HYDERABAD: The ‘Chil-dren’s Library’ — named after Jahangir Siddiqui — was inaugurated on Friday at the historic Besant Hall, which is known as the ‘Besant Hall Cultural Centre’ after its preservation by the Endowment Fund Trust (EFT) for Preservation of the Heritage of Sindh. Mr Siddiqui chairs the EFT.

Veteran heritage preservation activist and one of the strong voices of EFT from Hyderabad Hamid Akhund, Abrar Kazi, Shamsul Haq Memon and others attended the inauguration ceremony.

The library with around 6,000 books has been set up with funds provided by the Jahangir Siddiqui Foundation. The cause is to support children from underprivileged segments of society who cannot afford quality education.

Director of the Centre Sobhia Ali told the audience that the books placed in a corner named after Hakim Mohammad Said had been donated by Sadia Rasheed, Vice Chancellor of the Hamdard University.

The management’s aim is to establish it as a fully fledge library with a treasure of books covering a variety of subjects. Mujahid Iqbal, a well-known journalist who is currently residing in London, has donated his collection of more than 5,000 invaluable books -- which he calls his ‘real capital’ -- on history, culture, art, religion, literature and mainly Persian literature.

Likewise, Salah ud Din Qureshi, a connoisseur of old books and record of Sindh, has donated his treasure and Jami Chandio has gifted his collection of books on philosophy, anthropology, literature and other disciplines to the EFT.

Environment

The library is fully furnished and impressively decorated with special furniture. It is equipped with an audio-visual unit which includes video games, audio books and indoor games, as well as play station, computers and laptops and android devices.

Children were seen busy filling drawings with colour pencils. Books on brief Islamic literature history, prophets and world leaders are kept in the library.

‘The first and best library of its kind’

Speaking at the ceremony, Jahangir Siddiqui said Hyderabad badly needs a platform for children to learn and grow as they are future of our nation and it is important for them to be nurtured in such environment. This library is going to be the first and best of its kind in Hyderabad and Sindh.

According to him, “EFT is starting its children literature scheme in which it will publish standardised books to be distribute among children free of cost. This library may support schools of Hyderabad with improved extracurricular activities, he said.

Besant Hall history

The Besant Hall Cultural Centre, being a magnificent building with a long history, is a valuable addition to Hyderabad’s heritage. It had been a centre of socio-political, socio-cultural and educational activities in the past and this 124-year-old building, named after British scholar Annie Besant, had been looked after by the Theosophical Society of Hyderabad. But with passing time, its function changed as wedding, birthday, commercial and other programmes used to be held on its premises.

Till 2019, its structure had crumbled. And then the EFT carried out restoration work in that year under an agreement with the Theosophical Society that after restoration, it will revert to its original purpose and will serve as a cultural and community centre along with a special public library for 10 years.

The restoration now stands complete and events like evenings on intellectuals e.g. Himayat Ali Shaer, Ibrahim Joyo, Mumtaz Mirza, Dr N.A. Khan Baloch, Ahmed Faraz, Pir Hussam-ud-Din Shah Rashdi, besides musical programmes, are held. A recent event was a concert of Sanam Marvi.

‘Makli symphonies in stone’

The guests at the inauguration ceremony visited the ongoing ‘Makli symphonies in stone’ exhibition at the venue. It covers pictures of the world heritage site of Makli necropolis, located in Thatta.

Dummies of the graves of Sindh’s past rulers’ are on display, besides enlarged photos of the necropolis, at the show. “Such exhibition is needed for students and for those who can’t afford visits to the actual heritage site. Another purpose is to promote Sindh’s heritage,” Sobhia said.

According to her, Besant Hall would be organising children festivals every three months and other activities occasionally.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2024