Karachi Literature Festival: Day two
8:35 pm
8:30 pm Interview with Uzma Aslam Khan
While attendance in the morning was sketchy due to the strike call, I'm ever so glad that it did not affect the proceedings at #KLF #Karachi
— Kiran Bashir Ahmad (@kiranba) February 8, 20147:34 pm Thinner than Skin: In Conversation with Uzma Aslam Khan
Responding to how she decided to become a writer 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.
“My teachers were very encouraging. When I went to grad school and my peers were submitting their writing samples, 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 Virginia Woolf 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 passenger seat 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
6:15 pm Book Launch: The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid
If Bollywood would come knocking, I would have Nana Patekar or Nawazuddin Siddiqui play the role of Akbar Khan and Constantine but there would definitely be an item number by Kareena Kapoor! – Omar Shahid Hamid
6:15 pm Book Launch: The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid
The character of Akbar Khan is based on Chaudhry Aslam. – Omar Shahid Hamid
6:10 pm Book Launch: The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid
The Prisoner was a cathartic exercise which snowballed into a book. – Omar Shahid Hamid
6:05 pm Book Launch: The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid
We (police) are a very closeted world and most outsiders do not have access to us. The reason I wrote the book is because most on the force don't have the time to write it all out. – Omar Shahid Hamid
6:05 pm Chulbuk Chori: A Play by Thespianz Theatre
5:38 pm Thinner than Skin: In Conversation with Uzma Aslam Khan
When I am writing, I don't assign qualities to the characters in my books. – Uzma Aslam Khan
5:37 pm Book Launch: The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid
Police is ultimately a reflection of the society it comes from because they are not isolated, like the army, they grow from within the social structure. – Omar Shahid Hamid
5:35 pm Book Launch: The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid
When we joined the police force this (dealing with extremism and terrorism) is not what we thought the job would entail. These are exceptional circumstances that we have been thrown into. You could get the London Metropolitan and they would struggle with it as well. The situation needs to change (police force needs more support) because we are not equipped to handle this. – 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. -
5:00 pm Challenges faced by Art Galleries
5:00 pm
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
3:50 pm Shaping Societal Norms: The Role of Textbooks
3:47 pm Shaping Societal Norms: The Role of Textbooks
Textbooks do not create empathy for diversity or awareness of human rights. They create boundaries between cultures and prove that one religion is better than the other. – A.H. Nayyar
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
3:15 pm The Pakistani Novel in English: International Representation and Local Reception
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
3:00 pm
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
#KLF2014 #Karachi Literature Festival: Events to present another image of #Pakistan other than the one of terror & terror politics.
— Zubair Torwali (@zubairtorwali) February 8, 20142:40 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
#KLF2014:nothing like listening to such great minds while being in the company of amazing people, all in 1 place! Loving #karachi right now!
— Arsla Jawaid (@arslajawaid) February 8, 20142:00 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 enjoyed equal rights.
He moreover cited the examples of restrictions imposed on Azaan and the slaughter of cows in Punjab.
However, the rule could not be described as downright oppressive because Ranjeet controlled many areas of Punjab indirectly through the use of vassals, who were Muslims in the Muslim majority areas. These vassals also enjoyed a degree of autonomy.
Meanwhile, discussing how Sikhs were able to rule Punjab despite being a minority, Dr Gandhi said even though Muslims were very religious, the Sikhs could relate their religion more to Punjab because of the language factor.
Talking about the divide and rule policy of the British, he said it had rendered the British Army, which included swathes of local soldiers, as useless as they were and failed to stop the killings which occurred during partition in huge proportions.
Over half of the sub-continental soldiers who participated in World War I with the British Army belonged to Punjab.
He completed his session with the quote that Punjabis and Punjabiat overcame the madness as the Punjabis protecting Punjabis (Hindus and Muslims) really outnumbered the Punjabis killing Punjabis. – Text by Hammad Ahmed Abbasi
1:49 pm New Voices in Sindhi Poetry
After much of the work in Sindhi poetry there is a challenge for new poets to raise the bar further. – Amr Sindhu
1:45 pm Qawwali Music and the Sufi Poetry Tradition: A Presentation by Mahmood Jamal
One of the morning’s last sessions was the Qawaali Music and the Sufi Poetry Tradition: A Presentation by Mahmood Jamal. The session was moderated by the well-known poet and prose writer of the Punjabi and Urdu languages, Sarwat Mohiuddin. The speaker, Mahmood Jamal, is a eminent poet and filmmaker with a long connection with the Qawwali. He is based in London.
