Extreme Heat Leaves Ghalib Academy Literary Meet With Just One Audience Member at Start

An extreme summer heatwave in Delhi severely impacted attendance at a monthly prose literary gathering at the Ghalib Academy in Central Delhi, leaving only a single audience member in the hall when the event commenced at 5:00 PM. The event, which eventually saw attendance grow to 20 people by its conclusion at 7:30 PM, highlighted the challenges local cultural venues face as temperatures soared into the 40s with a heat index feeling above 50.

The monthly prose meet, which is open to all, invites participants to read short stories, essays, or other prose pieces they have written in any language. However, the oppressive evening heat and heavy air deterred the usual crowd of regulars. Unlike other city venues like the India International Centre, India Habitat Centre, or bookstores in Gurugram and South Delhi that rely on air conditioning, the Ghalib Academy operates without air conditioning, relying only on wall-mounted fans that stirred warm air.

Despite the nearly empty hall, Ghalib Academy secretary Aqil Ahmad decided to begin the event on time to respect the single elderly attendee who arrived on schedule. On stage to present their work were writers from across the region, including Khursheed Hayatt from Greater Noida, Parveen Vyas from Gulmohar Park, Chashma Farooqui from Jamia Nagar, and Seema Kaushik from Faridabad.

Ahmad, a poetry scholar who established the prose session two years ago to create a space for people to meet through literature, opened the proceedings by discussing the extreme heat and blaming it for the low turnout. He also reminded the small gathering that the event was being streamed live on Facebook.

As the evening progressed, more attendees gradually arrived. By the time the event concluded at 7:30 PM, the audience had grown to approximately 20 people, who then departed into the warm evening.