Who is she?
Mayawathi is a 26-year-old literature graduate based in Chennai. After working for about three years in a nationalised bank, she left that job to follow her passion for books. She founded a venture called Sunset Hues, which focuses on books, stationery and art.
What has she done?
She has installed book-vending machines at two major railway stations in Chennai:
- At MGR Chennai Central Railway Station (platform 6 waiting hall)
- At Tambaram Railway Station (west entrance)
These machines aren’t dispensing snacks or drinks — they dispense books! Over 50 titles have been made available initially, including children’s colouring & activity books, story-books and non-fiction for adults, all priced under ~₹300. The idea is to turn waiting time in transit into reading time.
Why this matters
- Commuters often have downtime in stations; this initiative uses that time productively by offering affordable, accessible reading material.
- It helps promote reading habits, especially in public spaces where books aren’t always front-of-mind.
- The novel idea of a book vending machine (rather than a traditional bookstore) makes it easy, quick, and suited for a transit environment.
Where it is / what it includes
- The machine at MGR Chennai Central is in platform 6’s waiting hall.
- At Tambaram station it’s at the west entrance.
- The collection currently emphasises popular English titles, with some Tamil translations, because browsing in-machine is limited (no full summaries).
- The vending machines are user-friendly, with clear on-screen instructions and sensors to ensure book dispensing works; if it fails, a refund or replacement happens.
Alongside this: Larger reading space initiative
In parallel, the state and the rail/metro stations are setting up book parks to further foster reading. For example:
- At Chennai Central Metro Station a 5,000 sq ft “book park” was inaugurated, with 70 bookshelves, reading tables, a cafeteria, mini-event hall, and books across genres and languages.
- The books there are sold with a ~10% discount to encourage purchases/adoption of reading.
So, the vending-machines by Mayawathi and the larger book park are complementary: one for quick access, the other for deeper reading and browsing.
Why it’s a good story
- It’s local: Chennai-based, relatable to commuters and everyday people.
- It’s about culture & reading, not just commerce or infrastructure.
- It’s a personal initiative by a young person, showing how passion + innovation can change public spaces.
- It intersects transit, civic life, literature — interesting for readers, train-users, culture-watchers.
Potential angles/quotes you might use
- “Train journeys are perfect for reading, as many people spend around 30 minutes onboard.” — Mayawathi.
- “It’s not just a vending machine; it’s a movement to reconnect people with reading in a modern, engaging way.” — Mayawathi.
- Mention how over 50 books were sold within four days of the machine’s launch.
Things to watch / Nitty-gritty
- Currently the selection is more skewed to English titles; demand will likely influence more Tamil/other languages.
- While the vending machine concept is novel, ensuring ongoing maintenance, replenishment of titles, visibility and usage will be key.
- The book park’s success will depend on visitor traffic and whether commuters stop to browse (rather than simply rush through). (Some commentary already questions how much dwell-time people have in metro vs rail-stations.)