He began by relating the history of Qawwali, in which he talked about the mehfil-e-sama. This gave birth to Qawwali. He added that it was Hazrat Ameer Khusro who went on to become an icon of Qawwali music.
Jamal further said that there have been numerous controversies over the centuries in the history of Qawaali. He added that music theorists looked down upon this genre.
Mohiuddin went on to add that Khawaja Mohiuddin Chishty came to the Indian sub-continent in 1191 and was compelled to spread the message of Islam through the Hindu traditions of music in the sub-continent.
Jamal countered this by saying that the musical traditions of Turkey and surrounding regions influenced the devotional music of the sub-continent. He further said that the Qawwali music has spiritual influence. In the past, Jamal added, Qawwalis were mostly written in Farsi/Persian.
Mohiuddin also said that it is actually the rhythm influences the listener, having transcended the boundaries of language. She then asked Jamal about his thoughts on the current changes and their possible effects occurring in the Qawwali music at present time. He replied that Qawaali has moved on to more secular spaces like the television. Now people listen to it more for entertainment purposes, even though the spiritual aspects are the same owing to no changes in the rhythms of Qawwali music, Jamal added.
The discussion also expounded upon the subject of love within Qawwali music and Sufi poetry.
As a part of the presentation, a number of Qawwali soundtracks were also played to the audience so that one may, in Jamal’s own words, learn in a new way something that one already knows. – Text by Soonha Abro
1:40 pm Historic Adversaries, Modern Partners
Unlike Europe, we hide from history . We do not try to understand it – Gazi Salahuddin
1:25 pm Historic Adversaries, Modern Partners
1:25 pm Historic Adversaries, Modern Partners
The India Pakistan crisis is something that can only be understood by writers and not diplomats because essentially it's a human crisis of so many dimensions. – Gazi Salahuddin
1:15 pm Pakistani Nationalism: The Extremist Threat
1:10 pm In Conversation with Kamila Shamsie
1:00 pm Book Launch: Delhi by Heart: Impressions of a Pakistani Traveller by Raza Rumi
In a very open and light hearted discussion on his book Delhi by Heart: Impressions of a Pakistani Traveller, Raza Rumi spoke about the composite culture between India and Pakistan.
Kicking off the session, which started a tad bit late, moderator Asif Noorani asked Rumi why he chose to write on Delhi and not perhaps Lucknow instead. To this Rumi humorously replied that Delhi is where he managed to get the visa for.
Speaking about his book, Rumi explained why he chose this particular aspect. "I have read a great deal on the Sultans and the Mughals but not much about the peoples' history which is what he was interested in and wrote about," said Rumi to a packed room.
Many Pakistanis are ingrained with the notion that India and Indians are the enemy. But there is a great deal on common, he said adding, that we need to appreciate the secular society in India. "There is a pluralistic legacy there (in India) which has been brutally killed in Pakistan. Seeing these religions and cultures mix harmoniously makes us wonder that once we too must have lived like this (before partition). – Text by Mahnoor Sherazee
12:44 am Voices, Older and Younger: Poetry in English
Another session of the day was a poetry seminar titled Voices, Older and Younger: Poetry in English. The panelists were Salman Tarik Kureshi, Ilona Yusuf, Shireen Haroun, Bilal Hamid, Moeen Faruqi, and Farida Faizullah, all of them poets. The session was moderated by Shahnaz Ahsanudin, a prominent educationist who has spent much of her career teaching English Literature.
Ahsanuddin started the poem by introducing all the speakers, and asked them what constitutes a poem, it is just a combination of rhythm and rhyme or is it something more complex, intellectual, and emotional experience that has been encapsulated in words by the poet.
The conversation then moved on to recitations by each of the poets on the panel, which were followed by the poets speaking on their respective processes of creation, of their influences, of their experiences that inform their writing.
Bilal Hamid said that poetry enables one to jump from one place in the universe to another.
