At the Karachi Literature Festival 2012, award-winning author Hanif Kureishi gives his insight on modern Pakistani literature and on turning ideas into bestselling novels.
-Interview by Tabinda Siddiqi/Dawn.com
youtube::5TM8DszXzoA::
Egypt reacts to Hosni Mubarak’s conviction
French Open: Day 6
Chinese firefighters in dramatic rescue
Syrian filmmaker mourned in homs
The most fascinating place in the world??? In what sense??
right, fascinating it is; electricity, gas, PIA failing, railway failing, govt on the brink of collapse,
list goes on and on. well,some great literature could be born in era like this. And some great minds like Ghalib were produced in times like this too.
I live in Canada and Hanif lives in UK. It is just impossible to write about Pakistan when we do not experience the country, personally. However, I like Hanif 's writing. He is great!
A writer makes choices throug-out his writing career as to what is going to be the subject of his next book.
Hanif, perhaps for understandable commercial reasons has chosen not to be labelled as a 'Muslim', 'minority' or 'Pakistani' writer. Mainstream subjects are more lucrative. Perhaps he has a lot to say about his surroundings – West London – that's his choice. It does not take away the talent that he inherited from his Pakitani father but nutured it himself and gave it direction that he chose.
As the title suggests, I was hoping to hear something good about Pakistan, however, much of what he is saying has nothing to do with Pakistan. He is just regurgitating what he has heard in the British and American media against Islam and Muslims.
What !!!!!!………………Muslims in UK hating women? But then again he only writes about his part of London which is west Loondon, where he lives……….there is just too much of generalisation in the British media and public opinion. Unfortunately he has takne that on board. Bad thing someone intelligent as he.
Does he mean fascinating in it's people having to endure lack of electricity or gas? or perhaps he means how the Civil Society aka rich wallow in luxury and freedom while the majority wallow in poverty and oppression …. only one of the privileged could make such a statement