Co-sponsors:

11–12 February 2012Carton Hotel, Karachi

Bringing together international and Pakistani writers to showcase writing at its best

www.karachiliteraturefestival.org

Co-sponsors:

About the Festival

Launched in 2010, the annual two-day Karachi Literature Festival is open to all and free. The first of its kind in Pakistan, it brings together and celebrates Pakistani and international authors writing in languages such as Urdu, Sindhi, Punjabi, English, German, and French. It features creative writing workshops, debates/discussions, lectures, Mushaira (Urdu poetry jam), a book fair, book launches, readings, signings, interactive story-telling for children, music/theatre performances, and more.

Founded by Ameena Saiyid obe and Asif Farrukhi, and organized by the British Council and Oxford University Press, the Festival has grown rapidly. Attendance rose from roughly 5,000 in 2010 to 10,000 in 2011.

While the 2010 Festival had at most two simultaneous sessions, with a total of 35 programmed participants, the 2011 Festival had up to four with 97; in 2012 we are expecting about 145 programmed participants. Each year the participants have been outstanding. Keynote addresses were given by Shamsur Rahman Faruqi in 2010, Karen Armstrong in 2011, and William Dalrymple will deliver the keynote address in 2012.

In 2011, the Karachi Literature Festival Prize of Rs 100,000 was given to a Pakistani/Pakistani-origin author for the best non-fiction book in English, published in 2010. The jury consisted of Zubeida Mustafa, Ghazi Salahuddin, and Dr Jaffer Ahmad. The winner was Ilhan Niaz for The Culture of Power and Governance of Pakistan 1947–2008.

The Karachi Literature Festival also celebrates music, dance, and theatre arts, which are often connected to literature. The 2010 Festival featured nightly performances by Tehrik-e-Niswan of ‘A Song of Mohenjodaro’ (dance drama) and an Urdu play. The 2011 Festival began with a homage to Amir Khusro by Sheema Kermani’s group, featured Ajoka Theater’s performances of sections of Shahid Nadeem’s Bulha (Punjabi play) and Dara (Urdu play) and culminated with a tribute to Faiz Ahmed Faiz in the year of his 100th birth anniversary. The Faiz tribute featured literary and music favourites like Zehra Nigah, Tina Sani, Laal (band), Raza Rumi, and Ali Sethi.

In 2012 we are introducing film screenings to our diverse line-up of events, followed by discussion/Q&A. This year we’re also featuring puppet and muppet shows for children by the Rafi Peer group (all day, everyday), a satire session with Saad Haroon, Ali Aftab Saeed (Beygairat Brigade), and Banana News Network (BNN), and performances by Nritaal and Salman Ahmed of Junoon.

Fringe Events throughout the Festival:• Film Screenings

• Batain aur Mulaqatain

• Author Signings

• Puppet Shows by Rafi Peer Theatre

• Walkabout Performances

• Walkabout Characters

• Media Rooms

• Book Fair

• Food Court

AUTHORS/MODERATORS/SPEAKERS

A.G. NooraniA.R. SiddiqiAamer HusseinAbbas RashidAhmad FouadAhmad SafiAhmed RashidAli AftabAli Akbar HusainAli Akbar NatiqAlok BhallaAmar SindhuAmeed RiazAmeena SaiyidAmin GulgeeAnatol LievenAnita WeissAnouar BenmalekAqeel Abbas JafriArfa Sayeda ZehraArif HasanAsad SayeedAsif Farrukhi Asif NooraniAsma IbrahimAttiya DawoodAyesha JalalAyesha SalmanAyesha SiddiqaAzra AbbasBaela JamilBanana News NetworkBasharat PeerBilal TanweerBina ShahClaire ChambersClaudine Le Tourneur D’isonDeclan WalshFahmida RiazFaisal BariFatema HassanFauzia Aziz MinallahFeriha PerachaFirdous AzimFouzia SaeedGhazi SalahuddinH.M. NaqviHameed HaroonHamida Khuhro

