The root of almost all fear and suspicion is ignorance; a lack of awareness or familiarity with people, their culture, and their customs. For instance, India used to be known as the land of snake charmers until Indians fanned out across the globe and the world got to know about us. now the world knows that Indians make some of the best doctors, scientists, academicians, economists, IT professionals and more. The world also knows us via yoga and via Bollywood. The more we know about other groups and cultures, the less hostility, fear and suspicion there is – the Human Library is based on this very idea:
Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, this is a nonprofit learning platform that tries to connect people. The aim is to reduce the stigma and the stereotypes that we tend to have for some people/communities. There are ‘human books’ that can be ‘borrowed’ – borrowers can listen to the story and experiences of the human book that they borrowed; ask questions and find the answer they seek. Events are held virtually, in schools and colleges, museums, libraries, festivals, conferences, for the private sector etc. in over 80 countries.
There are real people ‘on loan’ here. One can choose to speak to someone with ADHD to find out about their experiences, their challenges staying focused, and tools they find useful. People wanting to know more about ADHD for themselves or a loved one can really benefit. Or one can choose to speak to an alcoholic to know about their journey with abuse & recovery, the impact of this on their relationships and so on. Maybe one can choose to ‘borrow’ someone with an eating disorder or simply someone from a community one knows very little about.
The understanding is that one-on-one conversations help us known and understand people, and their beliefs. When we know someone, their story, background, it helps help us become empathetic, which can help to alter perceptions; particularly prejudice and bias. People meet in a safe/neutral space such as a park, library and so on. Participants find that interacting with a human book can have a profound impact.
It is about “approaching another human being you would normally walk past”. With national divides becoming all the more pronounced in pandemic times, such an initiative is even more relevant now than before.
The first chapter of the Human Library was set up in Indore and has since opened up in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. The Indian chapters organise events around subjects such as mental health, sexual assault and more. When the Chennai chapter had its first online event, 17 books and 150 readers participated. Readers were given access to the rooms of the books they had chosen and each room would have a volunteer moderating the conversation.
Diversity and acceptance of diversity are the key to peaceful coexistence and are vital for meaningful interpersonal engagements. This helps us create bridges – ethnic, religious, regional, social and cultural – while breaking down the walls that divide us. In a deeply hierarchical and stratified country like India where minority communities typically are forced to live in segregated ghettos, a venture like this assumes great relevance.
Concepts such as equity, the value of diversity, and cultural awareness of others are quite simply the need of the hour in our society, which is becoming more divided and more polarised than ever before. Conversations are open and free of judgement and no topic is considered taboo. Quite simply, this is where people who would otherwise have no cause or chance to converse, get to do this.
Pairs of people with varied ethnicities, sexual orientations and even opposing political ideologies are asked to do a project together. With a common purpose and no preexisting bias or prejudice, the outcomes of this social experiment came as a pleasant surprise. Baby steps towards understanding that the beauty of this world lies in the diversity of its people… because It is diversity that drives innovation. When we limit you can contribute, we limit the problems we can solve
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