LAHORE: The British Council brought two Glasgow poets and two Lahore poets together at a four-day workshop for translation and collaborative poetry experiments titled ‘Glasgow to Lahore: New Poems in Translation’, in partnership with Reel Arts and Sang-i-Meel.

The literary gathering held at Alhamra Art Center, The Mall, concluded on Wednesday where each of the poets presented their work, followed a panel discussion and a live music performance by Rafaqat Ali Khan who incorporated poetry within their songs.

The poets were Jim Carruth, Dr Khalid Javed Jan, Katherine Sowbery and Afshan Sajjad.

Dr Javed Jan said that Jim Carruth had translated his poem ‘Mein Baghi Hoon’ or I am a Rebel. He said through this project a great help was done in projecting the true image of Pakistan and its people because Pakistani people were peace loving. The negative image of the country being projected in the West would be nullified by such collaborative projects, he added. He also recited his poem which received a thunderous applause.

Jim Carruth recited the translation of Jan’s poem and also recited his poem ‘Field Holler and The Dancer’. Katherine Swobery recited her poems ‘Only The Trees and Tia Maria’.

Jim Carrruth said, “Poetry is on the crest of the wave at the moment.”

He said these poets would be leading our national cultural conversation for many years to come. In the group of writers, they found an exhilarating mix of style and subject, reflecting a truly diverse range of voices, he added.

Punjab British Council Director Kevin Mclaven said the literary project was aimed at mutual interaction between the people of two places. He said the project was also aimed at expanding interaction in the field of art and literature between the two people.

The objective of the workshop was to bring forth emerging and established poets together in a creative environment. This collective effort yielded dozens of new translations in Urdu, English and Scottish.

Published in Dawn, November 27th , 2014