraj, editor of The Core, taking on moderating duties, the panellists will explore how behavioural insights shape culture, power structures and everyday choices, offering audiences a deeper understanding of decision-making in business and society.
