Book Discussion (On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong) & Postcard Activity

On June 14, 2026, the Adhyayan Writing Community hosted its 34rd Session 'Book Discussion & Postcard Activity' in collaboration with Raipur Readers Club, the event was organised to bring together literature, dialogue, and creative expression as a means of reflecting on themes of identity, displacement, memory, resilience, and the meaning of home at Zaro Cafe.

Role: Facilitator

Full Name: Aishwarya Rathor (Raipur Reader's Club)

Email ID: raipurreadersclub@gmail.com

Note on Contribution: Ideation and Poster making; she hosted the event and introduced the book "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" to the audience.

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Role: Facilitator and Host of Adhyayan Community

Full Name: Satpriya Kaur Mudhar (Adhyayan Community)

Email ID: satpriyakaurmudhar@gmail.com

Note on Contribution: Ideation; she hosted the Postcard activity which co-related with the theme.

What: To create an inclusive and participatory space where individuals could engage with literature as a means of exploring themes of identity, displacement, memory, resilience, and belonging. Through a combination of guided discussion and reflective creative writing, the session encouraged participants to connect with the emotional and social realities presented in On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous while expressing their own perspectives through meaningful dialogue and storytelling.

Why: The initiative was organised to commemorate World Refugee Day by fostering empathy and awareness around the lived experiences of refugees, migrants, and displaced communities. By engaging with Ocean Vuong's On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous and participating in a postcard writing activity inspired by refugee narratives, the session aimed to encourage participants to reflect on the meaning of home, the impact of displacement, and the resilience required to rebuild one's life. It sought to move conversations about migration and belonging beyond statistics and headlines, creating a space where literature and creative expression could deepen understanding, inspire compassion, and encourage thoughtful reflection on shared human experiences.

Book Discussion and Postcard Writing Session was a collaborative initiative by the Raipur Readers Club, Adhyayan Writing Community, and ZARO. The event was organised to bring together literature, dialogue, and creative expression as a means of reflecting on themes of identity, displacement, memory, resilience, and the meaning of home.

The session centred around Ocean Vuong's On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, with participants engaging in a guided discussion on the novel's exploration of family, migration, trauma, love, identity, and belonging. Through collective dialogue, participants reflected on how the text resonates with the lived experiences of refugees and individuals navigating displacement, while also drawing connections to broader social and human realities.

Following the discussion, participants took part in a creative postcard-writing activity inspired by refugee experiences. They were invited to write postcards or letters from the perspective of someone forced to leave home, someone carrying memories across borders, someone longing to return, or someone searching for belonging in a new land. The activity encouraged participants to express empathy and imagine stories of resilience, hope, and remembrance through creative writing.

The session concluded with participants sharing excerpts from their postcards and reflecting on the importance of literature as a medium for fostering compassion and understanding. Through this initiative, the organisers sought to create a meaningful space where stories could deepen awareness of displacement and inspire conversations about humanity, memory, resilience, and the universal search for a place to call home.