The Reading Room Karachi

Originally, the Khaliqdina Hall was the first public building built by the local Muslim philanthropists to facilitate the literary and leisurely pursuits of the native population. Made with local Gizri stone, Khaliqdina Hall was erected on Bunder Road in Karachi and comprises one spacious hall built for public meetings and two additional rooms. ⁽²⁾ The legendary Hall and Library were designed by the architectural genius Moses Somake, in a classical Palladian style. It was funded by philanthropist Ghulam Hoosain Khaliqdina in 1906, following the tradition of the reading room, to facilitate local engagement in literary and recreational activities. ⁽³⁾  On July 9, 1921, the hall witnessed the trial of Muhammad Ali Jauhar, an activist and leader of the Khilafat Movement, who stood accused of sedition alongside other prominent figures such as his brother Shaukat Ali, Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew, Maulana Husain Madani, and Sri Shankaracharya. ⁽⁴⁾ This event marked the hall as a site of significant historical importance. 

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In April 2015,  a group of Karachi residents decided to show fellow residents that they could express a positive and playful vision of their city. “Numaish” was an open-air event of creative installations intended to open minds to another way of seeing the city, which had previously seen a lot of violence & blockades. ⁽⁵⁾   

Numaish translates to ‘exhibition’ in Urdu. Numaish is about installations and artifacts created by designers, artists, filmmakers, scientists, and engineers. It is a non-commercial venture that encourages curiosity and elicits healthy exchanges among the people who frequent these spaces. The interventions are temporary and do not damage or deface the environment. The exhibitions aim to open up public spaces for cultural production—as open-air galleries, theatres, and playgrounds—by highlighting these parts of the city as inclusive urban retreats. ⁽⁶⁾ 

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Being a historic library and hall, the revitalizing project aims to open it up for public events and cultural urban spaces. The Reading Room project by Numaishkhi is heralding the original intent of Ghulam Hoosain Khaliqdina of the hall as an artistic space for promoting healthy exchanges among visitors of different age groups, genders, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds. The Reading Room series is curated by Saima Zaidi and features many events and exhibitions. This initiative includes activities such as ‘Drawing Heritage,’ where university students take over the Hall and indulge in drawing and sketching the mesmerizing architecture of the hall & library. The initiative is a mix of cultural, artistic, and musical intertwined effort. They are carefully curated experiences designed to resonate with the building's historical significance and foster a sense of shared ownership. ‍

‘Looming Forward’ was a collective weaving experience at Khaliqdina Hall. Led by Zoya Alina Currimbhoy (@zoyaalinac), participants explored patterns and intertwined individual threads to create collective artwork. It was a shared artistic endeavor, where each contribution wove into the larger tapestry, reflecting everyone’s lives' interconnectedness. This shared creation demonstrates the project's goal of fostering unity and collaboration. 

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The ‘Artistic Interventions at Khaliqdina Hall,’ an event hosted by the second-year students from The Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, showcased their thoroughly researched proposals for site-specific public artworks tailored to Khaliqdina Hall. Each proposal detailed the conceptual basis, materials, and intended impact on both the space and its community. Through collaboration, students engaged deeply with the site’s history in a contemporary context. 

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Events like ‘Heritage Harmony’ and ‘The grand reveal of Khayal Imagine’ evoke emotions, memories, and a deep sense of shared historical connection.  ‘Heritage Harmony’ was an event where classical music students played harmonious tunes on various instruments, including the harmonium, tabla, sitar, and guitar. ‘The grand reveal of Khayal Imagine’ by Muzzumil Ruheel began with the qawwali 'Namee Danam che Manzil' (“I Wonder Where That Place Was”) by Subhan Ahmed Nizami, curated by Zaheer Alam Kidvai. Housed in the heritage building, Khayal explored the boundless power of imagination and the profound act of immersing oneself in a dialogue with the self. Within this historical space dedicated to knowledge and community, the piece invited viewers to reflect on the layers of their thoughts and its endless possibilities. Khayal is a meeting point between the past and the present, where imagination becomes the bridge to self-awareness and discovery. ⁽⁷⁾  Qawwali is sung to bring listeners to a state of religious ecstasy and a spiritual union with God. ⁽⁸⁾  The central themes of qawwali are love, devotion, and longing for the Divine. ⁽⁸⁾ It has deep roots in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan and India.

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By weaving together these cultural experiences, The Reading Room project is not just restoring a building, it's about rebuilding a sense of community that was once lost. It's transforming a historic space into a vibrant hub where people from all walks of life can collaborate, engage with their heritage, and contribute to the city's cultural landscape. This revitalization is a testament to the power of art and culture to foster positive change and create a more inclusive and vibrant city.