Where you can converse with books literally

Hyderabad: The concept of 'Human Book' in Hyderabad is gaining a huge appreciation from the audience, especially youngsters. The concept of Human Library in Hyderabad was launched with its first event in 2017.

The Human Library Hyderabad is a positive framework for conversations that can challenge the stereotypes and prejudices with just a 20-minute talk. Here humans turn into 'books' to relate their stories to readers and even interact with them. Its main motto is to facilitate conversations that help transcend social barriers and overcome fears or stigmas and expand horizons. Readers can choose a 'book' and have a conversation with it and open up about their feelings which they hesitate to reveal to others.

Harshad D Fad, the founder of Human Library Hyderabad, says, "The response from readers of all the different ages has been overwhelmingly positive to the Human Library events. People come with different reasons and motives to read a Human Book but at the end of their readings one thing they take back in common is a much larger and understanding perspective of the society they live in."

The Library started with 10 'Human Books' initially. Now, it has more than 80 'books.' The website http://www.humanlibraryhyderabad.com informs about the events where people can view the catalogue and select 'books' of their interest. Can anyone become a Human Book? It says only those people who have experienced prejudice due to issues such as race, sex, age, disability, sexual preference, gender identity, class, religion/belief, lifestyle choices or other aspects of who they are can be a 'Book.'

Radhika Gummadi, HR in Mahindra & Mahindra, Zaheerabad, and a human book 'My Happy Size,' says, "The concept of 'My happy size' talks about body positivity. There are many people who don't see body shaming as an issue. It is very common for people to give any unasked advice or suggestions on how one should look. The people who comment can easily forget about it but the people who receive these comments feel haunted by them forever."

Sharing her personal experience, Radhika said, "I remember all the things I heard about my body from around 8th or 9th standard. The comments affected my mental health and I lost 9 years of my life by only trying different diets and trying to reduce weight. I chose to be a human book to make this journey a little easy and fast for others, so that they don't have to miss 9 years of their life, treating their body according to the society."

Most of the readers seem to connect when the 'human books.' They share their stories, some of them also self-evaluate and confess how they have faced similar issues. Akram Feroze, a theatre director, actor and a human book 'Chains of Freedom', says, "The title of the book talks about the journey of a young man who tries to understand what freedom means in the society. While I was in a trip called Theatre at borders, I got arrested in 2015 in India- Pakistan border."

Akram adds: "When you say something like a country shouldn't have borders, you are definitely going to upset people, and some might call you anti-national. The idea was always about trying to understand what does border mean to us, how do we see nations, communities, and how do we break that. The idea of my concept is to share my experience about my travels and interact with people and try to make them understand the concept."

Elsie L, a 3rd year BA student from Loyola Academy Degree and PG College, said, "The event of human library is being conducted in our college for the last two years. The concept of Human Books is something we relate to somewhere or the other. There are various things we cannot talk to people openly as everyone would judge you for your thinking."

"When you listen to someone's experience of life which is somewhere related to your life you feel free to talk about it. Listening to the life experiences of these human books, I personally feel that there is a platform which is away from the preconceptions about things in the society," says Vyshali who interacted with a 'Human Book.'