Syed Abdullah Shah Library
A library named after former Chief Minister of Sindh late Syed Abdullah Shah that has been set up in Besant Hall Cultural Centre was on 23rd February 2025.
The library is a tribute to late Shah’s contributions to cultural and literary landscape of Sindh and stand as a testament to his commitment to advancing the region’s welfare history and literature, said Jahangir Siddiqui, chairperson of Endowment Fund Trust (EFT) for the Preservation of Heritage of Sindh, who presided over the inauguration ceremony. He highlighted significance of the library for the people of Hyderabad, saying it was a collective responsibility to provide community with a well-functioning and accessible space for intellectual growth. He reflected on vision and dedication of the late chief minister, whose tireless efforts led to publication of numerous works on history, literature and culture of Sindh. He paid homage to his contribution to translation of works by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and said the decision to dedicate the library to Shah was a joint initiative of the board of trustees of EFT, recognizing enduring impact of his contributions to cultural and literary heritage of Sindh. Shamsul Haq Memon, Prof Tauha Hussain Ali, Salim Gul Shaikh, Dr Nilofer Shaikh and Abrar Qazi were present in the inaugural ceremony.
Mujahid Iqbal, a London-based journalist, who had donated 10,000 books to the library many of which covered rich and diverse history of the subcontinent. The generous donation was expected to play a pivotal role in fostering reading culture in the region and furthering cause of cultural activism. The collection, primarily centered on historical works, would be an invaluable addition to the library and serve as a resource for future generations of scholars and history enthusiasts.
This is not only a library but also recognition of importance of intellectual library engagement in shaping future of a society. This library with its extensive collection of books and its dedication to preservation of Sindh’s rich history is poised to become a cornerstone of cultural and intellectual activity in Hyderabad and beyond.
JS Children’s Library
The, Besant Hall Children’s Library provides educational, recreational, and cultural resources for children aged 6 to 11. It has a large collection of books of history, culture, religion, novels, fictional, and non-fiction materials. We have separately placed a portion of some of Hakim Saeed’s rare books with his name so that kids of the modern generation should also be familiar with the personalities and books and content of early times. Our collection also includes audio and visual material such as video content, electronic educational puzzles, and interactive learning tools. Our library is well equipped with modern electronic accessories like E-video games, PSP, computers, and tabs.
