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Akram allahabadi novels
Akram allahabadi novels













akram allahabadi novels

Tawakkul Library introduced me to full-fledged adult books. There was nothing specifically for a teenager or a young adult. In those days, books were written for either children or for adults. Looking back, I realise the important formative influence that the books of Tawakkul Library had on my intellectual and personal development. Musa always greeted me with, “Welcome, chottay mian!” in line with my tender age. I was 10 years old when I became a member of this elite library of Quetta, and remained a loyal customer until I left Quetta, at the age of 15. Musa explained it to them with good humour and cheer and they all went back edified. Such was Musa’s grasp of English movies that even though he did not know the language, library members would come to him, even if they had a Masters in English, to discuss any complex parts of a movie that they had not understood. He would fight like a lion at the ticket window to get a ticket for the first show or, in the event of a failure, buy it from a black marketer at an exorbitant price – particularly if it was a blockbuster like Samson and Delilah or Ben Hur. Turning up for the first show of a new movie was like a religion for him. Musa’s main love in life, though, was neither books nor business but watching English movies. Rounds of strong sweet tea were served endlessly.

akram allahabadi novels akram allahabadi novels

He had a very pleasant countenance and made everyone entering the library comfortable, with his cheerful banter. Musa, the owner of Tawakkul Library, was a man of about 30 years of age. All records pertaining to the issue and return of a book were entered in a large-size register. The books were lined up in the shelves with some order that could not be fathomed. The attic was covered with a curtain and there was no visible access to it. Lending libraries were known in those days as “Anna libraries”, since the standard daily rental for a book was one Anna or one-16th of a Rupee.įlanked by ‘Banday Khan Ladies Hair Dresser’ and some other shop, the library was a simple one-room shop with an attic.

akram allahabadi novels

The ‘Tawakkul Library’, located at the border between the city and the cantonment was the primary source of book rentals for all age groups. For a small town, Quetta had a good share of bookshops and lending libraries.















Akram allahabadi novels