Arunima Mazumdar’s deep-seated love for Japanese literature inspired her to establish the Dokusha Book Club, a community devoted to delving into the extensive and diverse realm of Japanese fiction through translation. The book club, inaugurated in January of the previous year, has garnered a significant following on Instagram, amassing over 3,500 followers who share a mutual adoration for Japanese storytelling.
Mazumdar’s foray into Japanese literature commenced over a decade ago when she was gifted a copy of Haruki Murakami’s Sputnik Sweetheart by a close acquaintance. This ignited her passion for the enthralling narratives encapsulated within Japanese fiction, which ultimately propelled her to create a space where she could connect with like-minded individuals who share an appreciation for the allure of Japanese tales.
The concept of the book club was born out of Mazumdar’s yearning to partake in meaningful discussions centred on Japanese literature with fellow aficionados. Despite having friends who were avid readers, she found that they did not share her fervor for Japanese fiction. This impelled her to establish an Instagram page dedicated to chronicling her literary journey and extending an invitation for others to partake in the experience.
Despite its narrow focus, the Dokusha Book Club has flourished into a community of 600 registered members hailing from diverse cities across India, including, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, as well as Dehradun, Jorhat, Guwahati, and Cuttack. The platform has captivated readers of varying ages, including professors and scholars of Japanese literature from esteemed institutions such as Jadavpur University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and The English and Foreign Languages University.
The club’s reading list primarily features literary and crime fiction, with occasional inclusions from lesser-known authors and female writers. Mazumdar also intends to introduce non-fiction works in the future to diversify the reading experience for members. Moreover, the club orchestrates physical meet-ups, providing an avenue for members to partake in face-to-face discussions and forge connections with fellow Japanese literature enthusiasts.
In addition to nurturing a profound affection for Japanese literature, Mazumdar endeavours to promote the translation of Japanese literary works into Indian languages. She believes that by advocating for the translation of Japanese literature, a greater number of readers will gain access to the plethora of stories and narratives encompassing Japanese culture.
The emergence and proliferation of book clubs such as Dokusha epitomize a favourable trend within the literary community, dispelling the notion of diminishing readership in the digital era. With aspirations to extend its physical presence to other cities and potentially launch a literary magazine, the Dokusha Book Club is poised to exert a substantial influence on the appreciation and accessibility of Japanese literature in India.
Amidst the burgeoning prevalence of virtual and physical book clubs, the Dokusha Book Club emerges as an embodiment of the enduring influence of storytelling and the aspiration for meaningful literary engagement. As Arunima Mazumdar continues to cultivate a vibrant community centred around Japanese literature, her endeavours are certain to inspire a new generation of readers and bridge cultural divides through the love of storytelling.