Lahore Literary Festival

Click here for the coverage on the Karachi Literature Festival

7:15 pm

As the day ended at the Lahore Literary Festival the chatter at Alhamra reflected an atmosphere where it seemed Lahoris came, saw and took away many interesting thoughts and ideas. The satire session had the audience hooting and laughing, while Pakistan, a Modern Country? had people in avid discussion after.

Young Lahori hipsters, curious students, socialites and formidable uncles could be seen in and out of the halls at Alhmara today mixing with authors, journalists and filmmakers.

Off to the Mushaira now! Be sure to log on tomorrow for Dawn.com’s coverage of day two.

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6:15 pm
Zehra Nigah on poetry and translation

Intizar says women poets are leading the revival of urdu poetry...resistance poetey is led by them now. #LLF2013—
Nilofer Afridi Qazi (@ninoqazi) February 23, 2013

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5:30 pm

The courtesan in literature: From Umrao Jan to Gohar Jan
The courtesan in literature from Umrao Jan to Gohar jan discussion was based on the elaborate and aristocratic lifestyle of a courtesan. Panelists discussed the difference between a prostitute and a courtesan while Naveed Shahzad described the similarities between characters of a wrestler and a courtesan. The panelists also discussed the romanticism involved in the characters of courtesans including their weaknesses and strengths were also part of the disscussion along with the fascination of this character in the East as they have been a subject of many directors and writers especially in the sub continent. -Text by Mariyam Pervaiz

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People wildly excited to hear Sir Syed spent his youth at a kotha. MAF attempting to explain how very not out of the ordinary this was. #llf—
Faiza S Khan (@BhopalHouse) February 23, 2013

Lahore was a massive Kotha many centuries ago before it turned into a city. Sir Syed used to come here for education. Mosharraf Micro #LLF—
Saroor Ijaz (@SaroorIjaz) February 23, 2013

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5:00 pm
Literature of resistance

Literature of Resistance: "It doesn't do anything but it lets you live..." Basharat Peer #LLF #Lahore—
Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) February 23, 2013

Lyse Doucet: journalists write 1st draft of history. May be becoming rougher & increasingly hysterical but we're trying to tell stories #llf—
Sam Ruddock (@SamRuddock) February 23, 2013

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4:30 pm
National narrative

National narrative is tied to identity. Sara Singh

If you can’t reach an agreement on these very pertinent issues, then there is a problem. Owen Bennett Jones on what it means to be an Islamic country.

It is interesting that the m-4 for normalisation of trade is coming from the corporate world. Urvashi Butalia

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4:15 pm
Lahore in literature

The session Lahore in Literature was jam packed; a great number of people could be heard from outside the hall, raising a hue and cry as they had been locked out.

Almost all had come to listen to a panel comprising Intizar Husain, Bapsi Sidhwa , Ebba Koch and Pran Nevile. Sidhwa, as graceful as ever, talked about how her writings depict the splendor of the city. For her, Lahore is not a violent city but one that comprises people who enjoy life to the fullest. Beloved City, an anthology of writings about Lahore was for her a “labour of love.”

Pran Nevile brilliantly summed up his talk about the city: “Lahore is beyond definition. It can only be experienced.”

Ebba Koch unfortunately was barely audible and only a few were able to hear her take on the city and various narratives based on it.

Intizar Sahab was the toast of the session which took a life of its own the minute he started to reminisce about the Lahore of olden times. He lamented how Partition was not only of the land, but also of the people; writers and poets were divided between the two countries and their identity became a question mark.
Overall the session was not very well moderated and the participants were unable to tap into its potential. – Text by Haneen Rafi

Lahore is beyond definition; it can only be experienced. Pran Nevile

I don’t think there are more eating places in any other city – Lahore is as enjoyable today as it was in the past. Bapsi Sidhwa

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4:00 pm

Literary Bytes: Moni Mohsin on how her columns are received

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3:50 pm

The Citizens Archive of Pakistan covers Iqbal at LLF

“Allama Iqbal’s fame reaches far beyond the east as he has received attention from numerous writers translators and critics from western as well as other Islamic countries which testifies to his stature as a global literary figure. He was a strong proponent of the political and spiritual revival of Islamic civilization.”

- Photos by Sara Faruqi/Dawn.com

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3:40 pm

Literary Bytes: Hameed Haroon on Lahore

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3:30 pm

Translation of Faiz

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3:05 pm

Pakistan a modern country?

Pakistan claims to be a modern state but in reality we are not seemed to be the conclusion in the session called ‘Pakistan a modern country?’

Tariq Ali, Ayesha Jalal, Francis Robinson emphasized that religion and state were two important aspects and should be dealt separately.

Ayesha Jalal said, “state has to be religiously neutral.” Adding that although Pakistan is a vibrant country there is room for improvement, however the intellectual class needs to debate on issues like religion rather than avoiding it.
The partiality of a state creating problems for the citizens prevail on a very high level was an important point of the discussion among the panelists. Talking about the survival of the country Tariq Ali was confident that the country was going to last forever, but the issue would remain what sort of state would prevail.

