PESHAWAR: The students and teachers of University of Peshawar have launched a new forum ‘study corner’ to encourage an intellectual debate on the campus on a wide range of important social, political, literary, cultural and philosophical issues.

A month ago, two students -- Shaukat Swati and Tariq Pakhtunyar of Pashto department -- together with Prof Hanif Khan of history department, University of Peshawar had floated the idea of a weekly get-together of students and teachers of various departments that received appreciation from the academic circles on the campus.

According to the organisers of the forum, the objective was to create an academic environment on the campus for students and teachers to share their research, new ideas and knowledge on a particular issue and also to provide an opportunity to the participants to apprise themselves of the new developments going on regarding different spheres of scholarship around them.

‘Study corner’ to promote critical thinking, analytical research pursuits, respect for opinion of others

Currently, the study corner holds its sessions at Faqir of Ipi, Pearl Lawn, University of Peshawar on every Tuesday.

Shazia Mansoor, a student of gender studies department, said that such a forum would inculcate critical thinking, analytical research pursuits, respect for opinions of others, and would promote book culture among our youth.

She said that sharing of ideas and views on different issues would not only create sense of tolerance but would also enhance student’s self-esteem.

“I would suggest the study corner should also include girl students to make it a full-circle debate,” said Ms Mansoor.

The first ever debate under the study corner was held on August 1 on ‘ Fata Reforms’ in which the keynote address was delivered by chief of Fata Lawyers Forum Ejaz Mohmand while the second session touched upon ‘ Pakhtun culture, modernism, and development’ by Prof Zafar Khan of sociology department.

Two open discussions titled “The division of India: Economic, cultural, political, geographical and linguistic issues of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”, “Pakistan’s parliamentary system: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s problems, solution and possibilities” were arranged on August 15 and August 22 respectively.

Prof Hanif Khan said that the aim of the forum was to engage students and teachers in a productive academic activity on the campus.

Prof Fakhrul Islam, the director of Pakistan Studies department, said that he didn’t have any knowledge of such activity on the campus but still he would appreciate it and suggest that any such initiative should be free from any political motives with a clear-cut academic purpose.

Shaukat Swati said that the study corner had the backing of students and teachers mostly from social sciences departments. He said that senior teachers were providing guidance to the participants. He said that more interesting topics would be selected for the open debate after Eidul Azha.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2017