✦ Mysuru · Est. 2010

Where Words
Find a Home

Nurturing readers, celebrating literature, empowering communities across Mysuru since 2010.

The Mysore Book Clubs Charitable Trust is Mysuru's foremost literary organisation: home to thriving book clubs in English and Kannada, an annual literature festival, and a deep commitment to social outreach through the power of reading.

Mysore Lit Festival 2025 → Our Story
15+ Years of Literary Heritage
20+ Active Book Clubs
9 Literature Festival Editions
200+ Books Released & Celebrated
01 📚
Book Clubs

English and Kannada reading circles for children, adults, and senior citizens. Over 20 active clubs across Mysuru, meeting regularly to discuss, debate, and celebrate books.

02 🖊️
Book Releases

Mysuru's most trusted platform for author-reader connection. We host thoughtful, curated book launch events that celebrate local and national literary talent.

03 🤝
Charitable Outreach

Reading programmes in government schools, shelter homes, and institutions for differently-abled students. Literature as a bridge to social equity.

04 🎊
Literature Festival

The annual Mysuru Literature Festival, Karnataka's beloved full-scale bilingual literary gathering, attracting acclaimed authors from across India and the world since 2017.

Our Pillars

Literature as a
Way of Life

Four interconnected wings that together make Mysuru a city where reading, writing, and community are inseparable.

Shubha Sanjay Urs
Shubha Sanjay Urs Founder & Managing Trustee
Our Founder

A Vision Born of
Love for Words

In 2010, Shubha Sanjay Urs founded Mysuru's first English Book Club: one for children, one for adults. What began as intimate reading circles grew into a city-wide literary movement.

Today, as Founder, Managing Trustee, and Festival Director, Shubha leads the Trust's work spanning book clubs, charitable outreach, and the Mysuru Literature Festival, which she curated from its very first edition in 2017.

Her vision: a Mysuru where every child, every woman, every community has access to the joy of reading.

What's On

Upcoming Events

🎊 Literature Festival
10th Mysuru Literature Festival
ಮೈಸೂರು ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ
📅 2026: Dates TBA
📍 Mysuru
🎟️ Free Entry
Register Interest →
As Covered By
Press Gallery

In the News

Tap any clipping to view the full coverage.

Stay connected with Mysuru's literary heartbeat

Mysore Book Clubs Charitable Trust

Building Mysuru's
Literary Soul

From a single book circle in 2010 to a city-wide movement: our story is one of words, community, and an unwavering belief that reading changes lives.

Our Journey
2010

The First Circles

English Book Club for Children and Adults founded in Mysuru.

2012

Kannada Odugara Okkoota

Kannada Book Club established, bringing regional literature to the fore.

2015

Invitation-Based Memberships

Book club membership opened to readers across Mysuru.

2017

Literary Forum & First Lit Fest

Mysuru Literary Forum Charitable Trust established. First Mysuru Literature Festival curated.

2025

9th Literature Festival

Continuing to grow with worldwide participants and audiences.

A City That Reads Together Grows Together

In 2010, Shubha Sanjay Urs founded the first English Book Club in Mysuru: two small reading circles, one for children and one for adults. It was a simple, powerful idea: that reading together builds community.

By 2012, the Kannada Odugara Okkoota joined the fold, ensuring that Mysuru's regional literary heritage had a home alongside its English counterpart. In 2015, invitation-based memberships opened the book clubs to a wider circle of Mysuru readers.

In 2017, Shubha curated the inaugural Mysuru Literature Festival, a platform for authors and readers to meet, exchange ideas, and celebrate the written word.

Today, the Trust runs over 20 book clubs catering to diverse groups: senior citizens, children, the underprivileged, and differently-abled students. As part of social outreach program, Our members visit orphanages and special schools, carrying books and stories into spaces where they matter most.

We believe that literature is not a luxury. It is a right.

Our Mission

What We Do Every Day

To promote literacy, encourage reading, and deepen appreciation for the written word amongst all sections of society, for the development and betterment of the reading habit in Mysuru and beyond.