There are issues related to class discrimination, population, health and culture he said. Ali condemned the drone attacks and said the country was in such a state only because of the deep-rooted feudal system and the prevailing culture of political legacy which had traumatized the nation. The panelists also agreed that Pakistan in the 50’s and 60’s was more progressive as compared to today. – Text by Mariyam Pervaiz

“A huge problem of the state is that it think it is modern.”Ayesha Jalal

“Religion and state should not be a part of the functioning of the government.” Tariq Ali

Intellectual class should debate about religion. But only those who are damaging the religion are talking about it and the educated want to know less about it. Ayesha Jalal

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2:55 pm

Literary Bytes: Shehan Karunatilaka on Pakistan

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2:45 pm

On satire

“I am a satirist with a purpose to make people laugh and to make people think.” Moni Mohsin

“People read satire as if the story is about somebody else and not themselves.” Moni Mohsin

“Writers mostly make shit up.” Mohammed Hanif

“Life is too short, mine especially.” Shehan Karunatilaka

“Satire is the greatest tradition of humour.” William Dalrymple

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2:30 pm

Film, newsmedia and music in frontline Pakistan

“The holy warrior and the enemy” by Hameed Haroon is a cinematic journey from 1958 to 2008 depicting soldiers and militant efforts projected in the media and how this has influenced the minds of the common man.

Haroon says “disillusionment created search for messiah”. Though the progressive showcasing of the works by the film makers in the past has helped in bringing the issues in the forefront but freedom of expression still remains the core issue as far as depiction of ideas is concerned.

Gradually with the passage of time, television has taken over this medium and cinema is nowhere to be seen. He also said that literary festivals should not be restricted to books but arts and cinema should also be projected. Every government has tried to manipulate cinema in their own way especially during the era of Zia which created the most negative impact in our media and cinema.

From directors like Riaz Shahid, Jamal Dhelvi, to Shoaib Mansoor, from poets like Habib Jalib to Faiz Ahmed Faiz everyone has contributed to develop a progressive thinking and educate the public about the emergence of militants and other mullah groups but all such efforts have been suppressed by the governments. Haroon said that the youth should always be educated with the on going situation in the society. – Text by Mariyam Pervaiz

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2:00 pm

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1:30 pm

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1:00 pm

“The intellectual level is very high at the festival and it raises political issues which are vital for Pakistan today.” Kenize Mourad

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12:40 pm

The Blind Man’s Garden

Nadeem Aslam is a charmer. His tone and tremor, the pauses and contemplative words that he brilliantly exhibited at the Karachi Literature Festival has won him many admirers here at the Lahore Literary Festival. Talking about his latest offering, The Blind Man’s Garden, and the response it has received both locally and internationally, Aslam talked about how the reception it received varied; in India and Pakistan it was hailed as a very beautiful book, while the rest of the world calls it a dark and bleak novel. “I discourage people from visiting” had the crowd rolling over in laughter while his strict rationing considering the humble life he lives received a burst of sympathetic laughter: “I feel guilty for eating if I haven’t written that day.” – Text by Haneen Rafi

“Nadeem Aslam was made in the East, assembled in the West.” Declan Walsh

“The impulse behind The Blind Man’s Garden was to make fiction out of politics.” Nadeem Aslam

“I’m not afraid of making a mistake in Pakistan.” Nadeem Aslam

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12:30 pm

Globalization of Pakistan’s Literature

“You don’t really choose what you write about, it chooses you.”

“I don’t write about sex because it is difficult to write about good sex.”

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These clips in Hameed Haroon's presentation are absolutely fantastic. #LLF—
Umair Javed (@umairjav) February 23, 2013

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11:00 am

Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew

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10:15 am

Politics and Culture with Tariq Ali

I personally don't believe that any sect wants to kill or eliminate the other in #Pakistan - Tariq Ali #LLF2013—
Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) February 23, 2013

'When the revolution comes they will take your Birkins and turn them into a herd of cows ' - Tariq Ali joins #FAT at #LLF—
Ayesha Tammy Haq (@tammyhaq) February 23, 2013

Tariq Ali session comes to a conclusion and leaves everyone confused, unfulfilled and unsatisfied, just like a broken leftist dream #LLF2013—
Saroor Ijaz (@SaroorIjaz) February 23, 2013

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9:45 am

Photo: 9:30 a.m. and there’s a line to get in. #llf #lahoreliteraryfestival #lahore #pakistan http://t.co/cfGVwwYIga—
Beenish Ahmed (@beenishfahmed) February 23, 2013

Hello and welcome to Dawn.com’s coverage of the first Lahore Literary Festival! It’s a drizzly and grey morning here in Lahore, but unlike Karachi, rain hasn’t stopped literature lovers from turning up in huge numbers. Lines are snaking their way through the Alhamra Art Centre as people line up to enter sessions.

Keep checking back for highlights, videos and photos from the Festival! If you are craving some leiterary treats, you can always browse our KLF coverage.