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“When we went to the public library the first time, we didn’t expect people to

be there at all, maybe old people. But there were a lot of youngsters in the

library.” Reddy said. (Architect & Participant)

The survey results have helped me to identify the needs of young people

and other readers in the city of literature. They have all expressed a desire
Thesis Report V-SPARC VIT
for dedicated reading spaces within the city that extend beyond traditional

locations such as libraries, which can sometimes feel confined.

Figure 1 Wall sculptures of Pottekatt's writing at the entrance of SM Street. (Image credit:
Diya Isha)
The inclination towards literature has led me to study the history and

culture of literature in Kozhikode. During my research, I discovered that

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and Pottekkatt used to spend time in the
Mananchira Square - walking, writing, and enjoying their time. As a

result, the road near the Mananchira area was named after the great

author Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, which holds great historical value.
However, currently, it doesn’t reflect that value as it has been buried over

the years.

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