Our Vision

The City We're Building

A Mysuru where every child grows up as a reader, every community has access to literature, and the city is known across India as a place where words are valued, celebrated, and shared.

Leadership

Board of Trustees

Shubha Sanjay Urs
Shubha Sanjay Urs
Founder, Managing Trustee & Festival Director

The driving force behind Mysore Book Clubs Charitable Trust and the Mysuru Literature Festival. Since 2010, Shubha has built Mysuru's foremost literary ecosystem: from a single reading circle to a city-wide movement spanning book clubs, charitable outreach, book releases, and an internationally recognised annual literature festival. She has participated in the Jaipur Bookmark Director's Roundtable and is a voice for regional literary festivals in India.

Raian Irani
Raian Irani
Trustee

A committed member of the Trust's governing board, contributing to the growth and governance of the organisation's literary and charitable activities.

Sam Cherian
Sam Cherian
Vice Chairman & Trustee

Vice Chairman of the Mysuru Literary Forum Charitable Trust, providing leadership and strategic direction to the organisation's programmes.

Thankam Panakal
Thankam Panakal
Trustee

A valued member of the Board, actively involved in shaping the Trust's cultural and community engagement initiatives.

Kitty Mandana
Kitty Mandana
Trustee

An active trustee and representative of Mysuru Book Clubs at events and book releases across the city.

C.R. Hanumanth
C.R. Hanumanth
Trust Administrator

Responsible for the administrative functioning and operational excellence of the Trust across its multiple programmes.

Our Book Clubs

Four Circles, One Community

English
English Book Club: Adults

Mysuru's first English reading circle for adults, bringing together readers across the city for monthly discussions on fiction, non-fiction, and everything in between.

2010
English
English Book Club: Children

Nurturing the next generation of readers. A dedicated space for young Mysureans to discover the joy of books, storytelling, and imagination.

2010
English
English Book Club for Young Adults

Nurturing the next generation of readers. A dedicated space for young Mysureans to discover the joy of books, storytelling, and imagination.

2010
ಕನ್ನಡ
Kannada Odugara Okkoota

Mysuru's Kannada reading circle, celebrating regional literature, authors, and the richness of the Kannada literary tradition.

2012
Support Us

Your Donation Funds
A Reading Revolution

All donations to Mysore Book Clubs Charitable Trust are eligible for tax deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.

Donate Now Contact the Trust
Mysore Book Clubs

Where Books Find Their
First Readers

Mysuru's most trusted platform for author-reader engagement. We curate intimate, thoughtful book launch events that give every book the welcome it deserves.

Upcoming Releases

Next on Our Shelves



When Science Meets The Soul
Upcoming
When Science Meets The Soul
by Dr. Vipul Mankad, M.D.
📅 February 2026
📍 The Sorento, V.V. Mohalla, Mysuru
🕔 5:00 PM
👤 Moderated by Dr. Nalini Chandar

A thought-provoking work that explores the intersection of medical science and spiritual inquiry, moderated in conversation by Dr. Nalini Chandar.

Add to Calendar
Travel Tales & Close Encounters
Travel Tales & Close Encounters
Edited by Maithili Rao & Rinki Roy Bhattacharya
📅 April 10, 2026
📍 Hotel Southern Star, Vinoba Road
🕔 5:00 PM
👤 Released by S. Subbaraman; Dr. Nalini Chandar in conversation

An anthology of personal essays on travel and encounter, released by retired Superintending Archaeological Chemist S. Subbaraman, with Trust Founder-President Shubha Sanjay Urs presiding.

