The Second Floor (T2F) is celebrating 10 years of challenging the narrative. And as part of the celebrations, a number of discussions were organised on its premises. The entire discourse was labelled, ‘Future communities’.

Over the course of two days, starting Saturday, engaging commentary with counter questions and rebuttals took place. The speakers stood their ground in the face of a relentless audience. But this is exactly what everyone wished for and got.

Part of its continuing efforts to foster intellectual discourse and creative expression, the organisers at T2F want to continue to provide a platform where conversations and alliances can ensue across boundaries and divisions, and all can work together to create possible ways forward. And a lot of this was covered in an engaging conversation, titled ‘State of the arts: contemporary art practices’. Talking of the challenges that included the absence of local funding and the challenges of foreign funding, as well absent infrastructure and too many institutions, the speakers, Sophia Balagamwala, Shahana Rajani, Zahra Malkani and Yaminay Chaudhri, touched upon the contemporary art scene in Pakistan which, as in the world at large, has been rapidly changing to incorporate a diverse range of art practices. However, they struck a cord with an audience member who confessed that he wanted to take up arts but due to his father’s pressure he had become a doctor. He still yearns to paint on the canvas of life with limitless expressions. He begged for a way out. The speakers, taken aback over the query, asserted that there is money in the art work as well as uncertainty. It’s just a matter of priority.

In another discussion, ‘Words, worlds: towards a more inclusive literary sphere’, speakers Afzal Ahmed Syed, Sabyn Javeri, Asif Farrukhi and Bina Shah talked about the realm of Pakistani literature, a literature divided along language, class, age and gender lines, and a literature with distinct authorships and readerships, each bringing its own positionality to the fore when writing and critiquing the literary imaginary.

Renowned writer Asif Farrukhi shared his experiences, especially from his current stint with the Habib University. He extolled that Urdu literature was still alive. ‘Urdu literature was never confined to the drawing room,” he said. “Even in Karachi (urban, metropolitan) poetry is read and shared; discussions are held.”

In reference to a discussion continuing from the Karachi Literature Festival, Bina Shah felt irritated as to why the events of 9/11 should be a point of reference for Urdu literature. Gender inequality too was touched upon though its arguments were debatable.

Despite the insurmountable loss of its founder, Sabeen Mahmud, T2F continues to encourage the flicker of free thought amongst a young generation. These discussions proved that the institution continues to be on the right track.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2017