11–12 February 2012 Bringing together Carton Hotel, Karachi international and Pakistani writers to showcase writing at its best
www.karachiliteraturefestival.org
Co-sponsors: About the Festival Partner Information
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 British Council connects people from all over the AUTHORS/MODERATORS/SPEAKERS as Urdu, Sindhi, Punjabi, English, German, and French. It features creative world with people, knowledge and ideas from the writing workshops, debates/discussions, lectures, Mushaira (Urdu poetry UK to build lasting relationships. Whether one A.G. Noorani Hanif Kureishi Nigar Nazar jam), a book fair, book launches, readings, signings, interactive story- wants to take an exam, find out about studying in A.R. Siddiqi Haris Gazdar Niilofur Farrukh the UK or experience the best of its culture, the Aamer Hussein Harris Khalique Nomanul Haq telling for children, music/theatre performances, and more. British Council is the place to start. Abbas Rashid Hartosh Bal Singh Nritaal Group Founded by Ameena Saiyid obe and Asif Farrukhi, and organized by It uses cultural relations to address some of the Ahmad Fouad Iffat Humayun Khan Nukhbah Langah great global challenges for the UK. It is working the British Council and Oxford University Press, the Festival has grown Ahmad Safi Iftikhar Arif Omar Rahim worldwide to build intercultural dialogue, rapidly. Attendance rose from roughly 5,000 in 2010 to 10,000 in 2011. Ahmed Rashid Imdad Hussaini create opportunity for people to participate in Pervez Hoodbhoy Ali Aftab Inam Nadeem Rasul Bakhsh Rais While the 2010 Festival had at most two simultaneous sessions, with a total of 35 programmed the global knowledge economy and tackle the threat of climate change. British Council do Ali Akbar Husain Intizar Husain Ray Brown participants, the 2011 Festival had up to four with 97; in 2012 we are expecting about 145 programmed this by harnessing the power of education, the Ali Akbar Natiq Ishrat Husain Raza Rumi participants. Each year the participants have been outstanding. Keynote addresses were given by Shamsur arts and creativity, sport, science, English and Alok Bhalla Jasmeen Manzoor Rizwanullah Khan Rahman Faruqi in 2010, Karen Armstrong in 2011, and William Dalrymple will deliver the keynote address governance to build relationships of mutual Amar Sindhu Jürgen Wasim Robin Yassin-Kassab in 2012. benefit and to work together on global issues. It Ameed Riaz Frembgen Roland deSouza Kamila Shamsie is UK's international organisation for educational Ameena Saiyid Rubina Saigol Kamran Shahid In 2011, the Karachi Literature Festival Prize of Rs 100,000 was given to a Pakistani/Pakistani-origin author opportunities and cultural relations and is Amin Gulgee Saad Haroon represented in 109 countries worldwide Kashif Hussain Ghayar for the best non-fiction book in English, published in 2010. The jury consisted of Zubeida Mustafa, Ghazi Anatol Lieven Sahar Ansari Khaled Ahmed Salahuddin, and Dr Jaffer Ahmad. The winner was Ilhan Niaz for The Culture of Power and Governance of Anita Weiss Salman Ahmed Khalid Jawed Pakistan 1947–2008. Anouar Benmalek Samina Quraeshi Khwaja Razi Haider Aqeel Abbas Jafri Sarmila Bose The Karachi Literature Festival also celebrates music, dance, and theatre arts, which are often connected Kishore Bhimani Arfa Sayeda Zehra Shaheen Akhtar Oxford University Press (OUP) is a department of Kishwar Naheed to literature. The 2010 Festival featured nightly performances by Tehrik-e-Niswan of ‘A Song of Arif Hasan Shaheen Salahuddin Mohenjodaro’ (dance drama) and an Urdu play. The 2011 Festival began with a homage to Amir Khusro by the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s Asad Sayeed M.R. Kazimi objective of excellence in research, scholarship, Shahida Hassan Sheema Kermani’s group, featured Ajoka Theater’s performances of sections of Shahid Nadeem’s Bulha Asif Farrukhi Madeline Clements and education by publishing worldwide. OUP Shakeel Adilzada Asif