Hanif KureishiHaris GazdarHarris KhaliqueHartosh Bal SinghIffat Humayun KhanIftikhar ArifImdad HussainiInam NadeemIntizar HusainIshrat HusainJasmeen ManzoorJürgen Wasim FrembgenKamila ShamsieKamran ShahidKashif Hussain GhayarKhaled AhmedKhalid JawedKhwaja Razi HaiderKishore BhimaniKishwar NaheedM.R. KazimiMadeline ClementsMahtab A. RashdiMaleeha LodhiManiza NaqviManu JosephMarilyn WyattMichel BoivinMirza WaheedMisbah Khalid Mohammad WaseemMohammed HanifMohsin HamidMowadat RanaMubarak AliMujahid Barelvi Muneeza ShamsieMurad Moosa KhanMushahid Hussain- SayedNadeem ParachaNafisa HajiNafisa ShahNaheed JafriNajmuddin ShaikhNasreen RehmanNauman NaqviNausheen AnwarNavid KermaniNaz Ikramullah

Nigar NazarNiilofur FarrukhNomanul HaqNritaal GroupNukhbah LangahOmar RahimPervez HoodbhoyRasul Bakhsh RaisRay BrownRaza RumiRizwanullah KhanRobin Yassin-KassabRoland deSouzaRubina SaigolSaad HaroonSahar AnsariSalman AhmedSamina QuraeshiSarmila BoseShaheen AkhtarShaheen SalahuddinShahida HassanShakeel AdilzadaShehryar FazliSher Shah SyedShobhaa De Siddhartha DebSorayya Khan Stefan WeidnerSultan-i-RomeSyed Jaffar AhmedTahira AbdullahTahira KhanTaimur SuriTanveer AnjumTariq RahmanUnaiza NiazVictoria SchofieldVikram SethWajihuddin Ahmed, Justice (R) William DalrympleYaqoob Khan BangashYasmin KhanZafar Iqbal CheemaZaheda HinaZehra NigahZobaida JalalZubeida MustafaZulfqar Khan

British Council connects people from all over the world with people, knowledge and ideas from the UK to build lasting relationships. Whether one wants to take an exam, find out about studying in the UK or experience the best of its culture, the British Council is the place to start.

It uses cultural relations to address some of the great global challenges for the UK. It is working worldwide to build intercultural dialogue, create opportunity for people to participate in the global knowledge economy and tackle the threat of climate change. British Council do this by harnessing the power of education, the arts and creativity, sport, science, English and governance to build relationships of mutual benefit and to work together on global issues. It is UK's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations and is represented in 109 countries worldwide

Partner Information

Oxford University Press (OUP) is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. OUP Pakistan is committed to promoting the reading culture and to improving the intellectual content of life in Pakistan. It has an extensive school and college textbook publishing programme which addresses the need for books that are both of high quality and specific to the environment. It has gained a reputation for publishing well-researched academic and general books which are considered to be authoritative and definitive works on Pakistan.

Main Garden Ballroom Maharani Maharaja Scillinas Sehr 1 3rd Floor Theatre

9.30 – 10.00 a.m. Arrival of Guests and Tea

10.00 – 11.00 a.m. InaugurationSpeeches by David Martin, Ameena Saiyid, Asif Aslam Farrukhi, Marilyn Wyatt. Keynote Speaker: William Dalrymple. Performance by Nritaal

11.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon

Superstar Writer: A Conversation with Shobhaa De Moderator: Asif Noorani

Changing Paradigms of Literature: Urdu and Beyond Nomanul Haq Moderator: Bilal Tanweer

Is Art History Relevant? (Curated by Niilofur Farrukh) Taimur Suri, Rizwanullah Khan, Amin Gulgee, Asma Ibrahim

Manto and Partition Ayesha Jalal Moderator: M. R. Kazimi

Megacities Arif Hasan, Roland deSouza, H. M. Naqvi Moderator: Nausheen Anwar

Masterclass in Creative Writing Robin Yassin-Kassab

Charles Dickens: The Uncommercial Traveller A Theatrical Session. Owen Calvert-Lyons and Peter HigginDuration: 2 hours

12.00 noon – 1.00 p.m.

