The Nagpur Book Club (NBC) celebrated World Book Day 2025 with a vibrant and engaging gathering at the Chitnavis Centre, Nagpur. The meet, a signature event of the club, was hosted by its founder, Dr. Tejinder Singh Rawal, known for his passion for books, literature, and community-building. Under his guidance, NBC has grown into one of Nagpur’s most dynamic literary collectives.
This year’s celebration carried a unique and delightful theme: “Mango.” Dr. Rawal opened the session with a captivating review of the book Mangifera Indica by Sopan Joshi. He traced the fascinating coevolution of mangoes and humans over 4.5 billion years, highlighting how the fruit has become a cultural icon in India. His talk explored the history, diversity, and significance of mangoes such as the regal Alphonso, the sweet Kesar, the aromatic Dashehri, and many others that make up the mosaic of Indian horticulture.
Adding a creative twist, the evening featured a humorous and imaginative skit in which members of NBC personified popular mango varieties. Pushpa Rathi took the stage as ‘Dashehri’ mango, passionately asserting its supremacy among the mango clan. Rinku Matharu donned the persona of ‘Langda’ mango, revealing intriguing anecdotes about its origin. Ashok Rathi, as ‘Totapuri’, spoke about its culinary versatility and explained his preference for calling it ‘Totapari’ due to its curvy shape. Rohit Tokhi championed the ‘Banganapalli’ mango, which he described as the “King of Hearts,” loved for its soft, fibreless pulp and universal appeal.
Anil Saxena brought the house down with his performance as ‘Kesar’ mango, channelling the charisma of Amitabh Bachchan while declaring Kesar as the “mango of the masses.” Dr. Tejinder Singh Rawal played the grand ‘Alphonso’, asserting its royal status as the most coveted mango of all, known for its singular origin and luxurious reputation. RJ Tejal brought attention to the humble ‘Desi’ or ‘Gaavrani’ mango, emphasising how this often-overlooked variety has the longest shelf life and remains a cherished favourite in rural India. Dinesh Dhawane supported her by pointing out the diverse range of Desi mangoes grown locally, many of which remain unknown to the mainstream market.
The spirited performance sparked lively conversation and playful debate among the members about their favourite mangoes, blending literature with laughter. The entire skit was directed and compered with flair by RJ Tejal, whose energy kept the audience enthralled throughout.
Following the skit, Rohit Tokhi conducted a literature quiz that tested the members’ knowledge of books and authors, with mangoes awarded as prizes to the winners. Continuing a beloved NBC tradition, Lata Tokhi brought a beautifully themed mango cake, which senior members of the club cut to honour the occasion.
The celebration also included a meaningful moment — the installation ceremony of the Manzil Foundation, an NGO dedicated to the upliftment of underprivileged children. Dr. Tejinder Singh Rawal was elected President of the Foundation for the year 2025–26, further underlining his commitment to social causes and education.
The evening concluded with a delightful spread of snacks and high tea, allowing members to mingle and reflect on the event. NBC patrons Amarjit Singh and Rinku Matharu played key roles in organising and ensuring the success of the event.
About Nagpur Book Club:
Established in April 2015, Nagpur Book Club is a non-profit, non-subscription community formed to promote a love for reading across all age groups. With members ranging from 8 to 80, the club organises monthly book discussions and regularly engages in social and cultural initiatives, including blood donation drives, book donations, and literary events. NBC also maintains the IPC-NBC Free Public Library, offering free access to a vast collection of books for the public. Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Rawal, NBC continues to be a beacon of literary enthusiasm and social commitment in Central India.
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