Here’s what visitors have to say about India’s brand new books village

Families and groups are driving hours from Mumbai and Pune to be part of the initiative; villagers are proudly handing out fresh strawberries and juice!

Between the hill stations of Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar, India’s first book village just celebrated its first weekend. Pustakache Gaon is inspired by Britain’s Hay-on-Wye, a book-themed Welsh town known for its quaint bookstores and its literature festival.

Families drove into Bhilar from far and wide over the weekend, set for a day of browsing.

“We just wanted to show our support for this fantastic concept by the government of Maharashtra,” said Shanta Purandare, a school teacher. “A village encouraging reading, that too in Marathi — that is something we’d never miss. The kids visited the children’s literature section and didn’t want to leave.”

The Purandares came from Mumbai, driving for six hours in a convoy of three cars — a family of 10, including two toddlers.

Essentially, 25 spaces have been converted into free public libraries in this village.

Some are houses that have put a few bookcases and scattered tables and chairs, umbrellas and beanbags in their balconies and courtyards. Elsewhere, schools and temples have done the same.

There are over 15,000 titles across 25 genres, including history, travel, sport and children’s literature, currently all in Marathi.

The Purandares came from Mumbai, driving for six hours in a convoy of three cars — a family of 10, including two toddlers.

“We’re planning to include other languages soon,” says Dr Jagatanand Bhatkar, assistant secretary of the Marathi Vishwakosh Centre associated with the project. “For those who can’t read, there are audio books available.”

“Book shops are shutting down in cities and to see a village embracing this concept is very moving,” says corporate communications manager Ganesh Mane (centre), who drove from Pune, two hours away.

“They are not just readers who walk in, they are also our guests,” says Ganpatram Parathe, who has created a reading space in his courtyard. “Besides, we want them to come again and tell others too.”

“Book shops are shutting down in cities and to see a village embracing this concept is very moving,” says corporate communications manager Ganesh Mane, who drove here from Pune, two hours away.

“I’d been wanting to visit ever since I first read about the book village opening on Thursday,” says lawyer Rhea Kadam, 25, from Mumbai, who cancelled lunch plans with relatives so she could come here with her 23-year-old brother. “My brother’s been taking photos all day, to inspire others in Mumbai to come too. There are books here that I have never seen or heard of anywhere else.”

Rohan Kadam, 23, from Mumbai visited with his sister Rhea. “I’d been wanting to visit ever since I first read about the book village opening on Thursday,” she said.

The villagers are excited about the project too—it’s allowing them to connect with people they might not otherwise meet, and showcase their village in an all-new way. It’s also helping them make friends. Manda Sham Bhilare, a strawberry farmer who lives alone and has a library in her home, says she doesn’t miss her children any more, thanks to the project. “My house has sports and children’s books so I am entertaining children daily,” she says. “Also right now, there’s no work in the fields, so it’s nice to have company and something to do.”

Villagers are so excited about the state government’s book village initiative, they’re serving fresh strawberries and juice to visitors. Manda Sham Bhilare, a strawberry farmer who lives alone and has a library in her home, says she doesn’t miss her children any more, thanks to the project. “My house has sports and children’s books so I am entertaining children daily,” she says.

Ganpat Bhilare is so excited about welcoming readers into his courtyard that he insists on treating each new group to a plate of strawberries from his fields first. “This is the best thing to have happened,” he says. “I meet new people, I get to know about what’s happening with them and also share knowledge about strawberries and farming techniques. One couple wanted to know how to choose the best strawberries and I showed them… the trick is in the colour and number of seeds!”

“It’s not all about books either. One couple wanted to know how to choose the best strawberries and I showed them… the trick is in the colour and number of seeds,” says Ganpat Bhilare, another host.