Solo Trip day 3: Suited up!

S. S. Baba and I at JLF!
Thanks to AI, I could visually see
 What I actually felt that day!

Suited up in a red blazer, white shirt, and black trousers. Clicked pictures on the entrance of the hostel, the sun doing its job right, and Anjali taking the best shots. It started off really well. Then hopped into our rickshaw and saw Jaipur unfold before us, one route at a time. 

Reached Amer Clarks, today we knew the grind, of the face being scanned and entry being allowed. For today, I had taken the Jaipur bookmark pass, which is where publishers, editors, marketers, and bookshop owners have panel discussions, while the normal pass is for writers’ events mainly. And to my benefit today, the bookmark had two events where Marathi publishers were going to be interviewed, which my father said my grandfather knew. So to start the day on a sweet note, we had a bitter coffee with Parle-G, to balance the bitterness. 

The day began with arriving before time for the session and still not getting a seat to watch my favourite author speak. So I stood at the front. And there was already a long queue to get her author-signed copies. The event was yet to start and go on for 50 minutes, and then the author signing was about to happen, for which bibliophiles had already queued. Of course, it was Sudha Murthy ji’s session, and I was also suppose to take her sign today, but as fortune would have it I met her yesterday only, that too so easily, without much queue and stress. Today, I was here only to listen to my inspiration narrate her process of writing. The session began with so much energy, I could see readers of all ages, from kids to grandparents, and even parents. Her session was so enriching that I literally made notes out of her replies to the interviewer's questions. It was 50 min of balancing the journal, taking notes, clicking pictures, and being lost in her stories like one gets lost in the stories of grandma. 

Clicked this while balancing
my journal, pen, and excitement!

Soon after that, I went to attend a short stories panel discussion hosted by Bhavika Govil. The panel discussion was being held exactly where I was to perform the next day, so I was trying to study the venue, the turnout, the ambience, and the vibe in general of the place. But the topic in discussion was so engaging that I forgot everything and was glued to their discussion. The turnout here was very low; maybe it was one of the morning sessions. 

Then I rushed to where the bookmark sessions were being held, only to find my favourite poet on her way to some session. It was Priya Malik dressed in a royal blue saree, and I stopped by and told her that I love her poems and stories, and she, too, was happy to be meeting her listener. Followed by this, I entered a little banquet hall, where the Harper Collins CEO was in discussion with the host. He talked fondly about his childhood and reading, and how back in the day, the salespeople at the bookshop knew their readers and their choices and acted like an algorithm themselves, by recommending books they might like. He also shed some light on piracy. After the session, I presented him with a copy of ‘The Local Tales.

Post this, I joined Anjali, where Anupama Chopra was in discussion with her publisher. Then had a Sindhi lunch of Dal Pakwan, we both come from a Sindhi engineering college, we had to have it! Post which we had a coffee from crazy coffee, the coffee was okay, but the price was definitely crazy.

I went back to attend a discussion hosted by Anish Gawande in Conversation with Harsha Bhatkal from Popular Prakashan, celebrating 100 years of their publishing house. It was like peeping behind the scenes of a publishing house. Followed by a panel discussion which comprised all leading Marathi publishers, including Popular, Jyotsana, Sakal, Rohan, and a government stakeholder. My question to the publishers got me a round of applause, maybe because I was the youngest and most curious kid in the room. Most of them were 3rd or 4th generation in the business, so I asked them whether passion for publishing stays till your generation, or it becomes more of a business. One of them got a little offended and said he was more passionate than his father, but one of them explained neatly, saying passion does exist, but business should also be looked after equally to keep the publishing house afloat.

After the session, I talked with all the publishers and the team from the Marathi Department. The best part was that they knew my grandfather, Dr. S.S. Bhosale. The sparkle in their eyes and the fondness with which they talked about him made me miss him a little more. After that, I came out near the swimming pool and wondered if we had both come to attend JLF. It would have been the best trip ever, but he is still there in the memories of people he has worked with, and through his writing, and of course, through his grandkids!

Post this, I was confused whether I should attend the Vir Das show, where he talked about his book, or the marketing round table at Bookmark. I saw the Vir Das show had begun, and all of Jaipur was there to attend. I got a glimpse of it and then thought it would be better to attend the marketing roundtable where standalone bookshop owners, authors, editors, and publishing industry experts talked about how to market books in this day and age.

Peacock cafe.

After this, Anjali took me to Peacock Cafe, one of the most romantic places I have ever been to. It was completely candlelit, with traditional music being played live. Nostalgia hit harder when the musicians played the tune of ‘Nani teri morni ko chor le gaye’ on the tabla. We had a spumptous dinner and then finally called it a day!

Happy Reading,

सिddhi Bhosale.

Stay tuned, Indore blogs coming soon!