Indian Languages and Literature Enthusiasts in Paris (ille_paris) is a community of Indian expats and travelers in Paris that celebrates India, its languages, and its literature. We maintain a decentralized inventory of Indian books in Paris, which coordinates the collections from our members’ personal bookshelves. These books can be borrowed and exchanged during our signature silent reading events. We also organize book clubs, recitals, creative writing sessions, and conversations between Indian authors and readers. Soon, we will launch a multilingual magazine to publish the writings of the Indian diaspora in Indian languages.
Our participants come from across India, representing all age groups and walks of life. For example, at a typical reading event, you might find a mathematician reading about ancient Indian counting systems in Marathi, a software developer exploring the 1899–1900 famine in Gujarati, a data scientist immersed in Malayalam folktales, a biologist enjoying Hindi short stories, a linguist analyzing essays on Darjeeling’s urbanization in Bengali, and a mechanical engineer appreciating Urdu poetry — all seated at the same reading table. By the end of the session, they engage in lively discussions in English, the language common to all.
ille_paris was founded in early 2024 by Himadri Chhaya-Shailesh, a PhD scholar, as a personal effort to remain connected with her mother tongue, Gujarati. The early gatherings at the French National Library faithfully followed a simple idea:
- Show up at the reading room on time, find a seat, and introduce yourself to the group.
- Bring your own book, borrow one from ille_paris’ collection, or pick one from the library — as long as it meets at least one of these criteria:
- The book is written in an Indian language.
- It is a translation from an Indian language.
- It is about India.
- It is authored by an Indian or someone of Indian origin.
- Read silently for a full hour.
- Share your impressions of the book and decide whether you’d like to continue reading it.
In February 2025, as a generous gesture in response to ille_paris’ invitation to read with us, the Indian Ambassador to France welcomed us to the Indian Embassy’s library. Thanks to the enthusiastic support of the Embassy’s Press, Information & Culture Counsellor, ille_paris entered into a formal collaboration with the Embassy and now operates from its library.
You can follow us on social media and RSVP to upcoming events via Mobilizon. We are always looking for warm and enthusiastic members to join our Executive Council. If you’re interested, feel free to introduce yourself by emailing us at ille_paris@protonmail.com.
Team
- Himadri Chhaya-Shailesh · Founding Member & Organizer
- Mohini Simaria · General Secretary
- Albin James · Head of the Executive Council
