A number of students from public and private schools have flocked to Qatar Reads’ latest 'One Book, One Doha' exhibition, proving that the chosen novel – Ibn Tufail’s Hayy Bin Yaqdhan – transcends cultural boundaries with its messages of self-awareness, learning and belief in God, a statement from Qatar National Library (QNL) said Friday.
Concluding Saturday, the exhibition at Katara - Cultural Village has welcomed students from Qatar Academy Al Khor, Moza Bint Mohammed Preparatory School for Girls, and DeBakey High School Qatar, among many others. So far, 52 schools have participated in the exhibition, with an average of 350 students per day.
Fatema al-Malki, projects manager of Qatar Reads, an initiative under the auspices of QNL, said: “We are very happy to have collaborated with the Ministry of Education and Pre-University Education at Qatar Foundation, as well as both private and public schools, for this exhibition, as we are ensuring that students are exposed to and live the story of Hayy bin Yaqdhan.
"We look forward to witnessing how students use the knowledge they gain from this exhibition when they participate in a school-wide competition on November 15, ensuring that the experiences gained at Katara are seamlessly translated into impactful school projects. Moreover, it highlights the significance of learning beyond the confines of the classroom, showcasing the profound impact such experiences have on the quality of work contributing towards the curriculum."
The 'One Book, One Doha' exhibition was officially inaugurated by dignitaries, including HE the Minister of State and QNL president Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari, Ministry of Commerce and Industry undersecretary Sultan bin Rashid al-Khater, and Katara general manager Prof Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti.
HE Dr al-Kawari said: "This wonderful story confirms the role of this book in other cultures, as well as the role of Arabic literature and Islamic philosophy in general, and their impact on other civilisations."
A highlight of the event was hearing from the winner of the Arab Reading Challenge, Abdullah Mohamed Abdullah al-Bari from Omar Ibn Al Khattab Preparatory School for Boys, who earned the title of "Champion of the Arab Reading Challenge 2023."
Abdullah said: "The story of Hayy bin Yaqdhan inspires me because he lived on a remote island far from society and overcame challenges to find stability in his life."
Qatar Reads plans to celebrate the Palestinian novel Men in the Sun, by Ghassan Kanafani, in 2024. This promises to shed light on the multi-generational perspectives of the Palestinian people, fostering cross-cultural understanding.
The campaign also incorporates the 'Fables in Fashion' art exhibition on November 25 and 26, providing an interactive artistic interpretation of the featured book, Hayy bin Yaqdhan. The exhibition, to be held at M7 in Msheireb, invites the community to immerse themselves in the novel's narrative through works curated in collaboration with Qatar Museums.