Taking Ownership of Our Cities
Taking Ownership of Our Cities
Taking Ownership of Our Cities
I-8 Library Edition
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What's new at the library this week?
For this week, the library will be hosting the first session of the HamSukhan Book Club as the community collectively reads, "Before the Coffee Gets Cold."
As the name suggests, we aim to create a group of people who gather, meet and read books.
With 3 in-person meetups spread across the month, this is a brilliant opportunity to get back towards reading and meeting fellow readers, exploring Japanese literature.
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Where is the library?
The I-8 Community library is located in the heart of the sector, right in its Markaz. The Library and Gym had been set up by the CDA and Department of Libraries several years ago. Yet, the space has remained fairly unknown to and unused by the local community, until now.
HamSukhan Efforts towards Reviving Community Libraries into Vibrant Hubs of Learning and Connection
Neglected and Unknown
We all know that libraries are awesome. Unfortunately, libraries aren't really a thing in many cities in Pakistan - or so we thought. Later, we discovered that Islamabad had several local libraries, but most people, like us, did not even know about them. Despite being perfectly functional cozy little spaces with lovely lawns and even areas for children activities, they were mostly dormant. The local communities barely knew they existed, and hence the libraries remained untapped.
Revitalizing Islamabad's Hidden Treasures
atomcamp, with the support of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Islamabad, and the Department of Libraries, earlier collaborated to adopt a local community library in Islamabad. HamSukhan, with an interest in mobilizing communities to address our local issues, joined the mission under the banner of "Taking Ownership of Our Cities"! This initiative aimed to be a positive move towards people-centered cities and community-building with the hopes of inspiring others to take on similar projects.
Collaborating with Local Initiative
The library featured a variety of events to demonstrate the potential of this space for audiences of all ages, young and old, to engage in and encourage a sense of inclusion and belonging. Through this, we reached out to and collaborated with multiple prominent local creative initiatives such as Folkloristan, Buland Spaces, Bookay, Din Dhalay, Alif Se Yeh, and more! We hope more and more organizations and individuals continue using this space on their own to keep it full of life, the way it is these days on Sunday afternoons.
Connecting Communities Through Learning
We adopted the I-8 Community Library with the goal of re-envisioning the space to bring together a community with a deep love for reading, learning, and connecting - all central values of HamSukhan's vision. Our aim is to transform the library into a vibrant hub that nurtures curiosity, fosters personal growth, and strengthens community bonds. By creating an inviting and inclusive environment, we sought to encourage people from all walks of life to explore the joys of reading, engage in meaningful discussions, and participate in enriching activities.
Some Exciting Events Hosted at the I-8 Community Library
The Concept of Love in Hafez's Poetry
This discussion circle was led by Dr Syed Asad Ali Kazmi, who discussed Hafez Shirazi, a legendary Persian Poet. Set in the library's peaceful lawn, we explored the concept of love in his poetic work.
Book Hour: Rumi: Past and Present, East and West by Dr Franklin Lewis
Led by CSS servant and Rumi enthusiast, Mr Zameer Abbas, we had a deep engaging discussion on the Maulana and his timeless message.
Book Hour: The Pakistani Bride by Bapsi Sidhwa
Dr Naveed Iftikhar joined us at the library to discuss a riveting Pakistani Fiction novel about an unhappy new bride contemplating an ultimate escape from her marriage.
Tareekh ki Azeem Feminist Auratein by Naeem Mirza
After an extended break due to Ramzan and Eid, we are finally back at the library for weekly community events! This week, we were joined by Mr. Naeem Mirza who led a discussion on his Urdu book "Great Feminist Women in History". We covered stories of lives, ideologies and movements waged by global feminist heroes over the past 600 years.
Sar Buland’ by Buland - Women’s Day event
In this special episode, we were joined by Buland Space to conduct a unique storytelling session celebrating women and their resilience and emotional journeys. It was an intimate setting where we got to hear many courageous and inspiring moments from women in their lives that shaped them into the incredible individuals they are today.
Din Dhalay & Kids Hour
Din Dhalay's revival, a community gathering with "phool, pakoray and dhair sara pyar". The library was basically a wondrous picnic for a large, diverse group of people, sitting together to enjoy the weather, various activities, and engage in sharing personal stories about what home meant for them. It was rather magical, really.
