We often judge people by just looking at them or gauging their expressions, without even trying to make an effort to know them. Sometimes there’s too little time, sometimes we just don’t take the pain and sometimes, we think it is not at all necessary. There can be many reasons for us not go that extra bit but knowing a person and sharing their life experiences can actually be enriching as well as healing. Also because sharing is beautiful. And that is why some youngsters have gone ahead with a completely new initiative of Human Library, where one can actually ‘borrow’ a human being for a certain amount of time, who then share their life experiences. A meaningful and thoughtful conversation can actually be healing.
The concept of Human Library originally started in Copenhagen in the year 2000. It picked up in India with the first Human Library event happening in Indore and then Hyderabad. After its success, the organisers are now holding another event, this time in Delhi. Their website describes the concept as ‘designed to build a positive framework for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue. The Human Library is a place where real people are on loan to readers. A place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered.”
The people who participate in the event actually volunteer for being ‘Human Books’ and agree to share their personal stories and be mentally prepared to answer the questions coming thereafter. The entire purpose of the event is really heartwarming as it aims to bring together people from different walks and strata of the society, who share their experiences with others.
The first Human Library event took place in Indore in 2016, after Harshad Fad of the Annapurna University, a student of mass media came up with the ingenious idea of turning humans into books who share interesting and motivating experiences with others. So if you attend the event you get to ‘borrow’ a person for about 20 minutes to half an hour and have a normal conversation with them instead of judging them without it. The Delhi Human Library event will take place on 18 June 2017 at Innov8, Connaught Place in afternoon at 2.
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