LAHORE: The fifth edition of the Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) on Saturday drew a steady trickle of visitors throughout the day with at least 1,000 guests by the end of the second session.

The usual suspects, Lahore’s literati milled into two halls and a marquee at Faletti’s Hotel for the one-day event. For many, it was in solidarity, made absolutely essential by the prevalent atmosphere of fear and insecurity in the city.

The decision to cut short the three-day festival to a single day because of the security situation was met with dismay by many visitors. Almost everyone who attended couldn’t help draw comparisons between Saturday’s event and the throngs of visitors beating down doors of Alhamra’s halls at previous LLF editions.

Maryam Wasif Khan, an instructor at LUMS, felt the comparison was unfair. The situation in the city is far different from how it was in previous years, she said. “And therefore, Razi Ahmed [LLF founder], must be congratulated for the service he provides to this city.”

Naeemuddin, executive housekeeper of the hotel, said they had been prompted to make arrangements for the LLF at around 6pm on Friday. At this short notice, the hotel management and LLF team moved fast to put together tents and marquees, and stalls, banners and kiosks. With an art exhibition and a wedding under way in adjacent halls, the organisers must be lauded for ensuring the festival proceeded smoothly, one of the hotel staff members said.

As people filed out at the end of sessions, they gathered around bookstalls and a catering area. Discussions among them centered mostly on the first session featuring celebrated author Kamila Shamsie and Michael Palin, of Monty Python fame.

Ayesha Aslam Faisal and Amal Aslam said they attended the festival especially because of Palin, whom they had heard a lot about from their mother who had grown up in England. They planned to stay till the end to catch the last session, ‘Up Your Himalayas’ by Palin.

Other fans were grateful that the famous writer and actor was patient enough to take selfies and pictures with them.

Mira Hashmi, an instructor at LSE, was equally giddy about attending the session and getting her book signed. She stressed the need to hold such festivals more frequently, not despite but rather in spite of the backdrop of fear. “The show must go on.”

Sharing his thoughts on his first session, Palin said he was happy to have been paired with Shamsie. “I measure the success of a session by how fast time flies and I didn’t even notice the time pass… the audience seemed to be enjoying.”

This was historian Margaret MacMillan’s second trip to Lahore – the first being in 1971. The city, though it seemed bigger than it did back then, still retained its flavour, she remarked fondly. Margaret congratulated the organisers on putting together a great show. She arrived in Lahore on Thursday and has since met with several local writers, including Sheheryar B Sheikh, whose novel The Still Point of The Turning World Margaret recommended as a great read.

On the one-day LLF, historian Alex von Tunzelmann said it meant that awesomeness of three days had been concentrated into one. Margaret shared the views.

Writer Bilal Tanweer agreed that all literature festivals had their distinct features and character. “The LLF, I feel, is very outward looking… even more so than KLF.”

Overseeing security deployment within the hotel premises, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ghulam Dastgir told Dawn that police had arranged for a three-tier security arrangement. Snipers were deployed on rooftops, he said, and they were prepared for any emergency.

“The problem with holding such festivals at Alhamra is that the arts council’s front area is too vulnerable and exposed. We consider this venue far safer.” He added that it was necessary to hold such festivals because people must never give in to fear.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2017