Surat is going through a metamorphosis. The city known for churning more industrialists than poets is changing its ways. And this is an attempt to highlight these "undercurrents"... happenings which are slowly but steadily changing the way of life in Surat. In this section of the blog we plan to list 5 happenings of Surat every week... Happenings which highlight the positive changes happening to our #LifeInSurat... happenings which are positive/fresh/transitional or just happy :) Story 1 - Spring Is Here!

April first week heralds the coming of Spring! ‘Tis the time of the year when Surtis feel the rush of heat against their face every morning :l But you also get to see the nature around you blooming... you can also let out your summer/spring collection that keeps looking at you from the back of your wardrobe :P Following are a few pictures representing the spring by Surtis from our Instagram Network -

Spring in a Bottle. Image Courtesy - Puja Kedia

Story 2 - Surat Bags The Best City Award.

Surat was adjudged The Best City For The Quality Of Life and Best City In City Systems in a survey which considered 50 top Indian Cities. (Yay!) These are a few pictures from our Instagram Network -

Story 3 - Salil Bhatt in Surat. #SPICMAYCAY

Internationally acclaimed instrumentalist and inventor of Satvik Veena, Salil Bhatt enthralled Surtis in a series of programs. The initiative was taken by the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth (SPICMACAY) Surat Chapter, during which Mr. Bhatt delivered lectures and demonstrations at six educational institutes. He was accompanied by nationally acclaimed tabla artist Himanshu Mahant. Around 800 students witnessed the performances. Following is a picture of him playing at one of the schools from our Instagram Network -

Story 4 - The Bullet Battalion Surat !!!

Surat has its own Bullet Bikers Gang !!!! This is something we did not know until this last week when they organized a biking trip. The gang started from the Mercedes Showroom in Piplod and finished at Wilson Hill (150 KMs away). We are in touch with them and you can expect a full on blog post on them in coming days !!! Till then please manage with this teaser :P

The Bullet Battalion at Wilson Hills !!!

Story 5 - Cloud-Cloud ho gaya!

Surat saw awesome cloud formations happening in its skies a few days back. All the social networks were full of pictures of skies and cloud formations... Following are few of the best pictures clicked by Surtis from our Instagram Network -

So this is all we have to report for our first edition of this series :) We will be continuing this through the coming weeks. Please Share this post... and also we are present on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (search for LifeInSurat)... please follow our handles, tag us in your Surat related updates and help us in compiling stories like these :)

Lets Celebrate Our Life In Surat !!!

Chao!

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.