LARKANA: Speakers at a study session on Ghar aen gramophone (Home and gramophone), a collection of autobiographical short stories in Sindhi penned by prolific writer and anthropologist Manzoor Kohiyar, held at Knowledge Centre here on Thursday, stressed the importance of short stories in helping youth develop reading habit. Mr Kohiyar, who presided over the session, spoke at length on the autobiographical fiction and its techniques and the need for writing in this genre without compromising truth about oneself (autobiographer) and keeping reality of characters, events and environment of the time covered in the stories intact. He shed light on the autobiographical fiction already written in the world and said that many writers in the world had created fictional stories based on their life and actual happenings of their times that affected them but with a fictional touch to the story but fiction was never allowed to harm the truth and facts about the person who wrote autobiography. He said that there were stories of full autobiographical fiction and semi-autobiographical fiction. The former served as a complete mirror of whole life of the writer and Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield was its best example in which Dickens had narrated the whole story of his life from childhood to his old age, while the later gave the writer space to create imaginary characters as well to make the autobiography interesting and attractive, he said. Mr Kohiyar read out one of the stories from the book in his typical style which the audience listened spellbound with pin drop silence and burst into loud applause when the story came to its end. Prof Mukhtiar Samo, writer and founder of Knowledge Centre, said that study sessions on literary books were very important as they created great inspiration and liking in youth for reading habits. These sessions introduced good books to the youth and also afforded them an opportunity to meet with writers, he said. He said that the stories under review were best example of fiction besides being an authentic document on the life of the writer, places, peoples and socio-economic situation of the time which the writer experienced. Inayat Memon, fiction writer, playwright and broadcaster, said that Kohiyar had brought to Sindhi literature as many as 13 books through his sheer creative power. This book had also many useful stories which would inspire its reader a great deal to do good and lead useful life in society, he said. Dr Imdad Shaikh said that autobiography was a useful source which had helped new generations to contact with past and know about role of people in society and also their attitude to life. Abdul Wahab Sahito, Suhail Makani, former director of sports, and Ustad Gul Dayo also spoke on the occasion. Literati and book lovers were all ears to listen to in-depth reviews on the book.