Unleashing creativity: Literary enthusiasts gather at Goethe

KARACHI: The Goethe-Institut held the 61st session of its writers’ forum on Thursday, October 27. About 35 people from various age groups were present at the event. The session began with the recitation of German stories which had been translated into Urdu. Amongst the stories read to the audience was an excerpt from the novel ‘The Woman in the Pillows’, penned by Brigitte Kronauer, one of Germany’s most highly acclaimed contemporary women writers. Novelist Shamshad Ahmed, who has participated in all of the writers’ forum sessions hosted by the Goethe-Institut, read a small piece from one of his stories, ‘Satwey Saal ki Khujli’ (‘The Itching of the Seventh Year’). Talking to The Express Tribune, Ahmed said that he was delighted to see people trying to understand the importance of literature by attending such events. The writers’ forum is usually held on the last Friday of every month at the auditorium and library of the Goethe-Institut. It open to men and women who have stories, poems and critiques to share. “I have seen a gradual rise in the number of participants in the forum over the three years I have spent at this institution,” said programme manager, Kashif Pasha.

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