In a world that never stops scrolling, the Regional College of Management (RCM), Bhubaneswar, chose to do something beautifully radical — it pressed pause. As part of their Mindful Reading Initiative, during AA KA MA BizzBuzz Soirée 2025, Odisha’s most dynamic business carnival, RCM, in collaboration with The Book Turf Library, NHRD Bhubaneswar Chapter, launched the “Bhubaneswar Reads Together” initiative. This was a Silent Reading Movement that was already becoming a ripple of calm across the city.
This wasn’t just another event; it was a cultural shift — a call to breathe, to read, and to reconnect.
A Silent Revolution Begins at AA KA MA 2025
Amid the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of the BizzBuzz Soirée 2025, one session stood out not for its noise, but for its stillness.
On 8th November 2025, students, faculty, and city residents gathered under the open sky at RCM’s lush campus for one hour of complete silence — no phones, no notifications, just books and breathing.
As pages turned softly and the sun filtered through the morning calm, Bhubaneswar witnessed the birth of a Mindful Reading Initiative that blended literature, wellness, and community spirit.
This Silent Reading Session, led by The Book Turf Library, symbolized the essence of modern mindfulness. It was a digital detox that doesn’t demand meditation mats but simply a good book and presence of mind.
The Vision Behind Bhubaneswar Reads Together
The Book Turf Library, a Bhubaneswar-based community library with the belief that “a book can change a life, and a circle can change a community,” launched this initiative to make reading visible again.
Partnering with RCM, the best management college in Bhubaneswar, the movement aims to create reading circles across campuses, libraries, and residential communities. This will transform reading into a collective act of calm, connection, and care.
The core idea is simple yet transformative:
“One Book. Twenty Minutes. One Movement.”
Every day, participants are encouraged to dedicate just 20 minutes to silent reading. This is an act that not only nourishes the mind but heals the spirit.
Why Silence Matters in a Management Campus
At RCM, where innovation and intellect drive every classroom, this initiative adds an emotional dimension to leadership. The Silent Reading Movement aligns perfectly with the college’s holistic education vision — balancing academic excellence with student wellness.
Reading, when practiced intentionally, nurtures focus, empathy, and resilience — qualities essential for future managers and entrepreneurs. The simple act of reading silently becomes a mindfulness exercise that helps students:
- Reduce anxiety and screen fatigue.
- Improve attention span and memory retention.
- Strengthen creativity and critical thinking.
- Build emotional intelligence through reflective engagement.
This is where Student Wellness in India takes a new form — not through lectures, but through literature.
RCM: Leading the Reading Revolution
As the Institutional Partner of “Bhubaneswar Reads Together,” RCM Bhubaneswar is at the forefront of this mindful movement. Through its participation at AA KA MA 2025, RCM showcased not only its leadership in management education but also its role as a cultural catalyst for the youth.
By hosting the first public Reading Circle, RCM became the city’s pioneer in promoting collective calm. Students led the event, acting as Reading Ambassadors, inspiring others to start circles in their neighborhoods, colleges, and workplaces.
The event’s symbolic message was profound —
“You don’t have to be loud to be strong. Let quiet pages hold your heart.”
In a festival known for business ideas and innovation challenges, RCM reminded everyone that true innovation also lies in slowing down and listening inward.
Books, Wellness, and Bhubaneswar’s New Beat
This collaboration between academia, industry, and the reading community highlights a shift in how Bhubaneswar defines success. Wellness is no longer an afterthought — it’s an academic and social responsibility.
Through Bhubaneswar Reads Together, RCM is helping the city rediscover reading not as a pastime, but as a therapeutic practice. Bibliotherapy — the use of reading for healing — is now part of the city’s wellness dialogue.
“Reading aids in healing depression and anxiety.
Bibliotherapy is shown to diminish symptoms, offering deep, sustainable comfort.”
When education meets emotional intelligence, the results are transformational. RCM’s support ensures this initiative reaches students who need it most — those seeking clarity in chaos and meaning beyond metrics.
AA KA MA 2025: Where Ideas Meet Stillness
The AA KA MA BizzBuzz Soirée 2025 has always been a space for creativity, entrepreneurship, and community engagement. With the addition of the Silent Reading Session, the festival expanded its horizon. This proves that mindfulness and management can coexist beautifully.
This year’s Soirée theme, “The Power of Pause,” resonated throughout the campus as students, faculty, and guests experienced the magic of shared silence.
It wasn’t just about books — it was about belonging.
Each participant became part of a larger story — a story of a city learning to breathe together, read together, and heal together.
NHRD and SIDBI: Partners in Purpose
The collaboration with NHRD Bhubaneswar Chapter and SIDBI added depth to the movement. Together, these partners highlighted the importance of corporate wellness, community literacy, and social leadership.
By backing this Mindful Reading Initiative, they amplified the message that wellness is not limited to yoga or meditation. It can begin with something as simple as turning a page.
This partnership between corporate networks, educational institutions, and community platforms marks a new model for social learning ecosystems. Here, industry supports introspection, and reading becomes a shared act of growth.
Building Bhubaneswar’s Reading Map
The Book Turf envisions a citywide Reading Map, where each college, office, and residential community hosts its own reading circle. This creates a visible network of mindful readers across Bhubaneswar.
RCM’s contribution to this map is not just symbolic — it’s foundational. As the best management college in Bhubaneswar, it has become the movement’s anchor institution, ensuring this idea grows sustainably.
From digital campaigns to weekly reflections, RCM students will help document this journey. They will share stories, photographs, and testimonials that keep the movement alive long after the event.
One Book. One City. One Quiet Revolution.
The success of the Silent Reading Session at AA KA MA 2025 is only the beginning. With RCM, The Book Turf, and NHRD leading the way, Bhubaneswar is poised to become India’s first city of mindful readers.
This initiative embodies the perfect balance of intellect and introspection — qualities that define both great leaders and great readers.
In a generation overstimulated by noise, RCM is teaching the next generation to find strength in silence.
“From bhajans to books, presence is prayer.”
“Bring your stories. Bring your stillness.”
“Together, we build calm — one page at a time.”
Conclusion: A Movement Worth Every Minute
The Silent Reading Movement at AA KA MA BizzBuzz Soirée 2025 wasn’t just an event — it was an awakening. It reminded us that leadership begins with self-awareness, and progress begins with presence.
In collaboration with The Book Turf Library, NHRD, RCM has sparked a revolution of reflection. This proves that education is not only about learning to lead but also learning to listen.
So, as Bhubaneswar turns another page in its cultural evolution, one thing is clear —
The quietest movement is often the most powerful one.