‘Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat’ by Alif Se Yeh & Kids Hour
In this collaboration with Alif Se Yeh, an Urdu learning platform, a shayari session on Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s classic Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat was conducted in the indoor area of the library. Rain, tea, and some urdu poetry - does it get any better than that?
Rumi and his Masnavi & Kids Hour
This time, both sessions were led by volunteers from our growing library community! We had Dr Asad Ali Kazmi, a PhD. from the University of Tehran in Persian Language and Linguistics, lead a reflective discussion circle on Rumi. For the Kids Hour, we were joined by Ayesha, who led an interactive storytelling session with the children.
Sophie’s World & Kids Hour
Now into the second month of our library project, this was the first session led by a volunteer from the I-8 library community. Shah Muhammad led a philosophical discussion on Sophie’s World that pondered upon the larger questions of life.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: A Novel
Dr. Naveed resumed with another Book Hour and discussed ‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’. This fiction book led to a discussion on life, love, and the healing power of books, all within the beautiful lawn setting of the library.
Hidden Potential with Umar Riaz & Ghost Hunting Adventures with Folkloristan
With two events, the audience listened to Umar Riaz's take on Adam Grant's "Hidden Potential," followed by Folkloristan's fascinating stories of Ghost Hunting in Pakistani Folklore!
Cities for People with Dr Naveed
Urban policy specialist, Dr Naveed Iftikhar, spoke about the importance of human-centred city design with recommendations revolving around inclusive public spaces with some personal stories.
Dandelion Blooms & Famous Five
The first event was a discussion on the book "Dandelion Blooms" with the author, Saud Mukhtar, narrating how Islamabad has evolved over the years. It was later followed by a Kids Book Hour on "Famous Five.”
The Concept of Love in Hafez's Poetry
This discussion circle was led by Dr Syed Asad Ali Kazmi, who discussed Hafez Shirazi, a legendary Persian Poet. Set in the library's peaceful lawn, we explored the concept of love in his poetic work.
Book Hour: Rumi: Past and Present, East and West by Dr Franklin Lewis
Led by CSS servant and Rumi enthusiast, Mr Zameer Abbas, we had a deep engaging discussion on the Maulana and his timeless message.
Book Hour: The Pakistani Bride by Bapsi Sidhwa
Dr Naveed Iftikhar joined us at the library to discuss a riveting Pakistani Fiction novel about an unhappy new bride contemplating an ultimate escape from her marriage.
Tareekh ki Azeem Feminist Auratein by Naeem Mirza
After an extended break due to Ramzan and Eid, we are finally back at the library for weekly community events! This week, we were joined by Mr. Naeem Mirza who led a discussion on his Urdu book "Great Feminist Women in History". We covered stories of lives, ideologies and movements waged by global feminist heroes over the past 600 years.
Sar Buland’ by Buland - Women’s Day event
In this special episode, we were joined by Buland Space to conduct a unique storytelling session celebrating women and their resilience and emotional journeys. It was an intimate setting where we got to hear many courageous and inspiring moments from women in their lives that shaped them into the incredible individuals they are today.
Din Dhalay & Kids Hour
Din Dhalay's revival, a community gathering with "phool, pakoray and dhair sara pyar". The library was basically a wondrous picnic for a large, diverse group of people, sitting together to enjoy the weather, various activities, and engage in sharing personal stories about what home meant for them. It was rather magical, really.
‘Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat’ by Alif Se Yeh & Kids Hour
In this collaboration with Alif Se Yeh, an Urdu learning platform, a shayari session on Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s classic Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat was conducted in the indoor area of the library. Rain, tea, and some urdu poetry - does it get any better than that?
Rumi and his Masnavi & Kids Hour
This time, both sessions were led by volunteers from our growing library community! We had Dr Asad Ali Kazmi, a PhD. from the University of Tehran in Persian Language and Linguistics, lead a reflective discussion circle on Rumi. For the Kids Hour, we were joined by Ayesha, who led an interactive storytelling session with the children.
Sophie’s World & Kids Hour
Now into the second month of our library project, this was the first session led by a volunteer from the I-8 library community. Shah Muhammad led a philosophical discussion on Sophie’s World that pondered upon the larger questions of life.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: A Novel
Dr. Naveed resumed with another Book Hour and discussed ‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’. This fiction book led to a discussion on life, love, and the healing power of books, all within the beautiful lawn setting of the library.
