Literature festivals like the Adab Festival are vital for the publishing industry, offering a dynamic space where content and conversation come to life. The 7th Adab Festival, held as a one-evening event recently, was described by Ameena Saiyid, founder and managing director of Lightstone Publishers, as “a mini-festival to make up for the long gap for reading enthusiasts between annual festivals.”

With authors, book lovers and journalists in attendance, the festival provided invaluable opportunities to forge relationships, gain industry insights and engage with a diverse audience.

The inaugural session was titled ‘Lost in the Pages: A Journey Through the Novel Betrayal’, featuring the author Omar Shahid Hamid, and moderated by Safinah Danish Elahi. The session delved deeply into how Hamid crafted his complex characters, with him noting, “It’s incredibly challenging, especially today, when there’s heightened scrutiny on male authors writing female characters.”

Discussing the state of publishing in Pakistan, he emphasised, “Pakistan has been presented with a unique opportunity, particularly after the ban on Indian imports following the situation in Kashmir. This moment could be pivotal for Pakistani fiction.”

A one-day mini Adab Festival offered those attending plenty of insights and thought-provoking perspectives about books and issues around them

Extrapolating from the same conversation, he said that these festivals have sparked a wave of new writers, many of whom are now actively seeking platforms to publish their work. Whether held online or in person, these literary festivals highlight the growing demand for local stories. “You can clearly see that there’s a tremendous interest in homegrown narratives, which presents a significant business opportunity.”

During the discussion, Elahi posed a compelling question to the author about whether writers should focus solely on positive narratives about Pakistan, given their global representation of the country. Hamid responded by highlighting that readers interpret stories in various ways. “I never wrote books with the intention of shaping the reader’s perception — it’s up to them to see another side of the argument,” he said.

The second session, titled ‘Page Turner: The Art of Storytelling’ centred around a discussion with Aysha Baqir on her book Beyond the Fields, and was moderated by Zahra Sabri. Baqir reflected on the challenges of writing a story set in a world vastly different from her own.

She shared that, as an introverted teenager, she was once urged by her mother to attend a demonstration for a blind maid who had been raped by her employer and was pregnant. Baqir also mentioned other significant cases, including that of Mukhtaran Mai, the high-profile case of Noor Mukadam, and a recent incident in Kolkata involving an Indian doctor who was raped. “What’s disturbing,” she noted, “is that the perpetrators continue to evade justice, leaving women without any real protection.” These instances, she emphasised, highlight the ongoing struggle for women’s safety and rights in society.

During the session, Sabri asked how much of the protagonist’s voice in Beyond the Fields reflects Baqir’s own voice. The author responded by highlighting the impact of her education in the Karachi American School and colleges in the US, where she gained a deep understanding of social justice. She explained that her work with her NGO Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, which was set up in 1998, was instrumental in shaping the narrative. Listening to the women Kaarvan served provided the foundation for her storytelling.

The discussion also explored the complex construct of ‘honour’. Sabri pointed out that honour isn’t something that can be forcibly taken from someone. Unlike money, which a perpetrator can possess afterwards, honour remains with the victim, regardless of an assault. “When you rape someone, the perpetrator doesn’t possess the victim’s honour — it stays with you, unless you choose to relinquish it,” she explained. She also highlighted the clear moral stance of Aysha’s book, particularly on issues such as feminism, romance, colourism and dowry.

Baqir also revealed that her next project will focus on the unsettling disappearance of children along the Ravi River. The discussion underscored Aysha’s commitment to tackling socially relevant and often uncomfortable subjects, making her work both timely and impactful.

The third session, and my favourite one, focused on the book Unveiled Jazbaa: A History of Pakistan Women’s Cricket by Aayush Puthran. The panel included the author, Omar Shahid Hamid, and journalists Mazhar Abbas and Madeeha Syed, with Omayr Aziz Saiyid serving as the moderator. The discussion centred on the current state of women’s cricket, highlighting notable players such as Naheeda Khan, Kainat Imtiaz and Bisma Maroof.

