An engineer turned entrepreneur. Ajay Jain's story is a testament to the power of following one's curiousity.A Cardiff University graduate, Jain transformed his passion for books into Kunzum a thriving chain of six bookstores across New Delhi. But Kunzum is much more than a place to buy books. It is a living idea a space where stories meet souls, where art and conversation fuel creativity, and where communities are mouided from curiousity. Through author meetups, literary evenings. and cultural evems, Jain has reimagined what a modern bookstore can be.
Gateway to creativity
I've always envisioned Kunzum as more than aretail space- it's a gateway to exploration. Every shelf is a doorway to new ideas, and every corner invites writers dreamers, and thinkers to connect. True to our tagline, "It's the way you think," Kom zum is meam to inspus reflection and dialogue. The space has been built to feel open, warm and alive.The arrangement of shelves,the comfortable furnitures, and even the aroma of free coffee are all intentional designed to encourage people to stay browse, and converse I want visitors to feci relaxed enough to spend hours here.Kun zum is a bookstore by definition, but in prac tice, in's a cultural hub. It brings together Iterature, theatre, film, and music, every thing that fuels creativity and keeps the imagination alive and burning.
A multifaceted journey
My own path has been as diverse as the community I've helped build. I began my career as an engineer, out my mind was at ways restless, drawn to the art of storytell ing I became one of india's early bloggers, exploring different forms of expression as a journalist, author, entrepreneur, and environ mentalist. At 31 1 made a choice that changed my life i left for the UK to pursue a master's degree in journalism at Cardiff Univerory. It was an unconventional deci soon, bur I was determined to follow curios ay mstead of conformity Over the years, I've learned that the way we think defines the life we live Evolving constantly staying balanced, and refusing to be boxed in by ex pectations have been my guiding principles
The power of reading
Reading for me, a nosa pasime, it's a way create in an age dominated by social media noise. I believe that words carry immense responsibility Writing must have a meaning even when it is quiet. Not everything needs to be loud or sensational to make an impact, sometimes the sampies, most honest words icave the deepes mark. As a journalist. I've always believed that good writing begins with curiosity and critical thinking It must lead to clarity and truth, supported by digual lueney and intellectual honesty. Invention
and creativity rarely emerge from textbooks alone, they come from reading deeply and diversely. The more widely we read the more freely we think.
Consume less, contribute more
My concern for the environmem is deeply connected to how I live and work. The cultureof excessive consumption is not only unnecessary, it's harmful to our ecosystem and ultimately unsustainable. That said,I believe balance is important. Financial security matters, but creativity should come from the joy of living not from recklessness. Building something meaningful requires responsibility as much as passion.
Message for Readers
Make reading your collective pursuit. Imagine setting a Guinness World Record for the highest number of books read, not for the recognition, but for the love of knowledge Seek stability, not extravagance. Buy less, and gain more one time-time to read, travel, and truly experience life. Happines often lies in the simplest moments: reading alone in a garden, sipping tea with a book or just watching the world go by.