Summer book club: Excitement sweeps over children as Qavi Khan reads to them

NBF holds the 11th session of its initiative to promote book reading.

There was an air of excitement at the head office of the National Book Foundation (NBF), as renowned TV personality Qavi Khan came to read at the 11th session of the Summer Book Club  (SBC) on Wednesday, said a press release.

Children gathered around the star, who is also the book ambassador of the NBF, and asked him questions about his life and showbiz career, which spans a period of over 60 years.

The children inquired about his interest in book reading, to which he said that it was his favourite past time. Another child asked him about when he got his first prize. He responded that as a child he wrote a story titled “Maan” (mother), for which he got his first prize. “I still cherish it.”

Once the excitement settled down, Qavi sat down with children, aged 3 to 12 years, gathering around him. The children read out from their favourite books one by one, as others listened intently, invested in the stories.

Qavi wrapped up the session with his own life story, a classic tale of struggle, drawing home the fact that life poses hardships but these can be turned into success by sheer dint of hard work and determination.

At the end of the session, the children were given coupons that entitled each child to buy books worth Rs200. Forty coupons were distributed.

The session was part of the foundation’s SBC programme, which was initiated to promote the love for book reading in children. The children are invited to the NBF premises and given books, snacks and an opportunity to express themselves. Mazharul Islam, NBF Managing Director, is the brain behind the initiative.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2012.