Hidden Potential with Umar Riaz & Ghost Hunting Adventures with Folkloristan
With two events, the audience listened to Umar Riaz's take on Adam Grant's "Hidden Potential," followed by Folkloristan's fascinating stories of Ghost Hunting in Pakistani Folklore!
Cities for People with Dr Naveed
Urban policy specialist, Dr Naveed Iftikhar, spoke about the importance of human-centred city design with recommendations revolving around inclusive public spaces with some personal stories.
Dandelion Blooms & Famous Five
The first event was a discussion on the book "Dandelion Blooms" with the author, Saud Mukhtar, narrating how Islamabad has evolved over the years. It was later followed by a Kids Book Hour on "Famous Five.”
The Concept of Love in Hafez's Poetry
This discussion circle was led by Dr Syed Asad Ali Kazmi, who discussed Hafez Shirazi, a legendary Persian Poet. Set in the library's peaceful lawn, we explored the concept of love in his poetic work.
Book Hour: Rumi: Past and Present, East and West by Dr Franklin Lewis
Led by CSS servant and Rumi enthusiast, Mr Zameer Abbas, we had a deep engaging discussion on the Maulana and his timeless message.
Book Hour: The Pakistani Bride by Bapsi Sidhwa
Dr Naveed Iftikhar joined us at the library to discuss a riveting Pakistani Fiction novel about an unhappy new bride contemplating an ultimate escape from her marriage.
Tareekh ki Azeem Feminist Auratein by Naeem Mirza
After an extended break due to Ramzan and Eid, we are finally back at the library for weekly community events! This week, we were joined by Mr. Naeem Mirza who led a discussion on his Urdu book "Great Feminist Women in History". We covered stories of lives, ideologies and movements waged by global feminist heroes over the past 600 years.
Sar Buland’ by Buland - Women’s Day event
In this special episode, we were joined by Buland Space to conduct a unique storytelling session celebrating women and their resilience and emotional journeys. It was an intimate setting where we got to hear many courageous and inspiring moments from women in their lives that shaped them into the incredible individuals they are today.
Din Dhalay & Kids Hour
Din Dhalay's revival, a community gathering with "phool, pakoray and dhair sara pyar". The library was basically a wondrous picnic for a large, diverse group of people, sitting together to enjoy the weather, various activities, and engage in sharing personal stories about what home meant for them. It was rather magical, really.
‘Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat’ by Alif Se Yeh & Kids Hour
In this collaboration with Alif Se Yeh, an Urdu learning platform, a shayari session on Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s classic Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat was conducted in the indoor area of the library. Rain, tea, and some urdu poetry - does it get any better than that?
Rumi and his Masnavi & Kids Hour
This time, both sessions were led by volunteers from our growing library community! We had Dr Asad Ali Kazmi, a PhD. from the University of Tehran in Persian Language and Linguistics, lead a reflective discussion circle on Rumi. For the Kids Hour, we were joined by Ayesha, who led an interactive storytelling session with the children.
Sophie’s World & Kids Hour
Now into the second month of our library project, this was the first session led by a volunteer from the I-8 library community. Shah Muhammad led a philosophical discussion on Sophie’s World that pondered upon the larger questions of life.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: A Novel
Dr. Naveed resumed with another Book Hour and discussed ‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’. This fiction book led to a discussion on life, love, and the healing power of books, all within the beautiful lawn setting of the library.
Hidden Potential with Umar Riaz & Ghost Hunting Adventures with Folkloristan
With two events, the audience listened to Umar Riaz's take on Adam Grant's "Hidden Potential," followed by Folkloristan's fascinating stories of Ghost Hunting in Pakistani Folklore!
Cities for People with Dr Naveed
Urban policy specialist, Dr Naveed Iftikhar, spoke about the importance of human-centred city design with recommendations revolving around inclusive public spaces with some personal stories.
Dandelion Blooms & Famous Five
The first event was a discussion on the book "Dandelion Blooms" with the author, Saud Mukhtar, narrating how Islamabad has evolved over the years. It was later followed by a Kids Book Hour on "Famous Five.”
The Concept of Love in Hafez's Poetry
This discussion circle was led by Dr Syed Asad Ali Kazmi, who discussed Hafez Shirazi, a legendary Persian Poet. Set in the library's peaceful lawn, we explored the concept of love in his poetic work.
