Where is Pakistan?

In the sea of Arab and Indian writers, Pakistanis are nowhere to be seen at the world's third largest book fair

KARACHI: "Arundhati Roy could not make it to the book fair due to some indisposition. Her session has been called off," Faizal told me, when he returned to his seat.

I met Faizal in the media lounge of Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), where Roy was scheduled to take part in a session about her recent novel, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness.

“I work for daily Siraj,” Faizal gave me his visiting card. “Siraj is a Malayalam newspaper published both from UAE and [Indian state of] Kerala,” he added as if answering the query in my eyes.

This news about Roy’s programme was disappointing. I had already started picturing myself speaking to the author of The God of Small Things about her works in a jam packed hall of erudite audience.

However, Faizal was not much affected by Roy’s indisposition. He reassured me that over thirty Indian authors were to participate in the forum discussions at the festival.

PHOTO: FILE

“There is a panel discussion with Malayalam writer VJ James in the afternoon. In the evening, there is another session by great Kerala writer, MT Vasudevan Nair. He is called the writer of writers," he said.

I did not want to disappoint Faizal by telling him that Roy held a special place in my heart not only due to her literary achievements but also because of her brave stance on Kashmir. Now that she was not coming, I wanted to see what Pakistani authors had to say about art and literature.

However, I promised my new friend that I would 'peep into' Nair’s session.

Nair was to share his experiences of film industry but I forgot his hall and ended up loitering about the great expo, skimming through schedule of activities that were to take place at the eleven-day event.
Faizal was right. After Arab writers and intellectuals, the second largest group of authors to take part in the fest was that of Indians – thirty five to be exact.

"From Pakistan there is Mohammad Hanif, there is Bina Shah and there is.....". I had difficulty finding more than five names in that booklet. Now I looked for the representatives of Urdu among the guests. Gulzar. I once again looked them up in the list. Gulzar.

I turned around and started walking up the scented aisles. UAE is teeming with Pakistanis but Pakistan was conspicuous by its absence from one of the biggest cultural and literary events of the region. Once amid the book stalls, I started looking for Pakistani publishers and Urdu books in the world’s third largest book fair.

The stalls had names of the country to which the publisher belonged inscribed on their top panels. UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, India....UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, India....UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, India.

PHOTO: FILE

"Where is Pakistan?" I looked frantically for the name of my country. “Excuse me, can you tell me if there is any Pakistani publisher participating in this book fair," I at last had to ask the counter at the head of one of the halls.

"Yes, there are," replied the attendant. But before I could take a sigh of relief, he had handed me a printout, showing names and locations of my compatriots.

"There are a total of four Pakistani publishers," he told me. "How many publishers are taking part in the festival," I asked. "Fifteen hundred plus," he replied. "And how many of them are India," I asked again. "Over two hundred," he replied again.

The Pakistani stalls were incidentally in the same hall. I decided to take a look at them. Stall 1, stall 2, stall 3 had put on display some children's books of educational nature. Stall 4 was dedicated to selling of the Holy Quran. All books of Urdu were to be found on some Indian stalls.

I slowly trudged through the crowd to the media lounge.

What this lack of participation by Pakistan at the region's key cultural festival reflects? Why is this apathy towards culture and our language? Are we too busy making motorways and highways? Is it our fault our can we put the blame on others, I asked myself.

The eating area of the SIBF lounge was already set for the high tea. I received a whiff of chocolate. I had already forgotten my nation's cultural crisis at the first sight of pastries.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.