A Conversation with Hanif Kureishi Moderator: Muneeza Shamsie

Shairi aur Afsana Poetry, Fiction and Translation: Readings and Conversation with Fahmida Riaz Moderator: Harris Khalique

Women Writing Women: A Conversation with Maniza Naqvi, Bina Shah, Nafisa Haji Moderator: Marilyn Wyatt

Pen as Sword: Expressing the New Pakistani Narrative through Fiction A Conversation with Ahmed Rashid Moderator: Khaled Ahmed

Book Launch Scent in the Islamic Garden by Ali Akbar Husain William Dalrymple Moderator: Raza Rumi

Masterclass continued..

Charles Dickens: The Uncommercial Traveller continued…

1.00 p.m. – 2.00 p.m. LUNCH BREAK

Saturday, 11 February 2012

Main Garden Ballroom Maharani Maharaja Scillinas Theatre

2.00 -3.00 p.m. A Conversation with Anatol Lieven Moderator: Ayesha Siddiqa

Afsaney ki Batain Readings and Conversation with Urdu Fiction Writers Intizar Hussain and Zaheda Hina Moderator: Asif Farrukhi

Pakistani Contemporary Fiction Writings Mohsin Hamid, H. M. Naqvi, Shehryar Fazli, Ayesha Salman Moderator: Maniza Naqvi

Book Launch and Conversation with Michel Boivin (Artefacts of Devotion) and Jurgen Frembgen (Nocturnal Music in the Land of the Sufis) Moderator: Samina Quraeshi, Raza Rumi

Film Screening Meherjaan Duration: 2 hours

3.00 – 4.00 p.m. Indus Journeys: A Conversation with William Dalrymple Moderator: Kamila Shamsie

Book Launch Koshish-e-Natamam by Shaista Ikramullah Aamer Hussein, Naz Ikramullah Moderator: Arfa Sayeda Zehra

Tolerance Through Children’s Literature Fauzia Minallah (Session for Children)

Film Screening Meherjaan continued.

4.00 – 5.00 p.m. Miracle Man Book Launch and Conversation with Mohammed Hanif, Author of Our Lady of Alice Bhatti Moderator: Bina Shah

Sher o Sukhan Poetry Readings and Conversation with Iftikhar Arif and Kishwar Naheed Moderator: Raza Rumi

Today’s Pakistan: An Economic and Political Perspective Asad Sayeed, Ishrat Husain, Anatol Lieven, Maleeha Lodhi Moderator: Ghazi Salahuddin

A Conversation with Siddhartha Deb, Author of The Beautiful and the Damned Moderator: Nauman Naqvi

Q&A on Meherjaan with one of the film’s lead actors, Omar Rahim

5.00 – 6.00 p.m. Afghanistan and Pakistan: Conflict, Extremism and the Taliban Ahmed Rashid, William Dalrymple, Maleeha Lodhi, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Navid Kermani Moderator: Rasul Bakhsh Rais

Ibn-e-Safi Aik Naye Andaaz Main/ The Re-birth of Ibn-e-Safi Ahmad Safi, Shakeel Adilzada, Sher Shah Syed, Khalid Jawed Moderator: Bilal Tanweer

Honour Killings: Silent Voices, Untold Stories Nafisa Shah, Tahira Khan, Anita Weiss Moderator: Fouzia Saeed

Writing Kashmir Book Launch and Conversation with Mirza Waheed, author of The Collaborators Moderator: Kamila Shamsie

Film Screening A Certain Liberation Duration 38 min Q&A with Firdous Azim, Shaheen Akhtar