Book Hour: Rumi: Past and Present, East and West by Dr Franklin Lewis
Led by CSS servant and Rumi enthusiast, Mr Zameer Abbas, we had a deep engaging discussion on the Maulana and his timeless message.
Book Hour: The Pakistani Bride by Bapsi Sidhwa
Dr Naveed Iftikhar joined us at the library to discuss a riveting Pakistani Fiction novel about an unhappy new bride contemplating an ultimate escape from her marriage.
Tareekh ki Azeem Feminist Auratein by Naeem Mirza
After an extended break due to Ramzan and Eid, we are finally back at the library for weekly community events! This week, we were joined by Mr. Naeem Mirza who led a discussion on his Urdu book "Great Feminist Women in History". We covered stories of lives, ideologies and movements waged by global feminist heroes over the past 600 years.
Sar Buland’ by Buland - Women’s Day event
In this special episode, we were joined by Buland Space to conduct a unique storytelling session celebrating women and their resilience and emotional journeys. It was an intimate setting where we got to hear many courageous and inspiring moments from women in their lives that shaped them into the incredible individuals they are today.
Din Dhalay & Kids Hour
Din Dhalay's revival, a community gathering with "phool, pakoray and dhair sara pyar". The library was basically a wondrous picnic for a large, diverse group of people, sitting together to enjoy the weather, various activities, and engage in sharing personal stories about what home meant for them. It was rather magical, really.
‘Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat’ by Alif Se Yeh & Kids Hour
In this collaboration with Alif Se Yeh, an Urdu learning platform, a shayari session on Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s classic Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat was conducted in the indoor area of the library. Rain, tea, and some urdu poetry - does it get any better than that?
Rumi and his Masnavi & Kids Hour
This time, both sessions were led by volunteers from our growing library community! We had Dr Asad Ali Kazmi, a PhD. from the University of Tehran in Persian Language and Linguistics, lead a reflective discussion circle on Rumi. For the Kids Hour, we were joined by Ayesha, who led an interactive storytelling session with the children.
Sophie’s World & Kids Hour
Now into the second month of our library project, this was the first session led by a volunteer from the I-8 library community. Shah Muhammad led a philosophical discussion on Sophie’s World that pondered upon the larger questions of life.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: A Novel
Dr. Naveed resumed with another Book Hour and discussed ‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’. This fiction book led to a discussion on life, love, and the healing power of books, all within the beautiful lawn setting of the library.
Hidden Potential with Umar Riaz & Ghost Hunting Adventures with Folkloristan
With two events, the audience listened to Umar Riaz's take on Adam Grant's "Hidden Potential," followed by Folkloristan's fascinating stories of Ghost Hunting in Pakistani Folklore!
Cities for People with Dr Naveed
Urban policy specialist, Dr Naveed Iftikhar, spoke about the importance of human-centred city design with recommendations revolving around inclusive public spaces with some personal stories.
Dandelion Blooms & Famous Five
The first event was a discussion on the book "Dandelion Blooms" with the author, Saud Mukhtar, narrating how Islamabad has evolved over the years. It was later followed by a Kids Book Hour on "Famous Five.”
The Concept of Love in Hafez's Poetry
This discussion circle was led by Dr Syed Asad Ali Kazmi, who discussed Hafez Shirazi, a legendary Persian Poet. Set in the library's peaceful lawn, we explored the concept of love in his poetic work.
Book Hour: Rumi: Past and Present, East and West by Dr Franklin Lewis
Led by CSS servant and Rumi enthusiast, Mr Zameer Abbas, we had a deep engaging discussion on the Maulana and his timeless message.
Book Hour: The Pakistani Bride by Bapsi Sidhwa
Dr Naveed Iftikhar joined us at the library to discuss a riveting Pakistani Fiction novel about an unhappy new bride contemplating an ultimate escape from her marriage.
Tareekh ki Azeem Feminist Auratein by Naeem Mirza
After an extended break due to Ramzan and Eid, we are finally back at the library for weekly community events! This week, we were joined by Mr. Naeem Mirza who led a discussion on his Urdu book "Great Feminist Women in History". We covered stories of lives, ideologies and movements waged by global feminist heroes over the past 600 years.
