Literature festival focuses on sustainability, inclusion

The Islamabad edition of the literature festival returned in-person after a gap of four years, with the event hailed as an annual celebration of ideas, creative perspectives, and the art of storytelling started at the Gandhara Citizen’s Club at the Fatima Jinnah Park in the capital Friday.

This year’s theme is ‘People, Planet, Possibilities’, which was also the case at the Karachi edition of the festival held in January.

The organisers said it was a call to action to encourage individuals, communities, and organisations to collaborate in the pursuit of a more sustainable and inclusive world. “It envisions a multitude of possibilities that can be achieved through collective efforts guided by purpose and vision,” they said in a statement.

British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott, who was one of the guests at the inauguration, said that Pakistani authors, especially those writing in the English language, had attained recognition at a global level. “Words offer us a world of self-expression and creativity, and are a gateway to a greater understanding of our experiences.”

Victoria Schofield, a British author who is a regular at the festival, expressed her delight at being back in Pakistan and her eagerness to explore the ninth edition of the festival.

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Oxford University Press (OUP) Managing Director Arshad Saeed Husain underscored the significant impact of literary festivals, stressing that fostering a cultural shift depends on the celebration of diverse perspectives and their constructive effects. “Literature stands as a testament to human resilience and provides a beacon of light in the darkest of times,” he said.

“Inclusivity is the cornerstone upon which the pillars of sustainability rest, as it ensures that no one is left behind on the journey toward a greener and more equitable planet,” remarked Khalid Mahmood, who was representing the event sponsors. Litterateur Iftikhar Arif spoke at length about the various languages, both spoken and written, and felt that these languages needed recognition at the State level.

The ceremony was concluded by performing artist Zahshanne Malik who enthralled the audience with her moving interpretation of Faiz Ahmed Faiz's 'Lao to Qatal Nama Mera’.

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A session on how Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s poetry shaped the times was moderated by Nasira Zuberi, with Ahmed Atta reciting selected works for the audience. In a parallel session, Tariq Alexander Qaiser and journalist Umber Khairi engaged in a conversation on Pakistan's mangroves.

The day ended with a discussion on the right to religious freedom, where Syed Irfan Ashraf conversed with Yaqoob Bangash, Farzana Bari, Pritam Das Rathi, and Maham Ali to explore Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's vision to safeguard religious freedom.

Two art exhibitions are part of the weekend-long festival. It features the works of Qudus Mirza and Ammar Faiz as well as Fauzia Minallah, whose exhibit is titled ‘The Lost Lullaby of Mother Earth’.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2023.