7.00 – 10.00 p.m. MUSHAIRANizamat: Fatema Hassan and Harris Khalique

MUSHAIRAZehra Nigah, Kishwar Naheed, Iftiikhar Arif, Fahmida Riaz, Imdad Hussaini, Sahar Ansari, Shahida Hassan, Khwaja Razi Hyder, Azra Abbas, Ahmed Fouad, Aqeel Abbas Jafri, Inam Nadeem, Ali Akbar Natiq, Kashif Hussain Ghayer

Saturday, 11 February 2012

Ballroom Maharani Maharaja Scillinas Sehr 1 Theatre

10.00 – 11.00 a.m. The Emergence of Bangladesh: A Military Failure or a Collapse of Civil Society Khaled Ahmed, Sarmila Bose, A. R. Siddiqi Moderator: Yaqoob Bangash

Klaseeki Adab aur Aaj kay Parhne Valey/Reading Urdu Classics Today Chair: Intizar Husain Iftikhar Arif, Nomanul Haq, Zehra Nigah, Khalid Jawed Moderator: Asif Farrukhi

Literary Criticism Muneeza Shamsie, Hanif Kureishi, Aamer Hussein, Alok Bhalla, Stefan Weidner Moderator: Maniza Naqvi

Book Launch Rock and Roll Jihad by Salman Ahmed of Junoon Moderator: Ameed Riaz

Film Screening Harun Arun Duration: 75 min

11.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon Kashmir Basharat Peer, A.G. Noorani, Najmuddin Shaikh, Mirza Waheed Moderator: Victoria Schofield

Looking Back at Partition Yasmin Khan, Hamida Khuhro, Syed Jaffar Ahmed, Alok Bhalla, Asif Noorani Moderator: M. R. Kazimi

The Arab Spring Stefan Weidner, Robin Yassin-Kassab, Anouar Benmalek Moderator: Mohammed Hanif

Satire/Comedy Ali Aftab Saeed of the Beygairat Brigade, Saad Haroon, and Banana News Network (BNN) Moderator: Nadeem Paracha

Book Launch and Talk by Navid Kermani, author of The Terror of God: Attar, Job and the Metaphysical Revolt Moderator: Samina Quraeshi

Film Screening Harun Arun continued, followed by Q&A with Asif Noorani

12.00 noon – 1.00 p.m. Nuclear Pakistan: An Overview of the Strategic Dimension Zafar Iqbal Cheema, Zulfqar Khan, Mushahid Hussain Sayed Moderator: Pervez Hoodbhoy

Tareekh aur Pakistan Mubarak Ali, Syed Jaffar Ahmed, Sultan-i-Rome Moderator: Ghazi Salahuddin

Legal Reforms and Women’s Rights in Pakistan Anita Weiss, Fouzia Saeed, Tahira Abdullah Moderator: Tahira Khan

Live Cartoon Presentation and Puppet and Muppet Show by Nigar Nazar (Session for Children)

Film Screening A Certain Liberation Duration 38 min. Q&A with Firdous Azim, Shaheen Akhtar

1.00 – 2.00 p.m. LUNCH BREAK

Sunday, 12 February 2012

Ballroom Maharani Maharaja Scillinas Theatre

2.00 – 3.00 p.m. A Conversation with Vikram Seth Moderator: Nasreen Rehman

Pakistani Zabanon ka Adab/ Pakistani Languages (Curated by Mohammed Hanif) Amar Sindhu, Ahmad Fouad, Nukhbah Langah

Songs of the Falcon: Balochistan Naheed Azfar, Zobaida Jalal, Yaqoob Bangash Moderator: Rasul Bakhsh Rais

Book Launch and Conversation with Attiya Dawood, Ainay kay Samnay Ali Akbar Natiq, Qaim Deen Khalid Jawed, Maut ki Kitaab Moderator: Tanveer Anjum

