Thread by @DrOsamaSiddique

Majlis-e-Taraqi-e-Adab is a public sector institution for promotion of #Urdu language & literature. I have admired some of their publications in the past. Today on a whim (while looking for a full version of the Hatim Tai epic) I went masked & all to their premises. It's just 1/

off Mall Road past GOR 1 entrance & before PC Hotel, Lahore. Inside are acres of evacuee property land, old bungalow styled buildings with high ceilings, peeling paint & airy verandahs, & vast tree shaded lawns.

The Majlis is housed in one of the buildings at the very back. 2/

There are 2 other centers as well. I gathered a large haul of classical Urdu novels & several epics that I needed for my current writing. Ridiculously inexpensive (25 books in all for a mere Rs. 4000 after discount) & the staff was quite helpful. But they could do with more 3/

inspired & active marketing, sales, display & promotional support, & also more robust online presence. The website down for some months. Even when it was up one couldn't order online but at least one could see what’s available. There's also a library & as said these are vast, 4/

scenic & leafy premises. One would love to see the place thronged with students, scholars, & avid readers in post Corona times. Unless such centers, resources & public facilities upgraded & fully utilized, marketed, promoted & converted into welcome spaces they don’t justify 5/

the expense of their upkeep & it's also a tremendous opportunity lost. It may due to #Covid19 right now but the place was deserted. The Majlis is headed by an eminent scholar & that’s great for the intellectual side of work. He should be provided all additional editorial, 6/

research & publishing support he requires. At the same time, robust marketing, vibrant literary events, better sales support, & professional display (I bought mine from a store room) could boost sales, better serve old readers & new & create a lovely haven for study, dialogue 7/

& reflection. Punjab Information Dept is apparently responsible for running this but it needs the discerning & informed guiding touch of a lover of knowledge, literature, libraries & intellectual public spaces. It could also thrive possibly under a public private partnership. 8/8

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Please don't be intimidated by the abandoned look of the place. Visit, buy some books & sit under a Frangipani tree to leaf through it. It is your space. Do claim it. 9/9

#urbanspaces #literarycenters #culturalcenters #Lahore #Pakistan #publicspaces #publiclibraries #Books

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