7:34 pm Thinner than Skin: with Uzma Aslam Khan
Responding to how she decided to during the book launch of Thinner than Skin, Uzma Aslam Khan said she never consciously thought of becoming one. She said the label “writer” sounded rather arrogant, but added that writing balanced her.
“Mywere very encouraging. When I went to grad school and my peers were submitting their , I didn’t have anything. Later, I wrote my manuscript and it was finally accepted by a publisher in Delhi, but it took a very long time,” Khan said.
In response to a question, she said “A Room of One’s Own” by shook her most profoundly as a writer, adding that it is more powerful than a bomb.Meanwhile, answering a question by moderator Razeshta Sethna as to how her immense mobility during childhood impacted her writing, Khan said the reason she wrote extensively about nomads in her books was because she identified herself as a nomad. “I had this urge to keep moving and it made way into my books.”
Describing how her fiction work differs from non-fiction, Khan analogised that in the case of the former, she felt herself driving the car, but very soon she would find herself in the and her characters would be driving the plot, whereas in the latter case, she found herself perpetually in the driver’s seat and in control of her plot.
Interestingly, a member from the audience also asked her whether she would like to commercialise Thinner than Skin into a movie, but Khan laughed it off. – Text by Fatema Imani
6:25 pm
Visitors at the book stall. – Photo by Aliraza Khatri
6:15 pm Book Launch: The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid
6:15 pm Book Launch: The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid
Omar Shahid Hamid (L) with moderator, Bina Shah. – Photo by Asif Umar
6:10 pm Book Launch: The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid
6:05 pm Book Launch: The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid
6:05 pm Chulbuk Chori: A Play by Thespianz Theatre
A scene from the play. – Photo by Aliraza Khatri
5:38 pm Thinner than Skin: In Conversation with Uzma Aslam Khan
Uzma Aslam Khan. – Photo by Aliraza Khatri
5:37 pm Book Launch: The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid
5:35 pm Book Launch: The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid
5:32 pm Aap Beeti, Jag Beeti: Khwateen aur Khudnavisht
A session on women’s autobiographies, Aap Beeti, Jag Beeti: Khwateen aur Khudnavisht was held towards the end of the second day of the KLF. The speakers at the session included renowned writers Kishwar Naheed, Azra Abbas, Sheen Farrukh, and Attiya Dawood.
After a brief introduction of the speakers, the conversation moved to poet, writer and activist, Attiya Dawood and her autobiography Aine Ke Samne. She said that the consequences of writing one’s own autobiography deserve to be turned into a sequel.
The only worry that she had was how her husband and daughters would react to her autobiography.
For Dawood, writing the autobiography was one of the most difficult phases of her life as she was forced to relive numerous painful memories.
Moreover, Dawood also talked about various peoples’ perceptions towards her autobiography, and how they perceived women in a number of different ways.
From there, the conversation moved on to poet Azra Abbas’s autobiographical narrative Mera Bachpan, where the focus was on the representation of several taboos in our society. She said that the restraints upon her freedom during her youth took her back to the freer days of her childhood.
The conversation, and its focus, moved to writer, journalist and activist, Sheen Farrukh’s positivity towards the people in her autobiography Jeene Ka Jurm. Farrukh said that it was the economic empowerment she had attained, which became her crime. In addition, she read out some excerpts from her autobiography.
Kishwar Naheed’s autobiography Buri Aurat Ki Katha was next on the list. She talked about how her autobiography’s title generated quite a bit of curiosity over who the Buri Aurat was, as well as certain sections of her book being censored at the time of publication within Pakistan.
After each speaker had spoken, a discussion on the question of considering autobiography as literary text, and by extension, on making female autobiography a part of the canon of autobiographical texts. - Text by Soonha Abro
5:00 pm Challenges faced by Art Galleries
Zohra Hussain (L) with Quddus Mirza. – Photo by Asif Umar
5:00 pm
A glimpse of the ‘Rang and Qalam’ area at Karachi Literature Festival arranged by HBL. – Photo by Aliraza Khatri
A glimpse of the ‘Rang and Qalam’ area at Karachi Literature Festival arranged by HBL. – Photo by Aliraza Khatri
4:50 pm Shaping Societal Norms: The Role of Textbooks
Our education system does not encourage critical thinking, nor do we support secularism or aim to enlighten our students by expanding our curriculum to include pluralism. This was the underlying argument during a session titled ‘Shaping societal norms: The role of textbooks.’
