House Of Wisdom Presents Interactive Kalila Wa Dimna Experiences At Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival

House of Wisdom (HoW) is participating in the 16th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), held from April 23 to May 4 at Expo Centre Sharjah. The event highlights the timeless fables of "Kalila wa Dimna," originally written in ancient Sanskrit and later translated into Arabic by Abdullah Ibn Al-Muqaffa during the 8th century. HoW aims to engage young readers with these stories through interactive experiences and storytelling sessions.

The tales of "Kalila wa Dimna" are renowned for their moral and philosophical depth, influencing educational and literary traditions worldwide. These stories continue to be relevant today, showcasing the enduring power of storytelling in fostering wisdom, empathy, and imagination. Marwa Al Aqroubi, HoW Executive Director, stated: "Kalila wa Dimna is a brilliant example of allegorical storytelling at its finest—timeless wisdom told through animals in a style that is both elegant and accessible."

At the HoW booth, visitors can explore various stations starting with a Manuscript Display. This section features two rare digital copies of "Kalila wa Dimna" from the Bibliothèque nationale de France collection. One manuscript, titled "The Hare and the Elephant," dates back to 1222 CE and includes 18 chapters with 89 miniatures depicting animal-led fables interwoven with proverbs.

The second manuscript originates from the 14th-century Mamluk era, likely from Egypt or Syria. It contains six tales attributed to the sage Bidpai, complete with a decorative index and striking visual elements reflecting Islamic manuscript artistry. These manuscripts offer a glimpse into the rich history and artistic tradition surrounding these fables.

The booth also features a section called Meet the Characters, where children embark on a journey of self-discovery through interactive storytelling. They meet iconic characters like the clever hare, brave lion, cunning fox, mighty elephant, and vain tortoise. This experience encourages children to reflect on their traits and connect them with values embodied by each character.

Visitors can participate in an AI-powered interactive journey to discover which "Kalila wa Dimna" character best reflects their personality. By answering simple questions inspired by life scenarios, children are matched with their spirit animal from the tales. A personalised short story appears on screen tailored to their traits and adventures.

Workshops and Shadow Theatre

The HoW booth hosts various engaging activities for children, including workshops and an interactive Shadow Theatre. This traditional storytelling art revives classic "Kalila wa Dimna" tales through exciting performances that highlight ethical lessons within these stories. The experience concludes with a special gift shop offering books, plush toys, educational games, and artistic merchandise inspired by this world.

To mark SCRF's launch, HoW offers a 10% discount on Regular, Premium, and Digital memberships throughout the event. This promotion grants access to millions of knowledge resources like books, journals, scientific theses, research papers, multimedia files as well as full access to library facilities alongside year-round educational programmes.

With inputs from WAM