A Night to Remember: The Open Mic That Echoed Through David Sassoon Library

On May 13th, 2017, something unforgettable unfolded beneath the arches of Mumbai’s historic David Sassoon Library. As twilight dipped into the open courtyard, the air crackled with anticipation, creativity, and raw, unfiltered emotion. That evening, I hosted my very first event under the banner of my poetry start-up Limits Make Things Too Small—an idea born from the belief that expression knows no bounds.

This wasn’t just any event. It was a coming together of voices from across the city—a mosaic of poetry, spoken word, and storytelling. With 20 powerful performances lined up, each artist took the stage carrying a piece of themselves—some with fire, others with fragility—but all with fearless honesty.

There were no velvet curtains, no dramatic stage lighting—just a mic, an open lawn, and a crowd hungry for art. The intimate charm of the library lent a quiet kind of magic: every word became an echo, every pause a shared moment of reflection. It wasn’t just a showcase—it was a safe space, where judgement had no seat and authenticity took centre stage.

Among the line-up were poets and performers like Sudeep Pagedar, Aranya Johar, Kunal Jhawar, Rakesh Tiwari, Jackie Thakkar, Navaldeep Singh, Hussain Haidry, Ramneek Singh, Simar Singh, Anjali Bhushan, and many more who stirred the audience with stories, rhythm, and truth.

We were honoured by guest talks from some of India’s most celebrated voices: filmmaker and actor Amole Gupte, poet and literary pioneer Menka Shivdasani, renowned columnist Mayank Shekhar, and the legendary Gerson Da Cunha, whose words added weight and warmth to the night.

The event was hosted in collaboration with Icon Business Forum and was entirely free and open to the public. It gained coverage in The Hindu and was listed across platforms like Mera Events, Eventbrite, Youth Ki Awaaz, Meetup, and Facebook. Guest speaker Zoran Saher helped spread the word further through Instagram and Twitter, and on the day of the event, we saw a beautiful mix of students, artists, writers, and curious passersby fill the space with energy.

Ashwathi Pillai, a gifted photographer, captured the essence of the evening with her lens—moments of laughter, vulnerability, and quiet awe. Mark Benjamin and his team from Culture Machine were also present, scouting talent and soaking in the atmosphere.

As the host, I opened the evening by thanking our generous venue partners and welcoming a surprisingly large crowd. I spoke about how often we trap ourselves in self-limiting beliefs—and how poetry had helped me break free, giving voice to emotions I once buried and shaping a new path forward.

Amole Gupte reflected on his journey, sharing thoughts on overcoming challenges and teasing details from his upcoming film Sniff. Menka Shivdasani recited her poem Crystal, leaving the audience moved by her lyrical insight and grace. 

Mayank Shekhar added a dose of laughter, reading from his book Name Place Animal Thing and sharing humorous encounters with Bollywood stars like Salman Khan.

In the end, what made the night truly memorable wasn't just the performances—it was the spirit of togetherness. Each participant took home a personalized gift: a sketch of themselves on a mug, a keepsake keychain, and a caricature-style portrait celebrating their role in the event.

Though I haven’t hosted a large-scale event since that evening remains one of the proudest moments of my journey. It was proof that when people come together to create without fear, magic happens. And sometimes, all it takes is a mic, a lawn, and a little belief that limits can be made too small.

 

Welcome Notes by: 

Karina Pandya Founder -Limits Make Things Too Small   

Kaushik M Oza -(VP David Sassoon Library

 

Although its been 8 years since then, I am proud to have hosted such a massive event with 4 chieft guests and so many performers. It wasnt just an event, it was a movement. It was an event where I stepped into the light from thre shadows. I created somethign memorable and that version of me is still alive, expressive and daring. That is worth everything! 

Some came for claps, I came to speak

In that echo i found the voice I seek

Maybe they clapped, maybe they starred

But I showed up. I was there and I dared!