A Passion for Reading

for iconoklast.

thats exactly my point, im not even saying that the west is more intellectual than us (which they probably are simply by ratio of numbers, a much larger proprtion of people in developed countries is educated and literate), but atleast for those of us who have been blessed with an education in pakistan, dont we have a right to exercise our mental faculties, reach higher? further? have interesting discussions and book readings and panel discussions? we dont have such a culture because we dont have a conducive environment, and we dont have the environment because we dont have such a culture.
we have to start somewhere and then the trend will pick up and spread..

for malik99

the problem is, for a country like yours, you have to admit povert, civic amenities, basic education, human rights, health are priorities before anything else. when the funcing the initiative and the motivation is severely alcking in these fields, how can we even imagine a project to be taken up wich helps or facilitates the intellectual pursuits of a few?
but my idea of libraries is not merely for those who goto private schools and give O levels. the habit of reading can be inculcated in any kind of environment...reading encourages literacy, literacy encourages reading.
even our state school students have a right to read urdu and english literature, they sould atleast have the OPTION..and when the option is there, well stocked libraries in schools and colleges and communities students will develop an interest.
college school libraries need to hold seminars, they need to hold open meetings, discussions, talks and invite speakers and invite writers and well known or worthwhile individuals to develop interests amongst students. talk about politics, sports, anythign and everything. automatically the students will want to read more!

for garam chai
dekho i understand fully where you are comign from. lekin i have made it very clear that i personally beleive that if we are trying to invest money and funding in schools and basic education across pakistan we need to inculcate a READING habit...and for that u need equipped libraries in schools and communities. you dont need to read galileo and karen armstrong to be cosndiered a reader.
you can read according to your own level, its just a matter of gaining knowledge, beyond and above what is tuaght in text books. have a look at Omar R Quraishis article about the state of textbooks and syllabi in state schools in pakistan. i myself have first hand experience at teaching english in a state school. what a sad condition the books are in and what pathetic standards of stories and poems and essays.
the girls...wanted to learn they wanted to be challenged and they wanted to stretch thier faculties and thier imagination, but theyve never had the chance to, theyve never needed to, they get by with ratta and cheating in exams because they havr to, they have no choice. the worst is the attitude of the uncaring teachers who arent really there to impart an education they just come and sit around and take their givt salary cheques at the end of month, sadly they themselves are not traiend or educatied enough to teach, so phir? kya haal ho ga, aisee education ka?

Zainab
You have brought out a pertinent issue, which needs to be addressed expeditiously. As an ardent book lover and a voracious readers, I inderstand your frustration regarding lack of libraries and bookshops. Contrast this with Borders bookstores and others in the US and elsewhere; where you could spend the whole day browsing books and drinking Startbucks coffee! Or the bookshops offering a discounted book club facilities at a nominal fee. And the best part is that you could buy the latest books and exchange them after reading, if you return it in a sellable condition; no questions asked!
Now I have a proposal: Why cant we the book-lovers take a lead and start a library ? We could start one at Lahore and if the experience is successful, we could expand to other locations.
Any takerrs?
Well if any one is interested, I could be contacted at: ottoman2020@yahoo.com

Aahhhhh Karacchi..........


.. ... seems have lost All.....

In lahore or else where......Even if one is not a member of any Liabrary...can still

Find books... on the road side Book Fares ...which are a so fashionable these

Days.. ( Allama iqbal town, Libberty, shadman, Faisal Town etc..etc....) ..they Just

Dump the Books.... on the Stalls...you browse around...and choose your pick...

the price is reasonable...and you can bargain... because actually the Book seller ...

got this Lot... from the Importers of Discarded Books from abroad...so they actually

do not know the real value and normally....consider the wieght of a Book as its

Price criteria.... LOL ....

Now for the Ironic Part..... All these secod hand books Imprters are situated

in KARACI.... they Just... Get the container....of these second hand books...

and send them Up country.... where they sell like Hot cakes...on these Road side

book fares...


The Only any such Book fare in Karachi ...was One which USED to be held...in

Frere Gardens....Now closed for secutiry reasons.....and a few....here and there...

Sunday stunt on the One hard to Find Back Lane in Saddar....

The One in Gulshan or the Once in a while stunt at Haidry...is Too Pricy...

Normally they charge thrice the amount of the same book which you can get

at 1/3 the price on a similiar stall in Lahore...Probably.....From the same reseller....

Zainab - I understand your frustration at the lack of libraries in Pakistan. I am not sure how to answer this chicken or egg question - does a nation develop reading habits before it sets up libraries, or is it the other way around? I am always appalled by the fact how little Pakistanis read. Growing up in Islamabad, I remember that outside of school, there were really only two libraries - The British Council and the American Center. There wasn`t any Pakistani funded library.

In US, I am amazed at how many people spend so much time in the bookstores. I have seen miles long lines of the parents and kids to get Harry Potters new book the very night it is released. I see people reading in subways, buses, and on park benches.

One measure of the passion for books is the quantity of the first edition of a new book. In US, a typical first edition of a book has 500,000 copies. In Pakistan, a typical first edition of a book has 5000 copies.

I once attended a leadership seminar. One of the speaker mentioned that to enhance your mental faculties and to creat depth in your thinking, you should read at least 1 book per month. That translates into 12 books per year. I am willing to bet that of the literate adults in Pakistan, perhaps 90% have not read more than 3 or 4 books in their LIFE!

Libraries are the archives of a nation. In US, whenever a president ends his term in his office, one project that is high on his immediate agenda is to set up a presidential library. I have lately seen a bit of a trend among Pakistan`s celebrities of working for causes. I suppose Imran Khan needs to be credited for this trend. I hear that Abrar ul-Haq is setting up a hospital from the proceeds of his albums. Shehzad Roy is setting up some schools in villages too. Perhaps, setting up of libraries might be the next trend.

Zainab Gee
I could really feel the romance of library and parks. But when i go back to my native city of lahore, it all disappears. There are other harsh realities that take over on this romance. Such romances exist only in developed countries, or perhaps the elite class of pakistan. An average person is spending his most of energy in making living.

Take care & regards.