Jmoï> Am{b¶mÀ¶m J«§Wmb¶mMr (BamH$_ܶo KS>bobr g˶H$Wm)

Oo{ZQ qdQa

The Librarian ofBasra(A True Story from Iraq)

Written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter

Jmoï> Am{b¶mÀ¶m J«§Wmb¶mMr (BamH$_ܶo KS>bobr g˶H$Wm)

Oo{ZQ> qdQ>a

The Librarian of Basra(A True Story from Iraq)

Written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter

Jmoï> Am{b¶mÀ¶m J«§Wmb¶mMr

(BamH$_ܶo KS>bobr g˶H$Wm)

Oo{ZQ qdQa

The Librarian of Basra(A True Story from Iraq)

Written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter

H¥$VkVm : AaqdX Jwám

‘amR>r AZwdmX : Am^m ^mJdV

{MÌH$ma : A{dZme Xoenm§S>o (‘yi {MÌm§da AmYm[aV)

àH$meH$ : H$Om H$Om ‘ê$ àH$meZJadmao ~mc^dZgmag~mJog‘moa, nwUo - 411002XyaÜdZr - 24442109

àH$meZ df© : 2012

‘wÐH$ : ‘wÐm, 383 Zmam¶U noR>, nwUo - 30

qH$‘V : 25 `

© ^maV kmZ {dkmZ g{‘{V

With gratitude : Arvind Gupta

Marathi Translation : Abha Bhagwat

Illustrations : Avinash Deshpande (Based on origanal drawings)

Publisher : Kaja Kaja Maru PrakashanGarware BalbhavanOpp. Saras Bag, Pune - 411002

Phone : 24442109

Year of Publication : 2012

Printer : Mudra, 383 Narayan Peth, Pune - 30

Price : 25 `

© Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti

Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti

Basement of Y. W. A. Hostel No. II, G-Block, Saket.New Delhi - 110017

Phone : 011 - 26569943, Fax : 91 - 011 - 26569773

Email : bgvs@vsnl.net

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dm¶. S>ãë¶y. E. hmoñQ>oc Z§. 2, Vi‘Ocm,ãcm°H$ - Or, gmHo$V, Zdr {X„r - 110017

’$moZ Z§.: 011 - 26569943,’°$³g : 91 - 011 - 26569773B©-‘oc : bgvs@vsnl.net

Jmoï> Am{b¶mÀ¶m J«§Wmb¶mMr (BamH$_ܶo KS>bobr g˶H$Wm)

Oo{ZQ> qdQ>a

The Librarian ofBasra(A True Story from Iraq)

Written and illustrated byJeanette Winter

Hw$amUmV A„mZr _mohå_Xbm gdm©V àW_ H$m¶ gm§{JVb§ Agob Va ‘dmM’.

‘‘In the Koran, the fi rst thing Godsaid to Muhammad was ‘Read.’’

1

BamH$À¶m dmid§Q>mV g_wÐ{H$Zmar ~gam ZmdmM§ EH$ _moR>§ eha Amho. ~gamÀ¶m J«§Wmb¶mMr Am{b¶m _mohå_X ~H$a hr J«§Wnmb hmoVr.

Alia Muhammad Baker is the librarian of Basra, a port city inthe sand swept country of Iraq.

2

Am{b¶mM§ J«§Wmb¶ gd© nwñVH$ào_tZm AmdS>m¶M§. {VWo gJio O_V Am{U OJ^aÀ¶m Jßnm H$aV Am{U AmË_m-na_mËå¶mdahr MMm© H$aV.

Her library is a meeting place forall who love books. They discuss matters of the world and the matters of the spirit.

3

nU AbrH$So> ho gJi§ ~Xbb§ hmoV§.AmVm ¶wÕ hm EH$_od {df¶ MM}V Ago.

Until now - now, they talk only of war.

~m°å~gZr ^abobr {d_mZ AmH$memV {KaQ>çm KmbVrb H$m?

Amnë¶mdahr ~m°å~ nS>Vrb H$m?

~§XwH$Ymar OdmZ gJù¶m

añ˶m§da nhmam XoVrb H$m?

Amnë¶mn¡H$s H$moUr _mab§ OmB©b

H$m?

