One book at a time, inculcating the habit of reading; MPF Central Reading Club saw a promising start and set the ball rolling with positivity, fun, and motivation on 6th June 2025 at MCCIA (Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture), Pune during its very first Book Discussion.

The highlight of the discussion was the international bestseller and a thought-provoking read, ‘Six Thinking Hats’ by Edward de Bono, a Maltese Physician, Commentator, and the father of ‘Lateral Thinking’. The eminent speakers from different domains were discussing the mindful and self-help book, sharing their insight, experience, and understanding of the ‘Six Thinking Hats’ methodology being implemented in real-life professional settings and application of the concept in personal life and daily living. Initiated by the Director-MPF, Preeti Jaju, the insightful and enlightening session was seamlessly and engagingly organized by the SAMVID and MPF teams, including CA and CS Priyanka Lohe. Mahesh Professional Forum (MPF) is a Pune-based vibrant organization dedicated to fostering professional growth, networking, and knowledge-sharing among professionals across all fields. The MPF Central Reading Club is designed to inspire meaningful discussions, shared learning, and personal development through curated book readings.

The very first session in the series began with the welcome, felicitation, and introduction of the speakers, followed by a preface to the concept, idea, and objective behind the Book Reading Club by Mahesh Professional Forum (MPF) Central. Thereafter, there was an impactful and interesting presentation by Advait Kurlekar on the book in discussion, ‘Six Thinking Hats’, that captured the attention of the audience and introduced them to the book, its concept, the author, and highlights and themes of the book. The session then moved to its segment where the speakers shared their experiences, perspectives, understanding, and takeaways from the book in an interactively engaging and cheerfully engrossing panel discussion. Advait Kurlekar, MD-Upohan Management Consultants, Alum- IIT Bombay, and Chairman- BOD at IITBAA, proficiently moderated the fun-filled, captivating, and illuminating session with his grace, poise, spontaneity, and presence of mind, connecting the audience seamlessly. Dr Shikha Jain, Director- Institute of Management Development & Research (IMDR), Pune, shared her thoughts and experience with clarity, conviction, and heart, holding the audience's attention constantly and enlightening them with newer perspectives, as an eminent speaker. HR-turned-Author, TEDx Speaker, and Columnist, Jyoti Jha, weaved magic through her words, generating the power of comfort, challenge, inspiration, and transformation with her timeless treasures, as an eminent speaker. With great learning and value addition, the involved, engrossed, and interactive audience participated with full attention and enthusiasm, enhancing the spirit of the open, engaging, and inclusive discussion.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by the MD, MPF Central, important announcements, and valuable thoughts by Preeti Jaju, who shared her aim and objective of the initiative and further plan of action to get the momentum going and growing in leaps and bounds to encourage and inculcate the habit of reading in professionals and individuals for a better and balanced life with enhanced experience. The reading club is focused on encouraging, promoting, and fostering the joy and habit of reading and is set to go on the journey to Discover, Read, Reflect, and Grow, overcoming the barriers of reading, helping plan achievable goals, and open discussions about books, reading, writing, and everything literary.