Seeing Faizullah read out her poems off a number of pages typed in Braille was a true inspiration for the audience.
Next, Shireen Haroun read her poems that appeared to have been heavily inspired from Nature. However, this observation on the audience’s part was dispelled when Haroun admitted that actually she is not an outdoorsy person, and that her poems were mainly philosophical.
Ilona Yusuf, another poet on the panel, joined the discussion at this point and added that she found Haroun’s poems quite graphic. To this, Haroun replied that the element of Nature in her poems probably comes through her surroundings, which include a number of pets and a large garden, apart from what she has read about Nature.
Regarding a question about whether the poets’ respective acts of writing a poem involve a struggle, Haroun said that the strange thing about poetry is that one gets an idea and writes a poem. But a few weeks later, one realises that the poem one has written is awful. However, there are some occasions when certain poems simply seem to flow out of you.
In connection to the same question, artist and poet Moeen Faruqi replied that he is primarily a painter. Further explaining his technique, Faruqi said that he mainly uses visual imagery, while leaving the whole business of interpretation up to the reader.
Poet and writer Salman Tarik Kureshi said that his process of writing poetry is more exacting than it is painful.
Regarding getting ideas in the middle of the night, Ilona Yusuf replied that she usually jots down some notes or verses in a notebook that she keeps on her bedside table. – Text by Soonha Abro
12:28 am Contemporary Fiction at Home and the Diaspora
The second day of the Karachi Literature Festival kickstarted with a varied range of sessions. One of these was the Contemporary Fiction at the Home and the Diaspora. Its speakers were Moni Mohsin, Muneeza Shamsie, Nikita Lalwani, and Nikesh Shukla. The session was moderated by Salman Tarik Kureshi.
Kureshi started the event by introducing all speakers, and asking them that were home and the diaspora really two, very different spaces, or were they two parts of the same space. While expounding upon this question, the discussion soon moved on to other issues that are also a part of the topic of the discussion.
Shamsie, an eminent Karachi-based critic, editor, and author, said that amongst the critics there have been allegations of the English language resulting in an elitist form of writing. Furthermore, she said that the diaspora has enabled working-class literature to emerge.
Shukla, a British writer of Indian descent, raised an interesting question that whether a diasporic literary text is perceived as a book about being South Asian, or does the book just happens to be about a person who has South Asian origins.
Regarding the connection of home and the diaspora in the writers’ works, Shukla said that he actually enjoys having a nice, rich palette of material to choose from for his writing.
In response to the same question, the well-known Moni Mohsin added that foreign publishers expect South Asian writers to write sari-donning women with kohl in their eyes, as well as mangoes and other items that they find exotic. Similarly, Shukla added that the publishers abroad do not think about the book itself, but merely about which category to put these books in.
Shamsie asked her fellow speakers about how being at home and being abroad affects their writing process. In response to this question, Mohsin talked about her experience of writing her book The End of Innocence. She said that being a member of the Pakistani diaspora in Britain did not inhibit her during the writing of Innocence. In fact, she added, her writing continued to flow from her previous works. Furthermore, she has found that once she has gathered all her materials, she finds it easier to write from a distance as it allows her a certain objectivity.
Lalwani, another British writer of Indian descent, responded to Shamsie’s question by raising a pertinent question about how each person has a completely different definition of the word ‘home’ based on their various backgrounds and lives. She also said that the word ‘home’ has a emotional connotation, but the word ‘diaspora’ does not. – Text by Soonha Abro
11:55 am Teesray Pehr ki Kahaniyan: Readings and Conversations with Asad Muhammad Khan
11:50 am The Simurgh and the Birds translated by Fahmida Riaz
11:45 am Book Launch: Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten by Rajmohan Gandhi
There were two main black marks which allowed the effective rule of the British in the sub-continent. The first was the clear underlying meaning that the ruling race was superior than the race being ruled. And this is one way how they manage, which in many ways is an impressive rule. – Dr Rajmohan Gandhi
11:45 am Book Launch: Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten by Rajmohan Gandhi
The second black mark on their imperial architecture was by managing to divide the Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs and keep them separate. – Dr Rajmohan Gandhi
11:44 am Book Launch: Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten by Rajmohan Gandhi
11:30 am Voices, Older and Younger: Poetry in English
When we talk about poetry we are talking about a complex, emotional experience captured in words - it involves a struggle for the poet. – Shahnaz Ahsanuddin
11:25 am Voices, Older and Younger: Poetry in English
The poet is somewhat an artist - he chooses his words and images . He needs skills to manage the words he wants to use to reach the reader. – Shahnaz Ahsanuddin
11:15 am The Goal of Higher Education: Creating Professionals or Scholars?