Amnë¶m Hw$Qw>§~m§da H$m¶ ~KʶmMr doi ¶oB©b H$moU

OmUo?

Amnë¶mbm H$mhrVar H$aVm

¶oB©b H$m?

Will planes withbombs fi ll the sky?

Will bombs fall here?

Will our families survive?

What can we do?

Will soldiers with guns

fi ll the streets?

Who among us will die?

4

¶wÕm_wio noQ>boë¶m AmJrV nwñVH§$ ^ñ_gmV hmoVrb H$s H$m¶, Aer Am{b¶mbm qMVm hmoVr. ˶m nwñVH$m§M§ _yë¶ {VÀ¶mboIr gwdU© nd©Vm§nojmhr OmñV hmoV§. J«§Wmb¶mV gd© ^mfm§_Ybr nwñVH§$ hmoVr - g_H$mbrZ Am{U àmMrZhr. EdT>§M Zmhr Va _mohå_XMm gmVeo df© OwZm M[aÌ J«§Whr hmoVm. J«§Wmb¶mVbr gJir nwñVH§$ gwa{jV OmJr hbdʶmgmR>r Am{b¶mZr ~gamÀ¶m _hmnm¡am§Mr nadmZJr _m{JVbr. nU ˶m§Zr gm’$ ZH$ma {Xbm.

Alia worries that the fi res of war willdestroy the books, which are moreprecious to her than mountains of gold. The books are in every language - new books, ancient books, even abiography of Muhammad that is sevenhundred years old. She asks thegovernor for permission to move them to a safe place. He refuses.

5

Voìhm Am{b¶mZr ñdV…M ho H$m_ nma nmS>m¶M§ R>adb§. J«§Wmb¶mVb§ {Xdg^amM§ H$m_ g§ndyZ amÌrÀ¶m doir nwñVH§$ ñdV…À¶m JmS>rV ^ê$Z Vr JwnMyn Kar ݶm¶bm bmJbr.

So Alia takes matters into herown hands. Secretly, she brings books home every night, fi lling her car late after work.

6

ZwgVr Hw$O~wO g§nyZ AmVm ¶wÕmMo dmao AmVm dmhÿ bmJbo hmoVo. gaH$mar A{YH$mè¶m§Zr J«§Wmb¶mda H$ãOm Ho$bm. Jƒrda, N>Vm§da ~§XwH$Ymar g¡{ZH$m§Mm nhmam gwé Pmbm. Am{b¶mbm dmQ> nhmʶmIoarO J˶§Va ZìhV§. _hm^¶mZH$ H$mhrVar KSo>b Aer {Vbm ^rVr hmoVr.

The whispers of war grow louder. Government offi ces are moved into the library. Soldiers with gunswait on the roof. Alia waits and fears the worst.

7

H$mbm§VamZr ... A’$dm Iè¶m R>ê$ bmJë¶m.

Then .... rumours become reality.

8

~gam_ܶo ¶wÕmbm Vm|S> ’w$Q>b§.

War reaches Basra.

9

~m°å~g_wio gJù¶m ehamZr noQ> KoVbm.~§XyH$s¨À¶m AmdmOmZr gJim Amg_§V ^ê$Z Jobm.

The city is lit with a fi restormof bombs and gunfi re.

10

hiyhiy J«§Wmb¶mVbo H$_©Mmar, gaH$mar ZmoH$a Am{U g¡{ZH$m§ZrgwÕm {VWyZ ni H$mT>bm. Am{b¶m _mÌ EH$Q>rM nwñVH$m§À¶m g§ajUmgmR>r Wm§~br.

Alia watches as library workers,government workers and soldiers abondon the library. Only Alia isleft to protect the books.

11

Am{b¶mZr Amnbm {_Ì AZrg _mohå_X, Á¶mM§ hm°Q>ob q^VrÀ¶m nbrH$So>M hmoV§, ˶mbm AmdmO {Xbm, “nwñVH§$ dmMdm¶bm _bm H$mhr _XV H$ê$ eH$erb H$m?”

She calls over the library wall to her friend Anis Muhammad, who owns a restaurant on the other side.“Can you help me save the books?”

