Reading the fine print: A policeman’s efforts to encourage research

Library established on Warsak Road offers books on a range of disciplines.

PESHAWAR: “Abdullah Sani, a columnist, once said, ‘Book reading is a rare quality to be found among Pukhtuns, and to find one among them who is an author of prose is nothing short of a miracle’,” joked Fasihuddin, the founder of Research Library Peshawar. 

Fasih, a policeman by profession and founder of the Pakistan Society of Criminology, is greatly perturbed by the decline of reading among the public and students alike, especially in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. As the bookshop business slowly moves out of Peshawar, Fasih’s fears are being realised.

Instead of taking a passive approach, Fasih set up a library dedicated to research on Warsak Road in November 2013. With the help of scholars, journalists, novelists, university academics and literary figures, Fasih aims to encourage research scholars in the pursuit of knowledge.

Reading material on Pakistan Studies, history, international relations, political science, criminology, sociology, mysticism, poetry, social work and philosophy is available at the Research Library.

“We welcome intellectuals, scholars, columnists and research students to come and utilise the books we have provided, here,” Fasih said while talking to The Express Tribune in his office.

The librarian’s rules

Visitors can come, pore over books and journals and take notes but they are not allowed to take any material home.

Fasih manages the library’s affairs from Balochistan where he is posted as officer on special duty. The policeman donated 7,000 books from his very own private collection.

Expressing concern over the decline in research practices such as literature review or background reading, Fasih said students prefer to study notes taken during class instead of going the extra mile to read a relevant book. In part, he said, the high cost of books is to be blamed.

According to Fasih, one major reason behind many candidates failing the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination is their insufficient general knowledge. This he believes is directly linked to their not reading enough research material.

“It is absolutely imperative for people to know who credible writers are and to differentiate between studying and general reading,” he said.

Over the past decade, conflict in K-P has robbed libraries of readers. The general public is increasingly wary of public spaces. In educational institutions, students restrict themselves to academic textbooks and notes instead of reading journals, magazines and research papers, said Fasih.

“There is little peace of mind in K-P. Books are expensive and leading booksellers like Saeed Book Bank have closed shop here. Even libraries of the British Council and the American Center have been packed up,” he complained.

Wanted: Govt support

At the moment, the library consists of six rooms, however, according to library coordinator Yousaf Anwar, they need the government’s help to build a separate building for it because it has been established at the office of Pakistan Society of Criminology.

Anwar said on their request, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak instructed the Archives and Library director to prepare a feasibility report and send it to the planning department, but the department later dropped the matter. “We have sent requests to many donors and academic institutions, asking them to provide equipment and reference books for the library they haven’t responded as yet,” said Anwar.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2014.