KARACHI: Book launches, 100 years of Sindhi fiction, fiction and non-fiction prizes, panel discussions, mushaira, dastangoi, art exhibitions, storytelling sessions for children, ghazal evening, dramatic presentation and readings are some of the highlights of the 6th Karachi Literature Festival scheduled for Feb 6, 7 and 8.

This was announced by the founders of the festival, Oxford University Press Managing Director Ameena Saiyid and Dr Asif Farrukhi, at a press conference at the Gulrang Hall in the Arts Council on Friday.

Ms Saiyid said the 2015 edition of the festival would be a three-day event. The inauguration and celebration on the first day will begin at 5pm. The following weekend from 10am onwards will be chock-a-block with panel discussions, talks and book launches.

She said: “The venue will be the same as last year that is Beach Luxury Hotel. Entry is free. There will be 210 speakers, 173 from Pakistan, 37 from nine countries. There will be 85 sessions and 28 book launches.”

Nayantara Sahgal, niece of India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, is among keynote speakers

Ms Saiyid mentioned that Nayantara Sahgal, the niece of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and cousin of Indira Gandhi, as the keynote speaker at the KLF. “She has written many books, her biography has just come out. She is a wonderful speaker.” Poet Zehra Nigah would be the other keynote speaker, added Ms Saiyid.

According to Dr Farrukhi, everyone will find sessions based on their interest. “There will be mushaira, dastangoi, 100 years of Sindhi fiction, classical Urdu poetry, there is everything for everyone.”

Ms Saiyid also announced the award of best fiction and non-fiction book prizes, and peace prize from the platform of the 6th KLF. The details of those prizes were given by the foreign embassy officials and other sponsors present at the festival presser.

Dr Tilo Klinner, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, and sponsor of the KLF Peace Prize, said: “We are proud of creating this important prize last year that emulates the prestigious Frankfurt Peace Prize. The peace prize is awarded to those authors who are promoting tolerance and harmony in society and international community. This prize is not political; it encompasses a broad sense of artistic work. There are 18 books under consideration which will be short-listed on Tuesday and the announcement of the winner will be made at the festival.”

Mr Klinner also mentioned the attendance of the director of the Munich literature festival at the KLF, hoping for a collaborative literary event between Germany and Pakistan. “We want him to come to Karachi and see how lively the festival is.”

“We consider the KLF to be an interesting festival. The French embassy is sponsoring the Best Fiction Book Prize and we will announce the short-listed books next week at the Alliance Francaise,” said director of the Alliance Francaise.

Zohair Ali of Coca Cola read out a message on behalf of Rizwan Ali Khan, country manager of his company, sponsor of the KLF Best Non-Fiction Book Prize. “We are delighted to support such an initiative. We will be setting up a book bank at the KLF where we will encourage visitors to donate used textbooks, which we will then donate it to The Citizens Foundation.”

Earlier, Ms Saiyid said they expected this time round the festival would attract nearly 100,000 visitors. To which someone queried during the question and answer session that the venue was perhaps inadequate to accommodate such a big number of people. “This time we have taken over the parking lot of the hotel so there will be lots of space,” she said.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2015

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