Journal launch: Dialogue urged for artistic openness

Shehrbano Taseer replaces father as guest speaker.

LAHORE:

“The Sohbet series aim to open the minds of the artists and art students about the political, social and economic issues in the country. It aims at bringing the artists and students to the real world and encourage them to accept responsibility for what is going on around them,” Dr Fauzia Qureshi, the National College of Arts principal,   said on Thursday.

Dr Qureshi was addressing the participants following a lecture at the National College of Arts before the launch of the college’s arts and culture journal, Sohbet. Thursday marked the launch of the second issue of the journal.

Dr Qureshi said that people from different walks of life should be invited to give public lectures on various issues.

Shehrbano Taseer was the guest speaker at the lecture. She and Suroosh Irfani, the Research and Publications Centre director, talked about current affairs and issues that are ‘not usually a part of classroom discussions.’ The journal touches several issues involved in the assassination of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer.  Irfani and Shehrbano talked about Muslim ideology with reference to Iqbal, Faiz and MD Taseer.

Irfani said, “MD Taseer and Iqbal shared a deep spirituality. They were the Indian luminaries who had a progressive and humanitarian approach.” He said the two great poets were a significant part of the nation’s cultural legacy. “When we go through their work, we find that their creative and intellectual struggle is in the same direction,” he added.

Eulogising Salmaan Taseer’s efforts, Irfani said that the late governor had no fear. His (Taseer) definition of desirable political behaviour amounted to a translation of Iqbal’s verse: yeh daur apnay Brahim ki talaash me hai (The epoch is awaiting its Abraham)

About Sohbet, Irfani said that the journal aimed at serving the idea of progressive, pluralistic Islamic culture.

In her lecture, Taseer sought to interpret Faiz, Iqbal and MD Taseer as representing the same movement. She said, “They were contemporary, progressive and ideological and made huge contributions towards defining the socio-political ideals in the country.”

The lectures were followed by the inauguration of the journal. Iqbal’s photos and manuscripts were displayed at the Zahoorul Ikhlaq gallery. The exhibition included some rare prints. About Sohbet, Taseer said, “The journal is one of its kind. It’s a unique publication. No other institution could have done it better.”

The contributors in the second issue include: Ishtiaq Ahmad, Atteqa Ali, Farida Batool, Madeline Clements, Suroosh Irfani, Claire Pamment, Heama Sivanesan, Ayesha Pamela Rogers, Muhammad Tavallaei, Ala Dehghan, Saira Ansari, Fahd Burki, Nida Bangash and Murad Khan Mumtaz.

Besides NCA students, artists and faculty members were present at the launch. Akmal Hussain, Khaled Ahmed and Col Nadir Ali are prominent among those scheduled to give lectures at the seminars in the coming months.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2011.