LAHORE: The second and concluding day of Thaap’s 15th International Conference brought together diverse scholarly perspectives on the history, culture and civilisational heritage of the Indus basin, featuring research on architecture, river traditions, women’s representation, ancient symbolism, indigenous knowledge and traditional crafts.

Held under the theme “Culture and Life in the Sabta Sindhu”, the conference continued its multidisciplinary exploration of the region’s cultural legacy through research presentations and scholarly discussions across four sessions, featuring 15 research papers.

The day’s proceedings commenced with session four, chaired by Dr Ghafer Shahzad. Architect Muhammad Abdullah opened the session with his paper, “Sung Spaces of Punjab: Decoding Architectural Elements in Punjabi Folk Songs”, examining the relationship between architectural spaces, cultural expression and Punjab’s oral traditions. Dr Munazza Rashid presented “Reconstructing Culture without Text: A Study of the Indus Valley”, while Obhayo Khan explored Sindhi cultural identity through his paper, “Indus Valley Civilisation: Interpretation of Sindhi Culture and Life through the Ages of History”.

Another session was chaired by Prof Dr Tahir Kamran which examined the connections between gender, folklore, river systems and the material culture of the ancient Indus region. Dr Naila Pervaiz presented: “She Who Flows: Sohni, Nuri and the Gopis in River Cultures”, exploring the cultural and symbolic significance of women in river traditions. Dr Samra M Khan and Aisha Imdad examined the influence of river systems on historical settlements and cultural landscapes in “River Dynamics and Cultural Landscapes: Peshawar in the Kabul-Swat Basin”.

Further enriching the discussion, Dr Kanwal Khalid presented “Amatory Value of Women in the Lands of Harappa”, examining the representation and cultural significance of women in ancient Harappan society. Najia Sarwar’s paper, “The Bull in the Sabta Sindhu: Terracotta Figurines as Reflections of Culture in the Harappan Civilisation”, explored the symbolic significance of bull figurines and their contribution to understanding Harappan artistic expressions, beliefs and material culture.

The sixth session, chaired by Dr Yasira Naeem Pasha, extended the discussion to cultural identity, visual narratives, indigenous knowledge and historical continuity. Sadia Qutub Hashmi and Nomana Masood presented “Significance of Jewelry in Sapta Sindhu as Cultural Continuation and Identity”, while Fatema Fakhar and Amina Ahsan explored the storytelling potential of ancient artefacts in “Indus Seals as a Medium of Storytelling: Interpreting Visual Narratives in the Harappan Civilisation”. Raza Naeem and Attiya Javed presented “Harappa Disposition: Joining the Ruins of the Past with the Continuity of the Present”, examining the relationship between archaeological heritage and contemporary cultural identity.

The final research session explored historical communities, traditional craftsmanship and artistic heritage. Dr Anila Naeem and Architect Farida Abdul Ghaffar presented “A Chronicle on the Mohannas of Indus”, while Dr Hussain Ahmad Khan examined Indian craftsmanship and its representation in nineteenth-century exhibitions through “Possessed by Possessions: Pride, Surprise and the Agency of Indian Craft in Nineteenth-Century Exhibitions”.

The research presentations highlighted the interconnected nature of the Indus basin’s cultural heritage, demonstrating how architecture, folklore, archaeological objects, river systems, oral histories and traditional crafts contribute to understanding the region’s historical and contemporary identity.

Following the research paper presentations, a special session was held on Aamir Riaz Toto’s book, “Punjab Di Vel”. During the session, the author introduced the book and shared insights into its historical references, significant events and the cultural context explored in the publication. He also engaged with the participants in an interactive discussion, responding to questions from the audience and elaborating on various aspects of the book.

The conference concluded with “Harappa Circle”, a roundtable discussion chaired by Prof Sajida Haider Vandal, CEO Thaap. Bringing together participants for a collective exchange of ideas, the concluding discussion revisited the Harappan civilisation, its cultural legacy and the relevance of its historical experience to contemporary society.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2026