The teaching of submission and restriction at the primary level is the antithesis of (mindset required) for research and investigation itself. – Pervez Hoodbhoy
11:15 am The Goal of Higher Education: Creating Professionals or Scholars?
There is no invention of modern science that can be attributed to Muslims and it is not for lack of money. Look at Saudia Arabia they spend so much on education and they produce exactly zero. – Pervez Hoodbhoy
11:10 Qalam sey Awaz Tak: Readings and Conversation with Raza Ali Abidi
11:10 am The Goal of Higher Education: Creating Professionals or Scholars?
The habit of research starts from Class 1. – Zubaida Jalal
11:10 am The Goal of Higher Education: Creating Professionals or Scholars?
We need to have trained and accomplished teachers especially for primary education to help strengthen the foundation of our children's education. – Zubaida Jalal
11:05 am The Goal of Higher Education: Creating Professionals or Scholars?
Very few perhaps only five, 10 or 15 per cent of the students will prefer to go towards become scholars. – Ishrat Husain
11:05 am Book Launch: The Scatter Here is Too Great by Bilal Tanweer
11:05 am The Goal of Higher Education: Creating Professionals or Scholars?
There is a proliferation of college and universities who are doing more damage in society than helping us meet our societal needs. We have a high number of quacks. For example medical bodies have failed to regulate the standard of doctors being produced. – Ishrat Husain
11:00 am The Goal of Higher Education: Creating Professionals or Scholars?
We need to take a closer look at the importance of scholars as well as professionals. They both serve separate purposes. Professionals meet societal and economic needs while scholars do not care about making a name for themselves. The success of any research is not a guarantee but is a very different kind of information. – Ishrat Husain
10:50 am Puppet Show by Ritz Theatre
10:45 am The Goal of Higher Education: Creating Professionals or Scholars?
10:42 am Apni Beyaz say: Zehra Nigah
Beeti jo taqdeer nahin thi, bachon ne jo dekha nahin tha, kis tarha karein dor-e-aseeri ki shikayat, chupne ka irada toh hamara bhi nahin tha. - Zehra Nigah
10:35 am Apni Beyaz say: Zehra Nigah
Zehra Nigah reading classical poetry in her session, which was immensely enjoyed by the audience.
10:34 am The Goal of Higher Education
What worries me in Pakistan is that the quality of competency is decreasing with time than increasing.- Pervez Hoodbhoy
10:31 am The Goal of Higher Education
We have so many PhDs and so many doctors coming out from our universities but how much do they really know? What do we do when we have so many fake notes in circulation especially when they exceed the genuine ones? Pervez Hoodbhoy – Speaking about low quality and standards of education
10:24 Puppet Show Children are being adequately entertained at the Puppet Show with loud, merry songs.
#KLF2014 #Karachi #literature festival! What excitement. Even when things are bad,we still fight so hard. #lovepakistan #pakistanneedsunity
— Anoushey Ashraf (@Anoushey_a) February 7, 201410:20 am
Come listen to Omar Shahid Hamid, author of The Prisoner, in conversation with me at KLF today, 4 pm. #klf @KarachiLitFest
— Bina Shah (@BinaShah) February 8, 201410:17 am
Off to the Karachi Literature Festival- yesterday's panel with Tina Sani, Zeb, Sarmad Khoisan and Ali Sethi was excellent! #KLF2014
— Zoe Viccaji (@Zoeviccaji) February 8, 201410:00 am It's a chilly morning on the second day of the fifth Karachi Literature Festival at Beach Luxury Hotel. The crowd turnout is a little low with MQM’s call for a day of mourning but we are hoping it will pick up. Stay tuned with Dawn.com for updates of the event throughout the day.
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