Event – Author-Reader Meet with

Organizers – Bookoholics Group (Surat)

Venue – SVNIT Guesthouse, Piplod

Must Visit for – Book Lovers, Bibliophiles, Writers

PART I – Click Here.

Contributors – Puja Kedia Photography (Pictures), Members Bookoholics Group (Text)

Deepak -

"First of all, hearty thanks for taking such a wonderful initiative and passionately sticking to it. This has been a place, a group, where in I long to be present. In the meet today the presence of an authority was in the air, I can just say this. - All the reasons would have proved bad if they ever ruled over my not attending this meet."

Rani Dharker at Bookoholics Author-Reader Meet

Manashni -

Hands down, This was the best meet ever by Bookoholics. The lady in blue, Ms.Rani Dharker is an institution in herself.There was so much we learned from her... But as the saying goes, True knowledge leaves one craving for more,I personally felt longing for more. The time just flew past by us ; admist her book reading and the torrent of questions by the members (which were handled brilliantly by her)But what really held us captive was her charisma and her unflinching honesty!! She spoke her mind without compromising on her sophistication... Hats off to The English Lady!!

The events of the day were aptly interlinked by Shrey and Pinak with their classy hosting ,giving the entire event an holistic feel. I am abundantly proud to be a part of this wonderful team. Every time I return home after a meet, my world changes a wee bit, albeit for the better!! Each meet gives me so much- Knowledge, Sharing, recognition, contacts, great pictures (Thanx,Puja!) but above all, Awesome friends!!!

Rani reading a few excerpts from Arunima.

Rani Dharker at the Author-Reader Meet with Bookoholics

Keshav -

She highlighted the essential difference between 'literature' and 'mediocre writing' with such subtleness that I couldn't help but admire her. Looking forward to more of such meets, and if possible, reading The Virgin Syndrome.

Question-Answer Session with Rani moderated by Pinak.

Arvind at Question-Answer Session with Rani.

Group Photo. Bookoholics with Rani Dharkar. #AuthorReaderMeet

Rohan -

Now here was a meet that was, after a long time, very different from the rest. Thoroughly enjoyed the reading session. I particularly liked the part where ms. Dharkar read the umbrella paragraph from anurima. Also the question session was very nice. Although not agreeing with all the answers, it was very poised and dignified.

Interactions at Bookoholics Author Reader Meet.

Refer to Bookoholics with Rani Dharkar Part I for more - http://lifeinsurat.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/bookoholics-with-rani-dharker-part-i/

Also Next Bookoholics Author Reader Meet is scheduled for Friday 22nd March. More Details - https://www.facebook.com/events/169947356489539/

When are you taking your next vacation ??? Have you decided on the destination yet ??? Is it in India or Abroad ??? Are you planning a visit to someplace nearby or somewhere far away ??? Let me quickly suggest a destination -> SURAT. Yes... take a break and get lost in your own city... i am sure you will realize that so much has been here all along... and yet you have been far away... Also... don't go alone... take this with you.

There is so much more to Surat than what meets the eye but all we do is get baffled by the chaos on the road sides on Sundays... curse ourselves when we get stuck in the traffic menace near Station... drain our energy visiting textile markets and seeing the sea of humanity getting crushed under the myriad of different cloth fabrics... and think Surat is limited to few malls which have come up in last couple of years or so.

Have we ever made that effort to know what Surat really is or has been... things like how on earth an Eiffel Tower replica ended up on Parle Point ??? Or how did Rangooni Parantha/Khawase (Burmese Dishes) ended up being common at Laries of Rander... Or how is there a Dutch cemetery in Surat ???

Here are a few of those answers -> Last Sunday saw the book launch of 'KhoobSurat - Hope for Heritage' by Ashleshaa Khurana published by The Times Of India Publications. It is a collection of Ashleshaa's columns from the TOI.

The book launch event took place in the Science Center. Following are a few images from the launch event -

Ashleshaa as such needs no introductions... her column/blog is our absolute favorite. As quoted in the TOI - "From Surat Civic Polls to the quietly flowing Tapi, from heritage buildings to Panjarapoles, from a jewish cemetery to the latest in Garba fashion - the column has been lovingly chronicling the life and times of Surat". Her columns were a big influence on us when we started this @LifeInSurat Blog as well. And it was an absolute treat for us to get an "autographed" copy of her book at the launch event :)

Following are a few more images of our treasured copy and of the Book Launch Event at the Science Center.

Do grab your copy of the book and spread the word, it sure is a #MustRead for every Surti. Also if you are a fan (like us) do leave a few words of appreciation for Ashleshaa and we promise we would communicate the same to her. The book is available in Bookworld (Kanaknidhi).

From One Lover Of Surat To Another.

Bookoholics with Rani Dharkar – Part II

From One Lover Of Surat To Another

Loves Making Photographs.

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