Rawal literature festival kicks off

The Rawal Literature Festival 2023 kicked off at the Punjab Arts Council, Rawalpindi on Tuesday.

The inaugural session was presided over by renowned poet and writer Dr Ehsan Akbar, while Irfan Ahmed Urfi hosted the event.

Dr Inamul Haq Javed, Fayaz Kayani, Naheed Manzoor, and the council’s Director, Waqar Ahmed, spoke at the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ehsan Akbar stated that the Rawal Literature Festival is a commendable effort to promote literature in the region. Such a large-scale literary festival has not been organised in the Potohar region for many decades.

Director of the Arts Council, Waqar Ahmed, emphasised that a nation whose culture fades away cannot survive. He highlighted the existing animosities and conflicts within our society, emphasising the need to counter them through the development of literature and culture. He added that the Rawal Literature Festival aims to spread the message of brotherhood, peace, and friendship, connecting the youth of Pakistan with literature and culture.

Assistant Director Muhammad Suleman highlighted the importance of the Literary Fair as a repository of knowledge. He stressed that intellectual development is indispensable and should be prioritised alongside physical infrastructure development in any country. He further said that nations that focus on intellectual growth do not decline. Literature and culture serve as a unifying force that brings people together.

The second session of the Rawal Literature Festival, titled “Shayeri Ka Manzar Nama,” was held under the chairmanship of Dr Ehsan Akbar, with Dr Saeed Ahmed serving as the host.

Jalil Ali, Naseer Ahmad Nasir, Akhtar Usman, Ali Mohammad Farshi, Naheed Manzoor, Naseem Sahar, Khuram Khaliq, Hasan Abbas Raza, Mehboob Zafar, Anjam Salimi, Dr Roosh Nadeem, Arshad Meraj, Abdsial, Rukhsana Sukh, Fakhira Noreen, Rashida Mahin Malik, Mahmuda Ghazia, and Mazhar Shehzad engaged in a fascinating discussion on the rise and fall of poetry, receiving a tremendous round of applause from the audience.

In the third session, “Performing Art and the Contemporary Age,” panellists Naseem Ahmed Arif, Arshad Chahal, William Parvez, and Asma Butt discussed the innovations in the performing arts.

The session was hosted by the well-known writer Farheen Chaudhry. The speakers highlighted how the perspective of performing art is evolving with time, especially with the advent of social media platforms that have revolutionised the field.

The Rawal Literature Festival 2023 opening ceremony witnessed a significant turnout of people from the twin cities and the Potohar region.

On Tuesday, five sessions were scheduled, including “Sham-e-Ghazal,” classical dance performances, book launches, discussions on film or culture, and “Bayad Raftgan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2023.