For the last three and a half years, every Sunday without a single break, children from Shadi Khampur, Ranjit Nagar and Guru Nanak Nagar in West Delhi come to the Studio Safdar community library to read, to sing and play, to enter the world of books. Studio Safdar is an arts space, named after Safdar Hashmi (1954-1989), one of the founders of the theatre group Jana Natya Manch. Safdar was killed at the young age of 34, while performing a play in an industrial area on the outskirts of Delhi.
Studio Safdar was set up in 2012, to give concrete shape to Safdar’s dream of a space that would on the one hand be a resource for theatre persons to hold rehearsals and performances, and on the other to revitalize the cultural and artistic life of a local, underprivileged community.
Safdar himself wrote a lot for children – one of his most famous poems being Kitabein (Books), about the way in which reading opens up a new world for us. It was therefore natural for us to keep reading and books central to our endeavour. Fortunately, the publisher LeftWord Books also got space for their office and bookstore literally next door. Therefore, Studio Safdar abuts the May Day Bookstore, and each helps the other to get audiences and footfalls.
Aside from the weekly library for local children, Studio Safdar now also runs a weekly film screening programme for them every Wednesday. Scores of children come for both.
For more on the Studio Safdar Library: