A Carnival of Voices and Stories: Inside the Talk Buddies Club Carnival at Kunzum

The TBC Carnival at Kunzum was an unhurried, immersive celebration where authors and readers met as equals to share stories, dialogue, and community.

on Dec 14, 2025

There are literary events that follow a schedule—and then there are those that follow a rhythm. The Talk Buddies Club (TBC) Carnival, hosted at Kunzum Books Art Coffee, unfolded like the latter: unhurried, immersive, and deeply human. What emerged over the course of the afternoon was not just a sequence of launches and sessions, but a living, breathing celebration of storytelling in all its forms.

Conceived as an initiative by Sujata Parashar—award-winning novelist, poet, and writer with thirteen books across genres to her name—the TBC Carnival reflected its founder’s own literary philosophy: that stories matter most when they are shared, discussed, and felt together. Over time, Talk Buddies Club has evolved into a space where authors and readers meet as equals, and this carnival was a natural extension of that vision.

The event was inaugurated by Ajay Jain, Founder of Kunzum and author; Sujata Parashar herself; and Kajal Kapur, writer and Founder of Penmancy. Their presence set the tone for the day: grounded, inclusive, and driven by a genuine love for books rather than ceremony.

As the sessions unfolded, the carnival revealed its layered structure. A book launch by Sumit Sehgal opened the afternoon, followed by a storytelling session by Anupama Jain that drew listeners into the quiet power of spoken narrative. The launch of Hridan, hosted by Sumit Sehgal, added another dimension—reminding the audience that every book carries not just a story, but a piece of its author’s inner world.

One of the most resonant moments of the day came with the launch of Sujata Parashar’s own book—a full-circle moment for the platform’s founder. It was less about spotlighting an author and more about acknowledging a journey: of writing, mentoring, and building spaces where stories can find attentive listeners.

The presence of Young Dragons Literary Hub as Literary Partner brought a fresh generational energy to the carnival, while Ahana Art Forum, the Theme Partner, reinforced the idea that literature does not exist in isolation—it flows naturally into art, dialogue, and community. Throughout the event, Kunzum’s familiar warmth made it easy for conversations to continue beyond the stage, over coffee, between bookshelves, and during spontaneous exchanges.

The afternoon drew to a close with thoughtful reflections by Manya Jaisinghani, followed by book signings and intimate interactions between authors and readers—moments where conversations lingered long after the formal programme ended.

Frontlist, present as the Media Partner, witnessed a literary gathering that resisted spectacle in favour of sincerity. The TBC Carnival did not aim to impress; it aimed to connect—and in doing so, it succeeded. In an age of hurried launches and fleeting attention, the carnival offered something quieter yet more enduring: the reminder that literature thrives most when it becomes a shared experience, spoken aloud, listened to closely, and carried forward in conversation.