“The club was registered with nearly 100 members,” he recalled, “but only a handful turned up. When I asked why, they told me the numbers had dropped over the years. That really got me questioning.”
That sobering moment was the spark for “World of Words – Kuala Lumpur” (WoW-KL), a three-day festival from Sept 17-19 at Sasana Kijang, Bank Negara Malaysia.
Backed by the National Library, the Writers’ Association of Malaysia, the British Council Malaysia and others, this “festival of reading” is more than an event – it’s the start of a movement.
“We know reading has declined,” Sajeet, a published author, said. “But what’s really disappearing is reading for pleasure.
“These days, people read textbooks, religious or self-help books. It’s very transactional; you’re reading to get something out of it. But where’s the joy? That’s what we want to bring back.”
To that end, the festival is built to be lively and hands-on, with each day offering a different focus and a packed programme of activities.
The first day is for children and schools, with a short-story competition, writing workshop, and forums where parents and teachers discuss how to raise lifelong readers.
“We want to encourage parents to send their children to a story class, where they go to read and tell stories,” said Sajeet, who runs a software company. “Because stories and drama develop parts of our brain that also help develop empathy.”
The second day focuses on varsity students and young adults, with a contemporary short-story competition, a forum on “How to Make Literature Cool Again”, and sessions on turning writing and publishing into careers.
“When we were in school, we read Shakespeare, Dostoevsky. We enjoyed plays and dramas, and the discussions. Literature was cool. We’ve forgotten that,” Sajeet noted.
The final day is for the public, with author talks, book launches, and workshops on storytelling and screenwriting, ending with an awards ceremony.
Additionally, workshops throughout the festival will encourage children to craft stories; young adults to hone creative writing skills; and families to sit together in intimate “story circles”, reading aloud and sharing tales.
Indeed, WoW-KL aims to shine a light on families, who play a crucial role in shaping habits: Sajeet hopes to guide parents into making reading a cherished family tradition.
“Parents need to show children that they read,” he stressed. “If you tell your child to read while you’re scrolling on your phone, they’ll copy you. Don’t always put a screen in front of them – give them a book instead.”
His vision doesn’t end with the festival. “Immediately after, we’ll form a committee to design programmes for children, youths and adults,” Sajeet added.
Pilot projects will run with selected schools, universities, and book clubs over the course of a year. The goal is to test ideas, see what works, and then expand.
Ultimately, from children discovering the thrill of their first tale and parents rediscovering the magic of bedtime reading, to young adults finding careers in words, the festival aims to plant seeds that are inspiring and long-lasting.
‘World of Words – Kuala Lumpur’
When:
Sept 17-19
Where:
Sasana Kijang,
Bank Negara Malaysia,
2, Jalan Dato Onn, Kuala Lumpur