Reading Room: The go-to space for focused students

 

 

For many students in Nagpur, studying at home is easier said than done. Between noisy families, crowded hostels, and a habit of procrastination, focusing tends to be the most tedious task of all. That’s why a growing number of learners are turning to reading rooms so that they can concentrate better, follow a routine, and occasionally connect with peers facing the same academic challenges.

 

Nagpur now has an estimated 60 to 70 reading rooms, each offering different amenities, timing and arrangements to suit individual student needs. For Madhuri Lamsoge, a second-year B Com student, studying at home became difficult as she lives in a joint family, something that comes with constant interruptions for her; whether it was someone talking loudly, doorbells ringing, or someone coming to talk to her. She even tried locking her door, but someone would need something from the room and knock, disrupting her peace again. “My reading room is the only place where I get uninterrupted focus. Even though there are a lot of other people there, everyone is working silently, so I automatically feel motivated to continue for longer hours.” Not just the noise or chaos, even the familiarity or comfort of one’s home can be distracting. For Shashwat Paliwal, a BA graduate preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam, the problem came in the form of procrastination. He shared that he would sometimes waste hours sitting on his bed trying to study, but feel the constant urge to check his phone and social media.

 

Joining a reading room has significantly altered his study discipline. He uses a reading room that charges around Rs 1,600 per month and offers reliable amenities, such as air-conditioned rooms, Wi-Fi, locker services, reading lights, among others. “Also, when you pay for a seat, you feel accountable. Earlier, I couldn’t study for more than an hour or two at home. But after joining the reading room, I’ve been able to sit for five to six hours every day. That consistency has changed everything for me,” he stated. Reading rooms can also be a great way for students to find guides or peers who help them solve their doubts. Vaishnavi Doad, who recently appeared for the CAT exam, admitted that she began preparing only in September, which made the experience difficult, especially in the quants section due to her non-mathematics background. She felt disappointed after the exam, but later met a couple of students in the reading room who were also preparing for CAT. She found out that their exams didn’t go as well either, so the three decided to prepare together for the next attempt. She added that reading rooms are also a place to meet serious, like-minded peers.

 

“You’re not making friends to pass time. Everyone there is genuinely focused on studying, and that creates a different kind of support system.” While the reading rooms provide great atmosphere and amenities, they also provide students with flexible timings that suit their schedules. Reading room timings across the city vary, but some centres open as early as 5 am and operate till 11.30 pm. There are some that are also open 24/7. Sameer Barapatre, owner of a reading room in Dharampeth, said that many outstation students who live in hostels or PG accommodations prefer reading rooms, as their accommodations come with strict timings or shared rooms that limit late-night study hours. Local students, on the other hand, also struggle with the comfort of home. “Homes are comfortable, and that comfort leads to laziness or distraction,” Barapatre said. “Students come here for consistency. They know that when they walk into a reading room, they are here to study.” He also mentioned that the seating capacity varies from location to location.

 

“We’ve never experienced the entire centre full at once, as everyone has different timings they find convenient, but if it ever does happen, we have a designated waiting area so that students don’t lose time.” For these students, reading rooms are emerging as vital environment where they can build focus and discipline. The NMC also runs e-libraries across the city, which have reportedly resulted in around 150 aspirants successfully landing Government jobs every year for a decade, owing to their vast resources and study material. These spaces allow for uninterrupted study and occasionally build a sense of community among like-minded peers without compromising the primary purpose: consistent, serious study.