he year is 1816. An 18-year-old woman named Mary has joined a group of like-minded friends, including the renowned Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (her future husband), the poet Lord Byron, and his physician. They are spending the summer at Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Due to unusually stormy weather, they are confined indoors at the villa where they are staying. With their curious and creative minds, they engage in deep discussions on philosophy, science and literature while also reading Gothic horror stories. Unable to enjoy nature because of the stormy weather, they spend their time reflecting on human nature, life and death.

One night, Lord Byron challenges the group to write ghost stories. The young woman initially struggles to come up with an idea, but a vivid dream that night inspires her to create a story she later develops into the novel Frankenstein. A landmark in the Gothic genre, the novel explores ambitious scientific endeavours and the moral responsibilities they entail.

Mary Shelley, as the writer came to be known after marrying her PB Shelley, later described Frankenstein as “the offspring of happy days,” a product of her time with like-minded individuals who inspired her to think deeply and write creatively. Without the influence of that remarkable group of literary peers, Frankenstein might never have existed.

Aslam Mir, a grey-bearded man often seen with a book in hand, aims to foster similar ideas and discussions in Peshawar through his newly launched book club, Books Binge. Despite balancing a nine-to-five job, caring for his two school-going daughters, and actively participating in every book club meeting, he manages to read around five books a month. An explorer of multiple genres, he encourages his protégés to do the same, arguing that “reading multiple genres keeps the mind sane and sensible and the individual well-rounded.”

In addition to the challenge posed by social media to physical gatherings, Mir is more concerned about the ‘confirmation bias’ prevalent among various types of book readers, including academics. He believes this self-gratification undermines the cohesion of society. “For example,” he says, “there are book clubs or intellectual circles that prefer consuming material which reinforces their existing notions of reality. This tendency,” Mir continues, “narrows the space for accommodating alternative views.”

Mir references Susan Pinker’s 2015 book, The Village Effect: How Face-to-Face Contact Can Make Us Healthier and Happier, which emphasises the importance of in-person interactions for happiness, resilience, learning and longevity.

Aslam Mir aims to bridge the gap between madrassa and university students, fostering connections among the youth from diverse backgrounds marked by linguistic, cultural, political and other identity indicators. He sees books as a unifying medium, enabling individuals to think from new perspectives. However, he stresses that this is only possible if book clubs embrace literature that challenges existing ideas rather than merely validating preconceived worldviews.

“I always tell my students to attend book club meetings,” Mir says. “In a book club, you don’t just learn – you also unlearn what you might have learned but shouldn’t have, like bigotry.”

A compelling example of this transformative power of books is the story of Dr Imtiaz Ali Azaad, a lecturer in Pakistan studies, who says his journey from an ardent follower of a right-wing ideology to a more moderate and easygoing individual was shaped by attending discussions at various book clubs.

When he met Mir and followed his advice to read widely and participate in diverse book circles, Imtiaz experienced a profound shift in his point of view. “My mental horizons began to expand,” he says. He became more tolerant, lenient and accepting. This transformation highlights the potential of open discussions and diverse reading to broaden perspectives and foster critical thinking.

While book clubs are plentiful in Peshawar, and Mir attends most sessions, a significant issue persists – many are run by authoritative figures who prioritise the voices of the intellectual elite, leaving the younger generation to “use their ears alone.”

When Mir envisioned his inclusive and non-discriminatory book club, he had a specific location in mind – the rooftop of Quetta Café on Arbar Road, where members could discuss books over tea. The first session, held in early June this summer, had four participants sitting in the sweltering heat, sweat dripping as they braved the fan-less setting. One of them, Ahmad Awan, a nursing student, presented a detailed summary of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. The group then delved into the novel’s philosophy, symbolism and modern-day relevance. By the end of the session, they had decided to meet twice a month, undeterred by the humble beginnings.

To their surprise, news of the book club reached the Dosti Welfare Organization, a non-profit dedicated to providing free education to out-of-school children from underprivileged backgrounds. Beyond education, the DWO sponsors initiatives that promote book readings, debates, dialogues and literature festivals.

The DWO offered the book club a space to hold their fortnightly sessions at their head office, which also houses a library of rare books and classics. Muhammad Asif Riaz, the Dosti CEO, is committed to fostering not just literacy but also civility, erudition, tolerance and creativity among the youth. This welcoming attitude has made Dosti a hub for students and intellectuals to gather for meetings and discussions.

Thanks to Dosti’s warm hospitality, the Peshawar chapter of Halqa Arbab-i-Zauq, which holds its weekly sessions every Friday night, has chosen Dosti as its meeting destination.

Space has a crucial role in fostering activities like discussions on books. However, many bookstores in Peshawar lack the room to host such events. The relationship between bookstores and book talks raises an interesting question: can a meaningful discussion be held on, let’s say, a pocket guide?

While researching for this piece, several booksellers in Peshawar were interviewed about the potential of hosting book discussions to promote reading and book sales. No bookstore in the city is currently organising such events. The reasons vary, as Khan Sahib of the Student Book Shop in Saddar explains: “Most customers are only interested in pocket guides or materials to help them pass exams or commission tests. I can’t hold a book talk on a pocket note or a CSS guide, These readers aren’t interested in general books.”

This highlights a significant challenge in encouraging literary engagement within the local context.

The manager at Book Searcher on University Road shares a similar observation but adds that the lack of space in his store is another issue. Another bookseller, specialising in Pashto literature, expressed his frustration more bluntly. When asked about hosting book discussions, he retorted in despair, “Can you guarantee security in this country? If you can, I’ll invite people here.”

Dr Altaf Qadir, a historian and professor at the University of Peshawar, recalls a time a decade ago when the Oxford University Press franchise on University Road used to organise book discussions. He fondly reminisces about the American Centre and the British Council Library in University Town, which provided some of the best reading and discussion experiences, both of which are now gone. “There is a dire need to fill that void,” he observes.

Beyond Aslam Mir’s Books Binge and the weekly critical discussions of the Halqa, Peshawar hosts several other literary gatherings. These include the monthly Peshawar Circle at the Archives Library, the monthly Kitab Kahani at BRAINS Institute; the fortnightly Literary Circle at the Department of Journalism, University of Peshawar; and the weekly Café Ghulam Baagh, organised by the Department of Urdu at Islamia College University. These sessions attract both young and elderly participants. However, women rarely attend these sessions.

The writer has a background in English literature, history and politics. He can be reached at nadeemkhankpk13@gmail.com