12

“øm nS>Úm§_ܶo _r WmoS>r nwñVH§$ ~m§YVmo.”“_m¶m XwH$mZmVë¶m noQ>çm dmnê$ nwñVH§$ R>odm¶bm.”“øm {neì¶m§Mm H$mhr Cn¶moJ hmoB©b H$m?”“H$mhrhr H$ê$Z nwñVH§$ dmMmdmbrM nm{hOoV.”

“I can use these curtains to wrapthem.” “Here are crates from my shop.” “Can you use these sacks?”“The books must be saved.”

13

amÌ^a Am{b¶m, AZrg Am{U ˶mMo ^mD$, XwH$mZXma Am{U eoOmar nmOmar Aem gJù¶m§Zr {_iyZ J«§Wmbm¶mVbr ’$ù¶m§daMr nwñVH§$ H$mTy>Z, gmV ’w$Q>r q^Vrdê$Z n{bH$So> ZoD$Z AZrgÀ¶m hm°Q>ob_ܶo bndbr.

All through the night, Alia, Anis, hisbrothers, and shopkeepers and neighbors take the books from thelibrary shelves, pass them over the seven-foot wall, and hide them inAnis’s restaurant.

14

bndbobr nwñVH§$ gwa{jV am{hbr Am{U ¶wÕmZr _mÌ ^rfU ñdê$n YmaU Ho$b§.

The books stay hidden and the war rages on.

15

Zdì¶m {Xder J«§Wmb¶mbm AmJ bmJbr Am{U Vo OiyZ amI Pmb§.

Then nine days later, a fi re burns the library to the ground.

16

˶mÀ¶m Xwgè¶m {Xder AZrgÀ¶m hm°Q>ob_ܶo g¡{ZH$ Ambo. “hr ~§XyH$ Vw¶mH$So> H$er?” ˶m§Zr {dMmab§. AZrg åhUmbm,“ì¶dgm¶mÀ¶m gwajogmR>r.”g¡{ZH$ AmV_ܶo Z S>moH$mdVmM {ZKyZ Jobo. AZrgZr _ZmVë¶m _ZmV gwQ>Ho$Mm {Z…ídmg gmoS>bm H$maU ˶m§Zm H$m¶ _m{hV H$s ˶mÀ¶m hm°Q>ob_ܶo Ia§ Va gJi§ J«§Wmb¶M XS>db§ Amho!

The next day, soldiers come toAnis’s restaurant. “Why do you have a gun?” they aks. “To protect my business,” Anis replies. The soldiers leave without searching inside. They do not know thatthe whole of the library is in my restaurant, thinks Anis.

17

¶wÕ BVaÌ ngaV Job§. Am{b¶mbm ImÌr hmoVr H$s Oa nwñVH§$ dmMdm¶Mr AgVrb Va Vr ¶wÕ WmoS§> W§S>mdmë¶mda XwgarH$So> ZoD$Z bndmdr bmJVrb. ˶m_wio {VZr EH$ Q´>H$ ^mS>çmZr KoVbm Am{U Odi Odi Vrg hOma nwñVH§$ ˶mV ^ê$Z ñdV…À¶m Am{U {_Ì_§S>itÀ¶m Kar ZoD$Z R>odbr.

At last the beast of war moves on. Alia knows that if the books areto be saved, they must be moved again, while the city is quiet. Soshe hires a truck to bring all thirtythousand books to her house and to the houses of friends.

18

Am{b¶mÀ¶m KamV Va ~Kmd§ {VWo nwñVH$M nwñVH§$. O{_Zrda, H$nmQ>m§_ܶo, {IS>Š¶m§_ܶo,ZOa OmB©b {VWo nwñVH§$M.

In Alia’s house the books are everywhere, fi lling fl oors andcupboards and windows -

19

BVa H$emgmR>r OmJmM {e„H$ am{hbr Zmhr.

leaving barely enough room for anything else.

20

Am{b¶m dmQ> ~KV hmoVr.

Alia waits.

21

22

¶wÕ g§nʶmMr Vr dmQ> ~KV hmoVr.

She waits for war to end.

23

dmQ> ~KVm ~KVm Vr em§Vr Am{U g_mYmZmMr ñdßZ nmhÿ bmJbr.

She waits, and dreams of peace.

24

Vr dmQ> ~KV hmoVr...

She waits...

25

EH$m ZdrZ J«§Wmb¶M§ ñdßZ gmH$maʶmMr.

and dreams of a new library.

26

Am{U Vmon¶ªV gJir nwñVH§$ gwa{jV AmhoV - ~gamMr J«§Wnmb Am{b¶mÀ¶m Kar.

But until then, the books aresafe - safe with the librarian of Basra.

27

28

boIH$mM§ _ZmoJV

BamH$_ܶo gwé Pmbobr bT>mB© ~gam_ܶo E{àbbm nmohmoMbr. {_Ì_§S>itÀ¶m Am{U eoOmè¶m§À¶m _XVrZr Am{b¶m _mohå_X ~H$a, ~gam J«§Wmb¶mMr à_wI J«§Wnmb, ¶m§Zr gÎma Q>¸o$ nwñVH§$ gwa{jV {R>H$mUr nmohmoMdbr. ˶mZ§Va ZD$ {Xdgm§Zr J«§Wmb¶ OiyZ ^ñ_gmV Pmb§.

hr Jmoï> gd©àW_ OJmn¶ªV nmohmoMdbr Vr ݶy¶m°H©$ Q>mB©ågMr nÌH$ma e¡bm {XdmU ¶m§Zr. e¡bm {XdmU ¶m§Zr AZrg _mohå_XÀ¶m h_XmZ ¶m hm°Q>ob_ܶo Jobob§ AgVmZm hr Jmoï> EoH$br. h_XmZ hm°Q>ob ho J«§Wmb¶mÀ¶m Odi Amho Am{U ~gam_Yb§ EH$ CÎm_ hm°Q>ob åhUyZ à{gÕ Amho.

e¡bmÀ¶m AZwdmXH$mZr {Vbm gm§{JVb§ hmoV§ H$s AZrgbm EH$ ¶wÕH$mimVbr Img Jmoï> gm§Jm¶bm AmdSo>b. åhUyZ e¡bmZr ˶mMr _wbmIV KoʶmgmR>r doi R>adbr. Am{b¶m gwÕm ˶mdoir hOa am{hbr Am{U Aem àH$mao ˶m {VKm§Zr {_iyZ hr AØþV Jmoï> OJmbm gm§{JVbr.

J«§Wmb¶ ^ñ_gmV Pmë¶mda H$mhr H$mimZr Am{b¶mbm öX¶ {dH$mamMm PQ>H$m Ambm Am{U {VM§ Am°naoeZ H$amd§ bmJb§.nU AmVm {VMr àH¥$Vr gwYmaVo Amho. Vã¶oV gm§^miyZ {VZr J«§Wmb¶ nwÝhm C^maʶmMm {ZYm©a Ho$bm Amho.

29

A Note from the Author

The invasion of Iraq reached Basra on April 6, 2003. With the help of friends and neighbors, Alia Mohammad Baker, chief librarian of Basra’s Central Library, managed to rescue seventy percent of the library’s collection before the library burned down nine days later.

These events were fi rst revealed to the world by New York Times reporter Shaila K. Dewan, who heard about Alia and the library during a visit to Anis Muhammad’s restaurant, the Hamdan - whichis near the library and is known as one of the best in Basra. Shaila’s translator said Anis had an incredible story to tell her about the war, so Shaila made an appointment to talk with him. Alia joined the discussion, and together they went on to share this amazing story.

Soon after the library was destroyed, Alia suffered a stroke and had heart surgery. But she is healing, and despite all, she is determined to see that the library is rebuilt.

hr EH$ BamH$_ܶo KS>bobr g˶ KQ>Zm Amho. BamH$_Yë¶m bT>mB©V ’$º$ _mUg§M _¥Ë¶w_wIr nS>br Ag§ Zmhr Va EH$ àmMrZ g§ñH¥$Vrhr CÜdñV Pmbr. Varhr øm gJù¶m g§hmamÀ¶m dmVmdaUmV EH$m g§doXZj_ _{hbm J«§WnmbmZr ~gamM§ J«§Wmb¶ Ho$dT>çm H$gmoerZr dmMdb§, ¶mMr hr EH$ AØþV H$Wm.

This is a true story. In the Iraqwar not were people killed but an ancient civilizationwas also destroyed. However,in the midst of bombs andfi re, the lady librarian of Basra saves the library and avery precious heritage.

^maV kmZ {dkmZ g{‘{V