Bedil Library

Today Salwa and I visited the Bedil Library. It was my second visit, but for Salwa it was the first time. It is so ironic that we did not even know this amazing place existed on the face of the earth. It was only when we were doing our reserach projects last year that we came to know about it. Asma was working on Iqbal and she was referred to this place by our teachers. All of us were so busy with our respective researches that none of us bothered going to the Bedil Library. Two weeks ago, however, I promised myself that it was high time I visited the place. So I went. I just familiarised myself with their reference section and man, what a place it was! The best part was that the reference section housed Hasan Askari Sahab's entire collection of books. Four huge cupborads labelled as zakheera-e kutub, Muhammad Hasan Askari. And indeed what a treasure it was. I could not believe I was looking at the books that Askari Sahab must have read. Then I saw various books with his name written on their title page in his own handwriting.

And today I went there with Salwa. We sat there for about an hour and browsed all the books in the catalogue for Askari Sahab's collection. I was looking for a book called, shaa'eri ki haqeeqat but was unable to find it. I asked the librarian but he said he had never heard of any book by that name. Finally Salwa and I settled on two books from Dr Mohsin's collection, which we handed over to the librarian so that he could get them copied.

All in all, it was an amazing experience. The sad fact, however, is that not many people frequent the place. Usually it is the 'research scholars' who go there and are allowed to use the reference section. Salwa and I weren't any 'scholars' but still the librarian 'uncle' was kind enough to let us into the forbidden territory i.e. the reference section. Oh, and one more thing, you cannot cross the threshold of the library without taking off your shoes... =) I do not know if the reason behind this is the wall to wall carpet that adorns the floor of the library or is it just that as a gesture of respect you are supposed to take off your shoes. Personally I think that it is this respect factor working behind this particular rule.

It is indeed a place to visit for all the book lovers, specially those who love Urdu books.

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P.S. A word about Mirza Abdul Qadir Bedil, the poet after whom the library takes its name.