Lampshade Writers in Kolkata

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Back in November 2020 when many were cooped up at home due to Pandemic, Lampshade Writers was born. Inspired by a community in Milwaukee, US, where poets and writers met, exchanged their work, sought feedback and slowly became a community having meals together, publishing books, becoming friends.  The idea was simple: meet to read their poems and share their thoughts.

The warm and welcoming mileu from people of different ethnicities and cultures, experienced in my stay from 2015 to 2019 in Milwaukee, remained with me. It only pointed to the thought that no matter our experiences in life, we are connected by words and feelings. 

Back to 2020, the idea of a community was loved by the online junta who wanted that outlet for their pain and agony in November 2020 that we were connected by. We moved to in-person Readings in Hyderabad and then, in Kolkata, Surela and Ananya, with support from Patrichia spearheaded one in September 2023. It was the first time we had a Reading in a new city and the poets who attended the Reading from Hyderabad (Shravan, me and Shrey ma'am) were welcomed and loved by all. 

The second one was organized in December 2023. And now, the third one is being organized on 20-April at Storyteller bookstore. I will divert here to share that we also maintain a blog where we feature bookstores, independent literary movements among other blogposts. 

We featured Storyteller bookstore which was earlier Mayura founded during 1940s in Kolkata. The bookstore still stands strong and the owners were generous to offer their space. Patrichia who had written about it is now spearheading the April Reading with Surela. 

While we hail from different states, the connection with words unite us and the steps to the warm and welcoming mileu is in Kolkata too. 

And if you're in Kolkata and live through words, then hope you take a peek at the Reading. As Surela summed in her email to the poets, we are an informal group where everyone's welcome. 

If you're in Insta, here's our page | email lampshadewriters@gmail.com to be a part of the community











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