Add to Calendar
Past Releases

Books We Have Celebrated



Soul To The World
Soul To The World
by Kirthana Uthappa
March 2026 · Poetry
Every Peck a Rainbow
Every Peck a Rainbow
by Kavita Ratna
June 2025 · Poetry
Matilla Gurutu Ede
Matilla Gurutu Ede
by B.M. Praveen
May 2026 · Kannada Fiction
In True Colours
In True Colours
by Ashvini Ranjan
2024 · Photography & Art
For Authors

Host Your Book
Release With Us

Mysore Book Clubs Charitable Trust offers authors a curated, dignified platform to launch their books to Mysuru's most engaged reading community. We handle curation, invitations, and a thoughtful audience.

Get in Touch

What We Offer

✦ A curated, intellectually engaged audience of book club members and readers
✦ A skilled moderator/interlocutor for author conversations
✦ Press and media coverage through established relationships
✦ Promotion through book club networks and social media
✦ Post-event archival and documentation
Charitable Outreach

Literature as a
Force for Good

Books do not just entertain; they empower. Our charitable programmes carry the gift of reading to communities across Mysuru that need it most.

Our Programmes

Where We Show Up

🏫
Government School Reading Clubs

We run active reading clubs in government schools across Mysuru, placing books in children's hands and building reading habits early. Trust members visit regularly, reading aloud and encouraging discussion.

🏠
Shelter Home Reading Sessions

Our members visit shelter homes and orphanages to read to children and adults, offering stories, companionship, and a window to other worlds through books.

🤲
Differently-Abled & Special Schools

Reading programmes designed for differently-abled and intellectually-challenged students, ensuring that the joy of literature reaches every child regardless of ability.

👩
Women & Girl-Child Education

Supporting the education of the girl-child through targeted donations and reading empowerment programmes, with a focus on women's voices in literature and life.

Our Impact

When Mysuru Needed Us,
We Were There

2018
Kodagu Flood Relief

Contributed to flood-affected victims and families in Kodagu district following the devastating floods.

2020–21
COVID-19 Support

Partnered with the Mysore District Administration during the COVID pandemic with donations and community support.

Ongoing
Girl-Child Education

Sustained contributions towards the education of underprivileged girl-children in and around Mysuru.

Be Part of
the Story

Whether you give your time as a volunteer reader or support us through a donation, every contribution creates lasting impact in the lives of Mysuru's most deserving communities.

Volunteer With Us Donate to the Trust
MLF
✦ 10th Edition · 2026

Mysuru
Literature
Festival

ಮೈಸೂರು ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ
Dates TBA · 2026
📍 Mysuru
🎟️ Free Entry
Register Interest View 2025 Edition
Mysuru Literature Festival 2026 Logo
2026 Festival Identity
About the Festival

Karnataka's Beloved Full-Scale
Bilingual Literary Gathering

The Mysuru Literature Festival was born in 2017 from a simple conviction: that Mysuru, a city steeped in culture and intellectual heritage, deserved its own literary festival of the highest order.

Each year, the Festival brings together acclaimed authors, poets, historians, filmmakers, and thinkers from across India and the world, in conversation with Mysuru's engaged, curious audience.

Over nine editions, the Festival has hosted former Chief Election Commissioners, Padma Shri awardees, celebrated filmmakers, NDTV journalists, historians, novelists, and wildlife conservationists. Entry has always been free, because we believe great literature belongs to everyone.

The Festival is presented bilingually, in English and Kannada, honouring both the cosmopolitan and the rooted character of Mysuru.

