Cafe Book Mark, a book stall and reading room on the premises of Ayyankali Hall, attracts bookworms

Cafe Book Mark, book stall and reading room, on premises of Ayyankali Hall in Thiruvananthapuram, opens

Abin Biju from Pathanamthitta is immersed in his reading material at a quiet corner in a small heritage building on the premises of Ayyankali Hall at Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram. Studying for the examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, he says he finds the book-lined space an ideal spot to study as it is peaceful, tidy and centrally located.

Abdullah Musafir, a civil service aspirant from Malappuram, is engrossed in a newspaper that he has selected from the dailies arranged neatly in a rack in the sun-lit room.

Book Cafe, inaugurated on June 19, is a haven for readers. Open from 9am to 9pm every day, it has become a place for students and bookworms.

Conceptualised by Abraham Mathew, Secretary, Kerala State Book Mark, under the Department of Culture, the plan was to revitalise the outlet, which used to sell government publications and major works in Malayalam.

Says Abraham: “When I joined Book Mark, the building was in a dilapidated state and the tiled roof was leaking. The book stall that used to function there was closed. I had the place renovated into a welcoming space that offered visitors a comfortable reading experience. They are welcome to browse through the books or read and are under no pressure to buy.”

Instead of a library with membership rules and restrictions on borrowing of books, he envisaged a space where people could drop in to read, write or study. His proposal was accepted by the Kerala State Planning Board and ₹10 lakh was allotted for starting the project and renovating the space.

Abraham explains that to maintain the sanctity of the heritage space, roof tiles were bought from Thrissur to replace broken ones. Two young designers were entrusted with the job of transforming the dingy space into an airy, sunny room. Based around the idea that knowledge enlightens the mind, even the lampshades in the Book Cafe are designed to resemble book covers.