Sar Buland’ by Buland - Women’s Day event
In this special episode, we were joined by Buland Space to conduct a unique storytelling session celebrating women and their resilience and emotional journeys. It was an intimate setting where we got to hear many courageous and inspiring moments from women in their lives that shaped them into the incredible individuals they are today.
Din Dhalay & Kids Hour
Din Dhalay's revival, a community gathering with "phool, pakoray and dhair sara pyar". The library was basically a wondrous picnic for a large, diverse group of people, sitting together to enjoy the weather, various activities, and engage in sharing personal stories about what home meant for them. It was rather magical, really.
‘Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat’ by Alif Se Yeh & Kids Hour
In this collaboration with Alif Se Yeh, an Urdu learning platform, a shayari session on Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s classic Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat was conducted in the indoor area of the library. Rain, tea, and some urdu poetry - does it get any better than that?
Rumi and his Masnavi & Kids Hour
This time, both sessions were led by volunteers from our growing library community! We had Dr Asad Ali Kazmi, a PhD. from the University of Tehran in Persian Language and Linguistics, lead a reflective discussion circle on Rumi. For the Kids Hour, we were joined by Ayesha, who led an interactive storytelling session with the children.
Sophie’s World & Kids Hour
Now into the second month of our library project, this was the first session led by a volunteer from the I-8 library community. Shah Muhammad led a philosophical discussion on Sophie’s World that pondered upon the larger questions of life.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: A Novel
Dr. Naveed resumed with another Book Hour and discussed ‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’. This fiction book led to a discussion on life, love, and the healing power of books, all within the beautiful lawn setting of the library.
Hidden Potential with Umar Riaz & Ghost Hunting Adventures with Folkloristan
With two events, the audience listened to Umar Riaz's take on Adam Grant's "Hidden Potential," followed by Folkloristan's fascinating stories of Ghost Hunting in Pakistani Folklore!
Cities for People with Dr Naveed
Urban policy specialist, Dr Naveed Iftikhar, spoke about the importance of human-centred city design with recommendations revolving around inclusive public spaces with some personal stories.
Dandelion Blooms & Famous Five
The first event was a discussion on the book "Dandelion Blooms" with the author, Saud Mukhtar, narrating how Islamabad has evolved over the years. It was later followed by a Kids Book Hour on "Famous Five.”
The Concept of Love in Hafez's Poetry
This discussion circle was led by Dr Syed Asad Ali Kazmi, who discussed Hafez Shirazi, a legendary Persian Poet. Set in the library's peaceful lawn, we explored the concept of love in his poetic work.
Book Hour: Rumi: Past and Present, East and West by Dr Franklin Lewis
Led by CSS servant and Rumi enthusiast, Mr Zameer Abbas, we had a deep engaging discussion on the Maulana and his timeless message.
Book Hour: The Pakistani Bride by Bapsi Sidhwa
Dr Naveed Iftikhar joined us at the library to discuss a riveting Pakistani Fiction novel about an unhappy new bride contemplating an ultimate escape from her marriage.
Tareekh ki Azeem Feminist Auratein by Naeem Mirza
After an extended break due to Ramzan and Eid, we are finally back at the library for weekly community events! This week, we were joined by Mr. Naeem Mirza who led a discussion on his Urdu book "Great Feminist Women in History". We covered stories of lives, ideologies and movements waged by global feminist heroes over the past 600 years.
Sar Buland’ by Buland - Women’s Day event
In this special episode, we were joined by Buland Space to conduct a unique storytelling session celebrating women and their resilience and emotional journeys. It was an intimate setting where we got to hear many courageous and inspiring moments from women in their lives that shaped them into the incredible individuals they are today.
Din Dhalay & Kids Hour
Din Dhalay's revival, a community gathering with "phool, pakoray and dhair sara pyar". The library was basically a wondrous picnic for a large, diverse group of people, sitting together to enjoy the weather, various activities, and engage in sharing personal stories about what home meant for them. It was rather magical, really.
‘Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat’ by Alif Se Yeh & Kids Hour
In this collaboration with Alif Se Yeh, an Urdu learning platform, a shayari session on Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s classic Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat was conducted in the indoor area of the library. Rain, tea, and some urdu poetry - does it get any better than that?
Rumi and his Masnavi & Kids Hour
This time, both sessions were led by volunteers from our growing library community! We had Dr Asad Ali Kazmi, a PhD. from the University of Tehran in Persian Language and Linguistics, lead a reflective discussion circle on Rumi. For the Kids Hour, we were joined by Ayesha, who led an interactive storytelling session with the children.