Film Screening Meherjaan Duration: 2 hours

3.00 – 4.00 p.m. Education in Pakistan with a focus on Textbooks Rubina Saigol, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Faisal Bari, Tariq Rahman, Baela Jamil Moderator: Ameena Saiyid

Pakistani Authors and Global Literary Forums Madeline Clements, Claire Chambers Moderator: Asif Farrukhi

Eyewitnesses and Observers: Writing about Pakistan through a Foreign Perspective Manu Joseph, Declan Walsh, Anatol Lieven, Kishore Bhimani, Hartosh Bal Singh, Alok Bhalla, Stefan Weidner Moderator: Raza Rumi

A Conversation with Anouar Benmalek and Claudine Le Tourneur D’ison Moderator: Misbah Khalid and Fouzia Saeed

Film Screening Meherjaan continued.

4.00 – 5.00 p.m. The Mother-Tongue as a Medium of Instruction Zubeida Mustafa, Abbas Rashid, Wajihuddin Ahmed, Ray Brown Moderator: Arfa Sayeda Zehra

Mediaspeak: How the Media Talks to Us? Mujahid Barelvi, Shaheen Salahuddin, Jasmeen Manzoor, Kamran Shahid Moderator: Ayesha Siddiqa

Book Launch Iffat Humayun Khan’s Electoral Malpractices during the 2008 Elections in Pakistan Mohammad Waseem, Khaled Ahmed Moderator: Rasul Bakhsh Rais

Q&A on Meherjaan with one of the film’s lead actors, Omar Rahim

5.00 – 6.00 p.m. The Silent Minority: A Voice for the Voiceless Tariq Rahman, Khaled Ahmed, Stefan Weidner Moderator: Haris Gazdar

Kaargaah-e-Sheesha Gari A Talk on Urdu LiteratureArfa Sayeda Zehra Moderator: Fatema Hassan

The Psychological Effects of Wars, Insurgencies and Terrorism Mowadat Rana, Unaiza Niaz, Sarmila Bose, Feriha Peracha Moderator: Murad Moosa

Book Launch The Oxford Companion to Pakistani History edited by Ayesha Jalal Speaker: Hameed Haroon Moderator: Syed Jaffar Ahmed

A Conversation with Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy on her film nominated for the OscarModerator: Bilal Tanweer

6.30 – 7.00 p.m. Beach View GardenClosing Ceremony Speeches by David Martin, Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi

7.00 – 7.30 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Hanif Kureishi

7.30 – 8.30 p.m. Concert by Salman Ahmed of Junoon

Sunday, 12 February 2012

Films to be screened at the Karachi Literature FestivalA CERTAIN LIBERATION (2003) Documentary; Director, Producer, Camera and Editing: Yasmine Kabir; Online Editing & Sound: Tarun Bhartiya; Duration: 38 minutes

Synopsis: Gurudasi Mondol gave herself up to madness in 1971, during the Liberation War of Bangladesh, as she watched her entire family being killed by the collaborators of the occupying forces. Thirty years later, Gurudasi continues to roam the streets of Kopilmoni, a small-town in rural Bangladesh, in quest of all she has lost; snatching at will from strangers and breaking into spaces normally reserved for men. In her madness, she has found a strategy for survival. In Kopilmoni, Gurudasi has attained near legendary status. Through her indomitable presence, she has kept alive the spirit of the Liberation War.

Awards: Golden Conch, International Competition, Mumbai International Film Festival, India, 2004. Special Mention of the Jury, Documenta Madrid, 2004. Special Mention, Documentary Films, 7th Zanzibar International Film Festival, 2004. Best Documentary on the Liberation War, 5th Bangladesh Film Festival, London, 2004. Special Mention of the Jury, 4th Karafilm Festival, Karachi, 2004. International Documentary Film Festival, Amsterdam, 2003

HARUN ARUN (2009) Feature Film; Gujarati with English subtitles; Director: Vinod Ganatra; Producer: Children’s Film Society India; Duration: 75 minutes

