Even as the 2025 International Kolkata Book Fair is ongoing, the City of Joy, on Friday, witnessed a unique literary affair. It rolled through the streets instead of confining to a venue. A group of book lovers organised a book fair on wheels, by transforming a vintage tram into a moving library.
Brimming with hundreds of books, this special tramcar ran between Esplanade and Shyambazar, reflecting Kolkata’s literary heritage just days before Bengalis celebrate Saraswati Puja, the festival dedicated to worshipping the goddess of knowledge and learning.
A group by the name of Saraswati Bhandar creatively combined the city's deep-rooted reading culture with its nostalgia for trams, all in support of a meaningful cause.
They decorated a special Balaka tram, single-compartment carriers typically reserved for heritage rides and special occasions, with pictures of Rabindranath Tagore and other luminaries of Bengali literature. The tram was packed with books, ready to take the joy of reading directly to those who need it most.
The Saraswati Bhandar steered the tram towards underprivileged communities, especially children, who do not get the opportunity to visit the Kolkata Book Fair.
The organisers invited children to pick any book of their choice, entirely free of cost. However, the initiative was open to all, welcoming book lovers from every walk of life to claim a literary treasure.
The tram, carrying an eclectic mix of old and new books in Bengali and English, made multiple stops along its five-kilometre journey between Shyambazar and Esplanade. The collection featured works by some of Bengal’s greatest minds, including Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
Extending their efforts beyond the tram route, Saraswati Bhandar also delivered books to children at the historic Calcutta Orphanage, one of India’s oldest orphanages founded in 1892.
Through this initiative, the group not only celebrated Kolkata’s deep-rooted love for books but also ensured that the gift of knowledge reached those who needed it the most.