LAHORE: The second day of the annual Thaap Conference 2025, themed Jogi Uttar Paharon Aya, concluded with thought-provoking paper presentations and a vibrant Thaap circle discussion, bringing together leading academics, researchers, historians, ethnographers, architects into conversation about continuity, contestation and cultural memory across Sapta-Sindhu.

Organised by Thaap in collaboration with Punjab Khoj Garh and Lyallpur Young Historians Club, this year’s conference delved deep into history, mysticism, cultural expressions and human connectivity symbolised by the phenomenon of Jogi.

The day opened with an inaugural session chaired by Dr Hassan Shah, former vice chancellor of the GCU Lahore. Three insightful papers were presented during the session. Iqbal Qaiser’s Jogi Uttar Paharon Aya revisited the symbolic descent of the Jogi in South Asian spiritual and cultural traditions; Dr Kanwal Khalid’s presentation explored the role of Jogis in pre-medieval India while Indian researcher Rajiv McMullen, joining via video link, examined Nath Yogis as bridges between ascetic philosophy and artistic expression.

The second session, chaired by Dr Mahboob Hussain, dean Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Punjab University, featured diverse perspectives on spirituality and sociocultural transformation. Raza Naeem, in his paper “Jo Kashi Tan Tajay Kabira, Ramay Kon Hanora,” traced the social and material origins of the Bhakti movement. Dr Chaman Hussain, in “Mystics and Mavericks,” discussed the Jogis’ role as rebels against social and linguistic hierarchies in Punjab. Dr Muhammad Kashif Ali, in “Jogian Da Tilla: History, Memory, and Heritage of the Site,” presented a compelling exploration of cultural memory and spiritual heritage tied to Punjab’s sacred landscapes.

The final paper reading session, chaired by Dr Fareeha Zafar, professor GIDS, LSE, highlighted intersections of spirituality, archaeology and material culture. Architects Muhammad Areeb Khan and Faiza Aleem Khan explored the buried architecture of Harappa, underscoring that the Harappan civilisation extended beyond the Indus region.

Najia Sarwar and Muhammad Ali Naeem, in “Woven Spirituality: Tracing Yogic Practices in Harappan Textiles,” focused on Ajrak patterns as enduring symbols of ancient spiritual motifs. Dr Tohid Ahmad Chattha from the GCU Faisalabad, in “Jogis, Panj Pir, and Nau Gaziya Pir,” unfolded the mythic and devotional connections within Punjab’s Sufi traditions.

The day culminated with the Thaap Circle, hosted by Prof Sajida Vandal, where the participants engaged in a roundtable dialogue on the conference theme, generating fresh perspectives and new directions for cultural inquiry.

Prof Dr Rauf-i-Azam, vice chancellor GCU Faisalabad, graced the closing session as chief guest and commended Thaap’s role in preserving and reinterpreting South Asia’s cultural heritage. The conference concluded with certificate distribution and heartfelt closing remarks by Prof Pervaiz Vandal who reaffirmed Thaap’s mission of fostering interdisciplinary understanding.

Reflecting on the success of the conference, Prof Pervaiz Vandal, host of the Thaap Conference, remarked, “Every year, Thaap explores a new theme that reconnects us with our roots while inspiring dialogue between the past and the present. ‘Jogi Uttar Paharon Aya’ reminds us that the journey of the Jogi is, in essence, the human quest for unity, creativity, and truth values that continue to shape our shared heritage”.

The event closed with a Heer recitation by Khadim Hussain Warsi.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2025