Synopsis: The 1947 partition of India divided not only a country but many hearts and families too. One such man separated from his family, who left his house and farm to his married daughter, was Rashid Suleman, a Muslim, who is living in Pakistan with his only surviving relative, his grandson Harun. Rashid had long harboured hopes of returning to his birth place Lakhpat in India. Through a planned border crossing at night, however, Rashid and Harun get separated. Ultimately, young courageous Harun undertakes his journey to Lakhpat on his own. On the Indian side, Harun is taken in by a kind Hindu family who mistake him to be a Hindu, and his name Harun to be a Hindu name, Arun. Harun wins over the village with his loving charm and courage. Yet when his Muslim roots are discovered, his intention is questioned by adults corrupted by the biases and prejudices of religion and nationality. A film with a message of unity.

Awards: Liv Ullman Peace Prize, Chicago International Children’s Film festival. Best Juvenile Award, Dhaka International Film Festival. Transmedia Critics Jury Award, Mumbai. Light of Asia Award, Buddhist Film festival, Sri lanka. CIFEJ Prize and Special Mention for Humanity Award by Children Jury Rimouski International Film Festival, Canada. Audience Award, Freeze Frame Film Festival, Canada. Best Costume Award, 29th Augburg Children’s Film Festival, Germany

MEHERJAAN (2011) Feature Film; Country of Origin: Bangladesh; Language: Bengali, English, Urdu with English subtitles; Director: Rubaiyat Hossain; Producer: Ashique Mostafa; Actors: Jaya Bahaduri Bachchan, Victor Banerjee, and Omar Rahim; Production Company: Era Motion Pictures Ltd; Duration: 2 hours

Synopsis: In 1971, during Bangladesh’s war of independence, Meher falls in love with a soldier from the enemy side. When her love is discovered, she is shamed and silenced by her family and society. Today 38 years after the war, Meher has a visitor she cannot turn down. Sarah—a ‘war-child,’ Meher’s cousin Neela’s daughter, who was given away for adoption has come back to piece together her past. Together, these two women must re-tell history through their stories in order to cut through the stigmas and walk into light.

Awards and Screenings: Atlantis Award for Best Music Score and Gaia Award for Best Feature Film in foreign film category at Moondance International Film Festival. River Admiration Award (East) for Best Outstanding Film and Best Actress (Jaya Bhaduri Bachchan) at Silent River Film Festival. Best Female Film Director and Best Outstanding Debut Film at the New Jersey South Asian Independent Cinefest. Best Foreign Film (runner-up) at AOF International Film Festival. Best Foreign Film at River’s Edge Film Festival. Honorable Mention Award at LA New Wave Film Festival. Platinum Reel Award at Nevada Film Festival. Best Foreign Film at Yosemite Film Festival. Accolade Competition Award in 9 categories including Best of Show, California Film Award (Best Foreign Film), Oregon Film Award (Best Foreign Film), Global Music Award for soundtrack, Grand Goldie Award and many more. It has been screened at NYIFF, Kolkata Film Festival, 26th Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, 17th Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival, UN’s Global Wake Up Film Festival, Kandy Int. Film Festival, Tasveer’s South Asian Film Festival, Marbella International Film Festival, International Filmmakers Festival of World Cinema, Oaxaca International Film Festival and others. At Kolkata Film Festival recently it “wins city’s heart”. [Times of India]

Film clips to be screened from: SAVING FACE (2012) Documentary; Director: Daniel Junge; Co-Director: Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy

Awards: Nominated for Oscar Award under the category ‘Best Documentary, Short Subject’

PAKISTAN’S TALIBAN GENERATION/CHILDREN OF THE TALIBAN (2009) Documentary; Director: Daniel Edge; Producer/Reporter: Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy; Duration: 52 minutes

Awards: International Emmy Award, New York, 2010; Alfred DuPont Award New York, 2010; and AIB Award ‘Best current affairs documentary – television’, London, 2009