The Neem had been an idea in the making for a long time before it finally took shape in June 2023. Dr. Umesh Kumar and Dr. Jagadeesan T. (teachers at BHU) envisioned creating an informal yet serious platform where students could engage in meaningful conversations on subjects that often go beyond the boundaries of a traditional classroom.

 

The Neem is a non-partisan and non-hierarchical space. It runs entirely on the goodwill and voluntary efforts of its members—students, teachers, translators, writers, and academicians—who come together to nurture thoughtful dialogue and learning.

 

In just over two years, the platform has organized many highly valued and well attended events. These have included discussions on short story collections, academic research on translation, cinema, criticism, cricket, and more—often with the authors themselves present. A closed-door translation workshop was also held, where selected students worked closely with experienced translators in an encouraging and collaborative setting.

 

Earlier this year, The Neem team has been instrumental in hosting a five-day National Workshop on “Contemporary Trends in Indian Literatures”.

 

The Neem’s enduring aim is simple: to bridge the gap between accomplished writers, translators, thinkers and the students who aspire to walk in their footsteps.