KARACHI: An anthology of short stories in English was launched at a well-attended literary festival organised at Hamdard University on Wednesday.

Titled Transient Moments, the anthology comprises 32 short stories authored, edited, and designed by HU students and faculty members from the university’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.

During a session, Fatima Zulfiqar, the student editor of the book, announced that it would soon be available online on the university’s website.

Ayesha Khan and Faryal Shakeel, who were also part of the team behind the anthology, said the faculty would continue producing literary works in the future.

In other sessions, students from Karachi University (KU), the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST), and HU competed in contests involving short story writing, poetry composition, literary poster design, and short play/skit presentations.

Appreciating the initiative, HU Vice Chancellor Prof Shabibul Hasan said such activities allow students to put new ideas and thoughts into practice.

“They also help students gain confidence, which is essential for forging ahead in life. These events bring teachers and students closer and offer great learning opportunities to everyone involved in organising the program,” he said.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Dean of FSSH, Prof Asadullah Larik, emphasised that literature is important not just for students of social sciences and humanities but also for those in other disciplines.

“Life is literature, and literature is life,” he remarked.

In his keynote speech, seasoned literary figure Imran Shamshad Narmi gave valuable tips to the audience on writing engaging dramas and short stories.

“When it comes to writing stories, three elements are important: characterisation, dialogue, and screenplay,” he noted.

He suggested that aspiring writers study the people around them. “This will help you excel at characterisation. Take notice of how a character interacts with others.”

He further explained that four elements define a person: “ambitions; drive or lack of it; conflicts; and secrets. Some people don’t even know their own secrets.”

The festival concluded with the distribution of shields and cash prizes among the participating students. HU was declared the overall winner by the judges, followed by KU and FUUAST.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2024