9 Editions Completed
2017 Year Founded
Free Always Free to Attend
🌍 Worldwide Participants
Speakers Gallery

Voices That Have
Graced Our Stage

Jeffrey Archer
Jeffrey Archer
Bestselling British Author & Former MP
Jayanth Kaikini
Jayanth Kaikini
Kannada Poet, Lyricist & Story Writer
Romulus Whitaker
Romulus Whitaker
Wildlife Conservationist & Herpetologist
Banu Mushtaq
Banu Mushtaq
Writer & Activist · Int'l Booker Winner
Manjamma Jogathi
Manjamma Jogathi
Padma Shri · Jogati Folk Dancer
Rajalakshmi N Rao
Rajalakshmi N Rao
Author & Educationist
Vikram Sampath
Vikram Sampath
Historian & Author
Amish Tripathi
Amish Tripathi
Bestselling Author · Shiva Trilogy
Krishne Gowda
Krishne Gowda
Kannada Writer & Academic
Gangavathi Pranesh
Gangavathi Pranesh
Kannada Humorist & Orator
Bhawana Somaaya
Bhawana Somaaya
Film Historian & Critic
Ruth Padel
Ruth Padel
British Poet & Author
Dharmendra Kumar
Dharmendra Kumar
Author & Speaker
Sudha Murthy
Sudha Murthy
Author, Philanthropist & Rajya Sabha MP
Rickey Kej
Rickey Kej
Grammy-winning Composer & Environmentalist
R. Balasubramaniam
R. Balasubramaniam
Development Activist & Author
K.N Ganeshaiah
K.N Ganeshaiah
Scientist & Kannada Writer
Suresh Heblikar
Suresh Heblikar
Filmmaker & Environmentalist
Aravind Ramesh
Aravind Ramesh
Author & Speaker
Ila Arun
Ila Arun
Singer, Actor & Lyricist
Festival Archive

A Decade of
Literary Celebrations

From the inaugural edition in 2017 to today: nine years of authors, conversations, and the magic of words in Mysuru.

2017
1st Edition

The Inaugural Festival

Mysuru's first literature festival, curated by Shubha Sanjay Urs, a bold new platform for author-reader engagement in the Cultural Capital of Karnataka.

MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
MLF 2017
2018
2nd Edition

Growing the Movement

The festival deepened its roots with distinguished guests including entrepreneur and author Aroon Raman and Dr. Shenoi, whose generosity included a donation of ₹10 lakhs to the Trust.

MLF 2018
MLF 2018
MLF 2018
MLF 2018
MLF 2018
MLF 2018
MLF 2018
MLF 2018
MLF 2018
MLF 2018
MLF 2018
2019
3rd Edition

National Voices, Local Stage

A landmark year with a stellar lineup: former Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, former Ambassador Nirupama Rao, historian Manu Pillai, wildlife conservationist Romulus Whitaker, and filmmaker T.S. Nagabharana.

MLF 2019
MLF 2019
MLF 2019
MLF 2019
MLF 2019
2020–21
Pandemic Years

A Pause, But Not a Full Stop

The COVID-19 pandemic paused in-person festivities. The Trust redirected its energy to community support, partnering with the Mysore District Administration in relief efforts.

MLF 2020–21
MLF 2020–21
MLF 2020–21
MLF 2020–21
MLF 2020–21
MLF 2020–21
MLF 2020–21
MLF 2020–21
MLF 2020–21
2022
6th Edition

The Return

The festival returned with renewed energy, bringing Mysuru's literary community back together after the pandemic years, celebrating the resilience of readers and writers alike.

MLF 2022
2023
7th Edition

Voices & Visions

Another year of rich dialogue, featuring authors, poets, and thinkers from across India. The festival continued its tradition of free, open access for all Mysureans.

MLF 2023
2024
8th Edition

Poetry in the Digital Age

A thought-provoking edition exploring the relevance of poems and literature in an era of online relationships, with Padma Shri awardee Dr. Khadar Valli Dudekula on health, food, and wellbeing.

MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
MLF 2024
2025
9th Edition · July 5–6, 2025

The Most Recent Chapter

The 9th Mysuru Literature Festival, continuing the tradition of world-class literary engagement, free for all, in the heart of Mysuru. Authors and audiences from across India and abroad gathered once again at ಮೈಸೂರು ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ.

MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
MLF 2025
Programme

A Day at the Festival

Day 1
Day 2
9:30 AM
Inaugural Session & Welcome Address
Chief Guest · Shubha Sanjay Urs, Festival Director
Inaugural
10:15 AM
Keynote: Literature in a Fractured World
Eminent Author / Public Figure
Keynote
11:30 AM
Panel: Voices from the Margins
Three Panellists · Moderated Discussion
Panel
2:00 PM
Children's Session: Stories Come Alive
Children's Author in Conversation
Children
3:30 PM
Kannada Literary Session: ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ
Kannada Authors & Poets
Kannada
5:00 PM
Evening Conversation: In Dialogue
Featured Author One-on-One
Conversation
Partner With Us

Become a Festival Partner

Associate your brand or organisation with one of Karnataka's most respected literary events. The Mysuru Literature Festival offers meaningful, curated visibility to an audience of educated, engaged, and culture-forward Mysureans.

Sponsorship Enquiry
Title Sponsor

Premier naming rights, stage presence, and maximum brand visibility across all festival communications.

Session Sponsor

Sponsor a curated session or panel, with dedicated branding and the opportunity to introduce speakers.

Community Partner

Support the festival's free and open ethos while positioning your organisation as a champion of culture in Mysuru.

Archive · Since 2010

Past Events
Timeline

A year-wise archive of Mysore Book Clubs Charitable Trust’s journey, from reading circles and book releases to charitable outreach and the Mysuru Literature Festival.

Book ClubsBook ReleasesLiterary FestivalCharitable Outreach
Year-wise Archive

From a Reading Circle to a City Literary Movement

A year-by-year account of how a handful of reading circles grew into a city-wide literary movement.

2010
Book Club Milestone

Book Club Origins

The reading movement begins with English book circles for adults and children, creating a steady community around shared reading and conversation.

2011
Community Reading

Early Reading Circles Grow

Member-led discussions, informal meets and children-focused reading moments help the initiative build rhythm across Mysuru.

2012
Kannada Literature

Kannada Odugara Okkoota Begins

The Kannada reading circle is introduced, widening the Trust’s language base and celebrating Mysuru’s regional literary identity.

2013
Literary Dialogue

Author Conversations & Reading Meets

The community starts moving beyond closed circles into more public-facing conversations with authors, readers and literary enthusiasts.

2014
Community Network

Building a City Literary Network

A stronger network of volunteers, readers and organisers forms the groundwork for larger events and book-led community activity.

2015
Trust Milestone

Charitable Trust Identity Takes Shape

The literary initiative begins to gain a more formal charitable direction, linking reading culture with public service and outreach.

2016
Book Releases

Book Releases & Literary Outreach

Book launches, curated readings and author introductions become a stronger part of the Trust’s public literary calendar.

2017
Festival Edition

First Mysuru Literature Festival

The inaugural Mysuru Literature Festival creates a full-scale platform for authors, thinkers and readers in the cultural capital of Karnataka.

2018
Festival Edition

Second Festival Edition

The festival grows in confidence with more conversations, guests and public participation, strengthening Mysuru’s position on the literary map.

2019
Festival Edition

National Voices on a Mysuru Stage

The festival brings prominent voices from public life, history, cinema, journalism and conservation into conversation with Mysuru audiences.

2020
Community Support

Community Care During the Pandemic

In-person literary activity slows, but the Trust’s spirit continues through relief-oriented action and community responsibility.

2021
Reconnection

Reading Community Reconnects

The Trust sustains its literary network through quieter formats, planning and preparation for the return of larger gatherings.

2022
Festival Edition

Festival Returns with Renewed Energy

The literature festival and public programmes return with renewed audience energy after the pandemic pause.

2023
Literary Events

Expanded Literary Engagement

Book releases, club activity and festival programming continue to bring together established names and emerging conversations.

2024
Annual Events

Stronger Public Programming

The Trust’s annual calendar continues to combine festivals, book launches, reading sessions and community-oriented events.

2025
Festival Edition

Ninth Mysuru Literature Festival

The ninth edition continues the festival’s free-to-attend legacy with authors, audiences and bilingual literary celebration.

2026
Current Year

Next Chapter in Progress

The 2026 festival identity marks the next stage of Mysuru Literature Festival’s growth, with the archive ready to house the year’s moments.