Sophie’s World & Kids Hour
Now into the second month of our library project, this was the first session led by a volunteer from the I-8 library community. Shah Muhammad led a philosophical discussion on Sophie’s World that pondered upon the larger questions of life.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: A Novel
Dr. Naveed resumed with another Book Hour and discussed ‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’. This fiction book led to a discussion on life, love, and the healing power of books, all within the beautiful lawn setting of the library.
Hidden Potential with Umar Riaz & Ghost Hunting Adventures with Folkloristan
With two events, the audience listened to Umar Riaz's take on Adam Grant's "Hidden Potential," followed by Folkloristan's fascinating stories of Ghost Hunting in Pakistani Folklore!
Cities for People with Dr Naveed
Urban policy specialist, Dr Naveed Iftikhar, spoke about the importance of human-centred city design with recommendations revolving around inclusive public spaces with some personal stories.
Dandelion Blooms & Famous Five
The first event was a discussion on the book "Dandelion Blooms" with the author, Saud Mukhtar, narrating how Islamabad has evolved over the years. It was later followed by a Kids Book Hour on "Famous Five.”
The Concept of Love in Hafez's Poetry
This discussion circle was led by Dr Syed Asad Ali Kazmi, who discussed Hafez Shirazi, a legendary Persian Poet. Set in the library's peaceful lawn, we explored the concept of love in his poetic work.
Book Hour: Rumi: Past and Present, East and West by Dr Franklin Lewis
Led by CSS servant and Rumi enthusiast, Mr Zameer Abbas, we had a deep engaging discussion on the Maulana and his timeless message.
Book Hour: The Pakistani Bride by Bapsi Sidhwa
Dr Naveed Iftikhar joined us at the library to discuss a riveting Pakistani Fiction novel about an unhappy new bride contemplating an ultimate escape from her marriage.
Tareekh ki Azeem Feminist Auratein by Naeem Mirza
After an extended break due to Ramzan and Eid, we are finally back at the library for weekly community events! This week, we were joined by Mr. Naeem Mirza who led a discussion on his Urdu book "Great Feminist Women in History". We covered stories of lives, ideologies and movements waged by global feminist heroes over the past 600 years.
Sar Buland’ by Buland - Women’s Day event
In this special episode, we were joined by Buland Space to conduct a unique storytelling session celebrating women and their resilience and emotional journeys. It was an intimate setting where we got to hear many courageous and inspiring moments from women in their lives that shaped them into the incredible individuals they are today.
Din Dhalay & Kids Hour
Din Dhalay's revival, a community gathering with "phool, pakoray and dhair sara pyar". The library was basically a wondrous picnic for a large, diverse group of people, sitting together to enjoy the weather, various activities, and engage in sharing personal stories about what home meant for them. It was rather magical, really.
‘Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat’ by Alif Se Yeh & Kids Hour
In this collaboration with Alif Se Yeh, an Urdu learning platform, a shayari session on Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s classic Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat was conducted in the indoor area of the library. Rain, tea, and some urdu poetry - does it get any better than that?
Rumi and his Masnavi & Kids Hour
This time, both sessions were led by volunteers from our growing library community! We had Dr Asad Ali Kazmi, a PhD. from the University of Tehran in Persian Language and Linguistics, lead a reflective discussion circle on Rumi. For the Kids Hour, we were joined by Ayesha, who led an interactive storytelling session with the children.
Sophie’s World & Kids Hour
Now into the second month of our library project, this was the first session led by a volunteer from the I-8 library community. Shah Muhammad led a philosophical discussion on Sophie’s World that pondered upon the larger questions of life.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: A Novel
Dr. Naveed resumed with another Book Hour and discussed ‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’. This fiction book led to a discussion on life, love, and the healing power of books, all within the beautiful lawn setting of the library.
Hidden Potential with Umar Riaz & Ghost Hunting Adventures with Folkloristan
With two events, the audience listened to Umar Riaz's take on Adam Grant's "Hidden Potential," followed by Folkloristan's fascinating stories of Ghost Hunting in Pakistani Folklore!
Cities for People with Dr Naveed
Urban policy specialist, Dr Naveed Iftikhar, spoke about the importance of human-centred city design with recommendations revolving around inclusive public spaces with some personal stories.
