Cafe Bol

Block O, Raajani Road, Lahore, Pakistan

About

With incense smoke filling the space and Sufi music intermittently permeating the air, the attendees of an unassuming gathering engage in an intellectual exchange while sipping qahva. Depending upon the day of the week, they might be going over the finer aspects of Nietzsche's philosophy, delving into the depths of the Greek philosophy, appreciating the various nuances of Urdu poetry or just having an open discussion on any issue that anyone of them feels inclined towards. One might imagine that such a place might exist in the comfortable confines of some one's living room or would be a hideaway from the general hubble bubble of city life. One could also assume that participation in this meeting of sorts would be an exclusive right of a scholarly select few. However, Café Bol is a contradiction to all these notions. Located bam smack in the hub of commercial and public activity that is Gulberg's Main Market, Café Bol is anything but a secluded retreat. Being operational for just three weeks, the cozy little café is slowly creating a presence for itself in the humdrum of everyday life. Café Bol is an odd 15 by 8 feet space sandwiched between a shop dealing in lumber and a pizza takeaway joint in one Ali plaza on the radial fringes of Main Market. Pinning down its exact location can be somewhat tricky, but it's in a street facing the white mosque which is near Punjab tikka. The name of the café is a simple word that took a life of its own during the lawyers movement that sparked off in the reign of General Musharraf. "Bol" was a slogan that was printed on virtually every poster and banner that expressed the sentiment and demands of the lawyers and encouraged the common citizen to speak out against the injustices of the military regime. The charges are quite nominal, which range from Rs. 30 – 50 for attending a single day's session or a Rs. 500 membership that lets one come in for all the sessions in a two month period, whereas the qahva is always on the house. The café also carries print editions of Naked Punch Asia/Bol magazine that can be purchased for Rs. 50. Café Bol has a steadily growing following via its Facebook community page which also serves as a portal for information on events and happenings at the venue. The opening of such a place is a much welcome addition to the places where people can gather and indulge in impassioned dialogue on matters that are closest to their hearts and minds.

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