The Readers Club: Book r[age]

Only the old and the wise make an appearance at the Readers Club.

In this bookish romance, age is increasingly becoming a defining factor. At the Readers Club tucked away in a secluded corner on an otherwise bustling 13^th Commercial Street in Defence, Karachi, only the middle-aged and seniors are in attendance. Mature enough to understand the underlying messages and draw parallels with real-life experiences but young enough to share hearty laughs over frivolous reads, this group of men and women relish the simple joys of reading.

Deceptively quiet on the outside, the club harbours a group of mostly retired professionals with a zest for life coupled with a quick intellect. Everything from the ingredients of happiness, to daily struggles and the importance of retaining a positive outlook on life is on the table. Midlife and Naked, by Shaista Ayesha, the book under discussion for the week, elicits jokes about being ‘naughty at 40’ and ‘men will always be men’ among the group of nearly 20 men. Coming from different backgrounds, one a cardiologist cum historian, some business executives, ex-NASA employees, civil servants, retired military officers and writers, they all unite under the banner of their common love — reading.

“Some of them have been with the club since its inception in 2001 while others have joined subsequently in the past 13 years of meeting every Friday for the love of books,” says Azmat Khan, the club’s co-founding member. Along with Abbas Hussain — who established the NGO Teachers’ Development Centre (TDC) in 1999 — the duo turned their dream of setting up an exclusive reading space into a reality of a non-profit, well-networked club of nearly 300 members today. The club falls under the umbrella of TDCs numerous engagements and hence all expenses are paid for.



The club does not charge its members any fee as it aims to promote a reading culture. Weekly emails are sent out informing members about the selected book for the upcoming meeting held every Friday, except gazetted holidays, from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. Members meet to discuss the book selected by the facilitator, and after a brief synopsis, engage in a moderated discussion on the book in which everyone is welcome to express their opinion and ask questions. Over time, the club has emerged as a breeding ground for intellectual discussions and cultural integration for people with varying opinions and diverse experiences.

The club caters to the reading interests of a wide audience, with themes ranging from politics to history and science to spirituality. Books in both English and Urdu language are preferred to draw more and more people in. Often, however, more interesting than the books are the discussions and the thoughts that reverberate in the room during the dialogue session. For example, during the discussion on Midlife and Naked, a tale of two Pakistani entrepreneurs, facilitated by the author, the theme of self-discovery was effectively highlighted and discussed. According to an attendee, while the protagonists in the book can write about certain values now, he perhaps wouldn’t have met success had he walked down that path earlier on in life. And others soon jump in to present their stance on the subject once the debate is sparked.

Although the club is open for all book lovers, spotting a younger member at the meeting is almost close to impossible. “With the easy availability of eBooks and audio books, the few youngsters who love reading these days just don’t take time out for these things,” claims Azher Tahir, a social media representative for the club. During the tea break that follows a stimulating discussion each week, members sometimes ponder over the absence of younger members while making up with each other for having a difference of opinion during the sometimes heated discussion.



“It is [essential] that reading habits [be] instilled in children from a young age and [it should] also be promoted in schools. Parents should encourage children [to] read,” adds Pervez Iqbal, a member of the club who is of the strong opinion that children whose parents read are more likely to pick up a book. And while the members grieve the loss of young minds during the meeting, they inadvertently play their part in reinforcing the timeless appeal of books and reading.

You can also visit their site at http://e.readersclubpak.org/ Noreen Mumtaz is a student at the Limkokwing University, Malaysia. 

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, March 23^rd, 2014.