Hyderabad: In an era where a few people are willing to hear others, the Human Library of Hyderabad conducted a session in Madhapur on Sunday where in ‘human books’ shared stories with readers.
The ‘human book’ is a person who has broken stereotypes or overcome stigma of society. The Human Library of Hyderabad has around 56 ‘human books’ from various backgrounds including transgenders, survivors of abuse, atheists, sexaholic, gay women, entrepreneurs, solo woman travellers, and Urdu-speaking Brahmins among others.
On Sunday with the weather being pleasant, hundreds of readers revelled in reading 24 ‘human books’ at the State Art Gallery in Madhapur. Each ‘human book’ shared their story for 30 minutes.
A book is read by six ‘readers’ in one and they can ask questions. The Human Library of Hyderabad is the brainchild of Mr Harshad Fad who said, “Every book is handpicked and they have broken some societal norms or stereotypes and took forward their life. This is a monthly activity and the number of readers is increasing each time. This time it is overcrowded with more than 800 readers.”
The Human Library visits colleges and corporates with human books every month, apart from organising public readings. At public gatherings which are conducted at parks, hotels or public areas, the ‘books’ are ‘read’ by more readers.
First-time reader Naren Datta said, “These human books act as life changers. I heard the book on how victims of child sexual abuse won their fight.”
Another reader at the event was UK deputy high commissioner Andrew Fleming, who took to Twitter to share his thoughts.
He said, “I enjoyed human library books on trafficking, food addicts journey to being a goodie and may be best of all, a story of Sugandh — the happy and truly inspiring entrepreneur who is doing much for children with autism and was so inspiring,” he said.