Throughout history, we have seen that education is the reproduction of the dominant ideologies of the region at the time, said Lahore-based independent researcher Rubina Saigol.
In Pakistan, during the 1950s, textbooks did not have the glaring anti-India ideology that exists in them today. Rather, Ram and Buddha were praised for their contributions to society. It was after 1965 that the textbooks started looking inward and its teaching became more about disseminating knowledge to legitimise the ideology of those in power, Saigol added, referring to the extremist elements in society.
Young Pakistanis have been taught that the British are ‘tricksters’, Hindus are ‘inherently evil’, Sikhs are ‘knife welding butchers or murderers’ while the Jews are greedy like the character of ‘Shylock’ – depicted in a well-known Shakespeare play Merchant of Venice. The Bengalis are mentioned mostly as “back stabbers” with their history narrated either as half-truths or full lies, Saigol concluded.
Educationist and co-founder of Lahore Grammar School, Samina Rahman, spoke of a recent example which left many in the audience surprised. A branch of LGS was served notices by the provincial government for teaching the chapter on reproduction in Biology class to children whose minds are ‘too impressionable’.
The school’s administration was further being penalised for teaching comparative religions. “We were told the beliefs of students were being polluted by teaching them about other religions,” Rahman said.
Retired professor of Quaid-i-Azam University A H Nayyar said the current textbooks, especially those used in public schools, unnecessarily create religious divides by showing one religion as better and the rest ‘false’. “We do not create empathy for diversity but above all we do not increase the learning skill of students,” Nayyar said trying to reinforce Rahman’s point of enlightening students by teaching them about all religions and cultures.
Quoting a recent Pew survey which asked students in Pakistan if they wanted Shariah enforced in the country, renowned nuclear scientist and distinguished professor of Physics and Mathematics at FC College Lahore, Pervez Hoodbhoy said 87 per cent responded with ‘yes’.
“The reason we fail to confront terrorism with a religious face is because these textbooks, over time, have ingrained these (single-minded) ideologies in them,” he said. – Text by Mahnoor Sherazee
4:15 pm Chashm-e-Tamasha:Readings and Conversation with Amjad Islam Amjad
Amjad Islam Amjad (L) with moderator, Muhammad Ahmed Shah. – Photo by Aliraza Khatri
3:50 pm Shaping Societal Norms: The Role of Textbooks
From L to R: Samira Rahman, Rubina Saigol, A.H. Nayyar, Ameena Saiyid (moderator), and Pervez Hoodbhoy. – Photo by Taahira Booya
3:47 pm Shaping Societal Norms: The Role of Textbooks
3:34 pm The Pakistani Novel in English: International Representation and Local Reception
The second half of Karachi Literature Festival’s second day began with some more sessions, of which one was The Pakistani Novel in English: International Representation and Local Reception. Moderated by scholar and critic Madeline Clements, the session’s panel consisted of eminent writers Uzma Aslam Khan, H.M. Naqvi, Shandana Minhas, and Bina Shah.
After a brief introduction to the session’s topic and its panelists, the conversation moved to Khan. In her speech, she said that her characters are her primary audience. She further said that she only represents a certain eight-year-old girl, not all of them.
Furthermore, Pakistani readers are more likely to read novels in English that have garnered publicity abroad, Khan said. Also, she added, the readers then get angry about a novel’s representation of Pakistan as it deviates from the readers’ own ideas about Pakistan, without realising that their ideas are essentially subjective, and cannot be applied to others.
Bina Shah talked about her writing career and the journey her bibliography encompasses. She noted that after her book Slum Child came out, she experienced angry confrontations from members of a book club who said that Pakistani society treats its minorities very well, and alleged that Shah had misrepresented Pakistani society in her book. This came across as an eye-opener to Shah, and made her realise how different people have varying ideas of what is the truth.
H.M. Naqvi raised questions about whether or not authors like Ian McEwan and Martin Amis accurately represent their respective countries. He further said that such treatment is usually meted out to Pakistanis and other writers from various countries.
