International historians discuss Faisalabad's resilient past

Under the auspices of the Lyallpur Literary Council, a gathering of international and local historians highlighted Faisalabad's resilient role as a stronghold against foreign and colonial forces invading the Sandal Bar region throughout various phases of history.

The two-day conference, held at a local hotel, concluded with the emergence of a new concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), championed by Musadaq Zulqarnain, Chairman of Interloop and Patron-in-Chief/President of the Lyallpur Literary Council.

In his keynote address, Musadaq Zulqarnain introduced his philosophy of supporting literary festivals and historical conferences as a form of CSR, rather than the conventional practice of donating to educational and healthcare initiatives. He argued that this approach has a more significant impact on the socio-economic conditions of the underprivileged by fostering cultural and historical awareness.

During the opening session on Monday, Zulqarnain emphasised that the event promised a dynamic and progressive series of panels and discussions, with a special focus on the regional history of Faisalabad. The conference hosted a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Dr Phillip Zehmisch from the University of Heidelberg, Germany; Dr Anne Castaing from the Centre for South Asian and Himalayan Studies, France; Dr Pippa Virdee from the UK; Manveer Singh from California; Dr Pierre Alain Baud, Dr Pashaura Singh from France; Dr Ali Usman from LUMS, Lahore; Dr Pervez Vandal; Dr Abdul Qadir Mushtaq from GC University, Faisalabad; and Dr Yaqub Bangash from Lahore.

These scholars participated in seven sessions covering a wide range of topics.

Commissioner Silwat Saeed praised the international history conference for promoting understanding, tolerance, and mutual respect among nations on a global scale.

A young scholar, Muhammad Bin Umer Hameed from the KMA Institute of Creative Sciences, highlighted the significant transformation Faisalabad underwent during the 1970s, a period marked by industrial growth in Pakistan. He noted that Faisalabad, originally known as Lyallpur, evolved into a commercial hub for the textile industry in Punjab. The city's name change to Faisalabad, in honor of Saudi King Shah Faisal, symbolised Pakistan's growing ties with Saudi Arabia.

Hameed explained that this shift also marked the beginning of the "Saudization" of Pakistani society, which significantly altered the socio-economic landscape and religious traditions of the region.

In another session titled "Unveiling Historical Narratives and Key Personalities in Lyallpur," Dr Philipp Zehmisch from the University of Heidelberg, Germany, emphasized the erasure of Bhagat Singh from Pakistan's history books and educational curriculum.

Dr Zehmisch pointed out that Bhagat Singh was an anarchist and secular figure, neither a Marxist nor a Leninist, and stressed that the history of Lyallpur is incomplete without acknowledging his contributions.