Dandelion Blooms & Famous Five
The first event was a discussion on the book "Dandelion Blooms" with the author, Saud Mukhtar, narrating how Islamabad has evolved over the years. It was later followed by a Kids Book Hour on "Famous Five.”
The Concept of Love in Hafez's Poetry
This discussion circle was led by Dr Syed Asad Ali Kazmi, who discussed Hafez Shirazi, a legendary Persian Poet. Set in the library's peaceful lawn, we explored the concept of love in his poetic work.
Book Hour: Rumi: Past and Present, East and West by Dr Franklin Lewis
Led by CSS servant and Rumi enthusiast, Mr Zameer Abbas, we had a deep engaging discussion on the Maulana and his timeless message.
Book Hour: The Pakistani Bride by Bapsi Sidhwa
Dr Naveed Iftikhar joined us at the library to discuss a riveting Pakistani Fiction novel about an unhappy new bride contemplating an ultimate escape from her marriage.
Tareekh ki Azeem Feminist Auratein by Naeem Mirza
After an extended break due to Ramzan and Eid, we are finally back at the library for weekly community events! This week, we were joined by Mr. Naeem Mirza who led a discussion on his Urdu book "Great Feminist Women in History". We covered stories of lives, ideologies and movements waged by global feminist heroes over the past 600 years.
Sar Buland’ by Buland - Women’s Day event
In this special episode, we were joined by Buland Space to conduct a unique storytelling session celebrating women and their resilience and emotional journeys. It was an intimate setting where we got to hear many courageous and inspiring moments from women in their lives that shaped them into the incredible individuals they are today.
Din Dhalay & Kids Hour
Din Dhalay's revival, a community gathering with "phool, pakoray and dhair sara pyar". The library was basically a wondrous picnic for a large, diverse group of people, sitting together to enjoy the weather, various activities, and engage in sharing personal stories about what home meant for them. It was rather magical, really.
‘Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat’ by Alif Se Yeh & Kids Hour
In this collaboration with Alif Se Yeh, an Urdu learning platform, a shayari session on Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s classic Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat was conducted in the indoor area of the library. Rain, tea, and some urdu poetry - does it get any better than that?
Rumi and his Masnavi & Kids Hour
This time, both sessions were led by volunteers from our growing library community! We had Dr Asad Ali Kazmi, a PhD. from the University of Tehran in Persian Language and Linguistics, lead a reflective discussion circle on Rumi. For the Kids Hour, we were joined by Ayesha, who led an interactive storytelling session with the children.
Sophie’s World & Kids Hour
Now into the second month of our library project, this was the first session led by a volunteer from the I-8 library community. Shah Muhammad led a philosophical discussion on Sophie’s World that pondered upon the larger questions of life.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: A Novel
Dr. Naveed resumed with another Book Hour and discussed ‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’. This fiction book led to a discussion on life, love, and the healing power of books, all within the beautiful lawn setting of the library.
Hidden Potential with Umar Riaz & Ghost Hunting Adventures with Folkloristan
With two events, the audience listened to Umar Riaz's take on Adam Grant's "Hidden Potential," followed by Folkloristan's fascinating stories of Ghost Hunting in Pakistani Folklore!
Cities for People with Dr Naveed
Urban policy specialist, Dr Naveed Iftikhar, spoke about the importance of human-centred city design with recommendations revolving around inclusive public spaces with some personal stories.
Dandelion Blooms & Famous Five
The first event was a discussion on the book "Dandelion Blooms" with the author, Saud Mukhtar, narrating how Islamabad has evolved over the years. It was later followed by a Kids Book Hour on "Famous Five.”
Have an idea? Want to lead an event at the Library?
This library project aims to bring awareness to the community library spaces that are available in Islamabad, and model community activities for the locals to then pick up themselves. Several organizations and individuals have collaborated with us and used the space for their own purposes in this process.
We encourage you to utilize these spaces for your personal uses: whether it be simply dropping by for a reading or writing session, a book reading picnic with friends in the beautiful library lawns, or a Kids Hour activity for local children. The possibilities are endless, and we'd love to see these spaces continue to thrive on their own as the locals take ownership. Find the library nearest you and use it!
If you have questions about using these library spaces, conduct your own personal events, or if you would like to collaborate, feel free to reach out.
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