Shandana Minhas, in response to the topic, said there is indeed an element of animosity amongst the readers, which is directed towards the author. Yet, it does not mean that there is any malice. – Text by Soonha Abro
3:25 pm Musical Performance and Workshop by Asif Sinan
Asif Sinan. – Photo by Aliraza Khatri
3:15 pm The Pakistani Novel in English: International Representation and Local Reception
H.M. Naqvi, Shandana Minhas, Madeline Clements (moderator), Bina Shah and Uzma Aslam Khan. – Photo by Aliraza Khatri
2:55 pm Dehshat Gardi aur Hamari Kahaniyan: In Conversation with Asif Farrukhi, Intizar Husain and Arfa Sayeda Zehra
Another important session on the issue of terrorism and literature was held on the second day at the Karachi Literature Festival.
The session’s moderator Masood Ashar said Pakistan is facing the menace of terrorism that has gradually shaped into an organised institution.
Meanwhile, eminent novelist Intizar Husain said there are many aspects of truth and realities and everyone should respect different realities as it was the only way to fight against extremism.
A new book named ‘Ungli Maala’ (fingers necklace) was also discussed in the session as it had been inspired by an old Buddhism story.
Arfa Zehra said terror and hate is going to destroy the fabric of society.
All the panelists in the session agreed that very little has been reflected in Urdu literature about terrorism and extremism in Pakistan. –Text by Suhail Yousuf
From L to R: Moderator, Masood Ashar, Asif Farrukhi, Intizar Husain and Arfa Sayeda Zehra. – Photo by Quratulain Choudhry
3:00 pm
– Photo by Muhammad Umar
2:50 pm New Voices in Sindhi Poetry
During the session “New voices in Sindhi Poetry”, moderator Amar Sindhu presented two promising female poets Rukhsana Preet and Rubina Abro.
Rukhsana Preet said the literary atmosphere of her home was the reason she took to poetry and literature, as it inspired her to write in order to express her feelings.
She said whenever a woman expresses herself using poetry and literature, the society attempts to pry into her personal life rather than her creative work.
Both the poets presented their poetry in the session which was greatly appreciated by the audience. – Text by Suhail Yousuf
Rubina Abro, Amar Sindhu (moderator) and Rukhsana Preet. – Photo by Quratulain Choudhry
2:40 pm Pakistani Nationalism: The Extremist Threat
“It is often said that the two-nation theory failed,” said Javed Jabbar while speaking at a session titled Pakistani Nationalism: The Extremist Threat.
“Pakistani state was unable to adopt the diversity and pluralistic population” he explains adding that “it is not the two-nation theory that failed rather the two-state theory that did.”
Pakistan has faced very strong opposition to its existence and now there is something emerging that is Pakistaniat, and whether for good or bad, religion plays a role in it, Jabbar, the moderator of the session, added.
Taking the discussion forward, well know analyst Syed Jaffar Ahmed said, “Pakistani identity has to be modern, liberal and secular but so far it has been unable to create such an identity.”
Saying the country has been “hijacked the by Taliban”, Ahmed said that the people, Parliament and political forces have been marginalised making the country very vulnerable. He urged the people to understand that is only through genuine democratic process and ensuring a secular society that Pakistan could prosper.
Journalist Mohsin Babbar, also on the panel for discussion, spoke in detail about the layers of nationalism in Sindh. “It starts with Sindhi feeling a sense of nationalism first with their community, then with the rest of the Sindhi population and then with Pakistan.”
To understand the problem and find a proper solution and change mindsets, Babbar said nationalism will have to been seen in the geographical context as well. – Text by Mahnoor Sherazee
2:00 pm Book Launch: Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten by Rajmohan Gandhi
Dr Rajmohan Gandhi spoke about his book ‘Punjab: A history from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten’ during the book launch session and added that the purpose was not to disapprove or prove anything, but only to state how things were.
He said the book started with the decline of the Muslim Mughal rule, following the demise of Aurangzeb in 1707 to the Sikh rule in Punjab which led to the British taking over only to conclude during separation.
When asked about the state of Muslims during the era of Ranjeet Sindh, Dr Gandhi said his findings had revealed that the Sikh rule was tolerant towards Muslims, but it did not mean that everyone enjo
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