New bookstores in North Chennai foster literary culture and community engagement
New bookstores in North Chennai are revitalizing the local literary scene by providing community spaces for events, discussions, and open mics. These initiatives aim to make literature more accessible to residents who previously had to travel to other parts of the city.
Why it matters
The growth of independent bookstores serves as a vital indicator of grassroots cultural development and community engagement in urban areas.
Started in December last year by N Vijayakumar, an advocate in the Madras High Court, MS Shahjahan, a school record clerk, and N Venmani, an architect, VadaChennai Vaasi has a mix of fiction and nonfiction, apart from children’s books. “If someone from the neighbourhood wanted a particular book to read, they had to make their way to shops in places such as Teynampet or Vadapalani,” says Vijayakumar. He and his friends wanted to change this, making reading more accessible to people from North Chennai.
Books at VadaChennai Vasi | Photo Credit: Special arrangement
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