Aayush Puthran shared a striking story about ‘Ayena Naz’, who used a pseudonym to conceal her identity due to fear of her brother’s opposition. This pseudonym was used by none other than Nida Dar, the current captain of the Pakistan women’s cricket team. She played under disguise in Quetta to avoid recognition.

The panel also discussed Saba Nazir, who cut her hair to travel incognito by bus to Sheikhupura and avoid harassment. Despite facing significant challenges, Nazir eventually played for Pakistan, and it was only when her family noticed her achievements, which brought the family honour rather than shame, that they reconciled with her choice.

Madeeha Syed aptly pointed out “There’s no acceptability, if you don’t win, just to pursue a sport or travel in a bus. Is that what it’s going to take? There’s something to be said about that.” Hamid also pointed out that “The encouragement [for women’s cricket] has to come from their male counterparts.”

Mazhar Abbas candidly remarked on the situation, stating, “There has been a great deal of injustice, especially towards Kiran Baluch, who set a world record in Test cricket but was ignored by the Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] after they set up their Women’s Wing. Controversies are a constant in Pakistan.”

He emphasised the need to avoid the politicisation of cricket, advocating instead for its democratisation and the establishment of a separate council for women’s cricket. Abbas criticised the lack of government support, noting that the advancement of women’s cricket has been solely due to their own efforts. He also said that the book should have been published in Pakistan, and not across the border.

There was a deep dive by Puthran into the struggles and achievements of the Khan sisters, Shaiza and Sharmeen, the pioneers of women’s cricket. He noted that, while Pakistan considers cricket a national sport, it is largely reserved for only half the population. There is no street cricket for women, and the infrastructure is lacking. Even at the board level, Pakistani women cricketers are among the worst-paid athletes, and discussions about their situation are often met with ridicule.

“Shaiza was removed from the system in 2005, which meant starting from scratch.” He emphasised the importance of institutionalising cricket, noting that, when the board shows interest, the audience, sponsors and broadcasters will follow.

The final session was titled ‘From Policy to Prose: A Civil Servant’s Story of Triumphs and Challenges’ and focused on the book Dear Mr Jinnah: 70 Years in the Life of a Pakistani Civil Servant by Salman Faruqui. The speakers included the author, economist Dr Ishrat Husain, builder Farooq Hasan, former bureaucrat Aslam Sanjrani, journalist Mahmood Sham and Ameena Saiyid with Dawn Media Group’s Hameed Haroon serving as the moderator.

Haroon skillfully took all the panellists through various decades of Pakistan’s history and politics. They shed light on the economic boom of the 1960s and the subsequent separation of East Pakistan in the 1970s. They examined the years of military rule of the 1980s, the intermittent shifts in democracy, and the period of Gen Musharraf’s military regime. Finally, they addressed how Zardari’s presidency provided another chance to democracy.

Mahmood Sham discussed the capital’s move from Karachi to Islamabad. “When the federal capital was moved, it was crucial for civil and military institutions to work closely together,” he said. The concept of One Unit was viewed as a burden by the smaller provinces, requiring people to travel as far as Lahore to resolve issues. He also spoke about the insecurity of Bengalis and how Sikh families suffered in the North-West Frontier Province and in West Punjab.

Farooq Hasan reminisced about Mr Faruqui’s student days and the suppression of student unions, noting how students’ movements have always had an important part to play in a nation’s history. Aslam Sanjrani addressed the dynamics among the military, politicians and bureaucracy.

Dr Ishrat Husain highlighted the dedication of early civil servants who, despite lacking basic resources, contributed and drove Pakistan to a six percent growth rate in those days, well beyond those of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. “From a country with no factories, trade and commerce, and nothing to feed a population of 30 million, we had gone on to become the third largest rice exporter, driven by the green revolution and PIDC’s [the Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation’s] industrial revolution,” he said.

Talking about the book, Ameena Saiyid highlighted how it reflects the marginalisation of women in early Pakistan, a challenge still faced by women here today.

The writer is a content lead at a communications agency.
She can be reached at sara.amj@hotmail.co.uk

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, August 25th, 2024