Noorani Mahtab A. Rashdi (Punjabi play) and Dara (Urdu play) and culminated with a tribute to Faiz Ahmed Faiz in the year of his Pakistan is committed to promoting the reading Shehryar Fazli Maleeha Lodhi 100th birth anniversary. The Faiz tribute featured literary and music favourites like Zehra Nigah, Tina Sani, culture and to improving the intellectual content Asma Ibrahim Sher Shah Syed Maniza Naqvi Laal (band), Raza Rumi, and Ali Sethi. of life in Pakistan. It has an extensive school and Attiya Dawood Shobhaa De Ayesha Jalal Manu Joseph college textbook publishing programme which Siddhartha Deb Ayesha Salman Marilyn Wyatt In 2012 we are introducing film screenings to our diverse line-up of events, followed by discussion/Q&A. addresses the need for books that are both of high Sorayya Khan Ayesha Siddiqa Michel Boivin This year we’re also featuring puppet and muppet shows for children by the Rafi Peer group (all day, quality and specific to the environment. It has Stefan Weidner gained a reputation for publishing well-researched Azra Abbas Mirza Waheed everyday), a satire session with Saad Haroon, Ali Aftab Saeed (Beygairat Brigade), and Banana News Sultan-i-Rome academic and general books which are considered Baela Jamil Misbah Khalid Network (BNN), and performances by Nritaal and Salman Ahmed of Junoon. Syed Jaffar Ahmed to be authoritative and definitive works on Banana News Mohammad Waseem Tahira Abdullah Pakistan. Network Mohammed Hanif Basharat Peer Mohsin Hamid Tahira Khan Bilal Tanweer Mowadat Rana Taimur Suri Fringe Events throughout Tanveer Anjum the Festival: Bina Shah Mubarak Ali Claire Chambers Mujahid Barelvi Tariq Rahman • Film Screenings Claudine Le Tourneur Muneeza Shamsie Unaiza Niaz D’ison Victoria Schofield Co-sponsors: • Batain aur Mulaqatain Murad Moosa Khan Declan Walsh Mushahid Hussain- Vikram Seth • Author Signings Fahmida Riaz Sayed Wajihuddin Ahmed, Justice (R) • Puppet Shows by Rafi Peer Theatre Faisal Bari Nadeem Paracha Fatema Hassan Nafisa Haji William Dalrymple • Walkabout Performances Fauzia Aziz Minallah Nafisa Shah Yaqoob Khan Bangash • Walkabout Characters Feriha Peracha Naheed Jafri Yasmin Khan Firdous Azim Najmuddin Shaikh Zafar Iqbal Cheema • Media Rooms Fouzia Saeed Nasreen Rehman Zaheda Hina • Book Fair Ghazi Salahuddin Nauman Naqvi Zehra Nigah Zobaida Jalal • Food Court H.M. Naqvi Nausheen Anwar Hameed Haroon Navid Kermani Zubeida Mustafa Hamida Khuhro Naz Ikramullah Zulfqar Khan Saturday, 11 February 2012
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. Inauguration Speeches by David Martin, Ameena Saiyid, Asif Aslam Farrukhi, Marilyn Wyatt. Keynote Speaker: William Dalrymple. Performance by Nritaal
11.00 a.m. – Superstar Writer: A Changing Paradigms Is Art History Manto and Megacities Masterclass in Charles 12.00 noon Conversation of Literature: Urdu Relevant? Partition Arif Hasan, Creative Writing Dickens: The with and Beyond (Curated by Ayesha Jalal Roland deSouza, Robin Yassin- Uncommercial Shobhaa De Nomanul Haq Niilofur Farrukh) Moderator: H. M. Naqvi Kassab Traveller Moderator: Asif Moderator: Bilal Taimur Suri, M. R. Kazimi Moderator: A Theatrical Noorani Tanweer Rizwanullah Nausheen Anwar Session. Owen Khan, Amin Calvert-Lyons Gulgee, Asma and Peter Higgin Ibrahim Duration: 2 hours
12.00 noon – A Conversation with Shairi aur Afsana Women Writing Pen as Sword: Book Launch Masterclass Charles Dickens: 1.00 p.m. Hanif Kureishi Poetry, Fiction and Women: A Expressing the Scent in the continued.. The Uncommercial Moderator: Muneeza Translation: Conversation New Pakistani Islamic Garden by Traveller continued… Shamsie Readings and with Maniza Narrative Ali Akbar Husain Conversation with Naqvi, Bina through Fiction William Fahmida Riaz Shah, Nafisa Haji A Conversation Dalrymple Moderator: Harris Moderator: with Moderator: Raza Khalique Marilyn Wyatt Ahmed Rashid Rumi Moderator: Khaled Ahmed
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 Afsaney ki Batain Pakistani Book Launch and Film Screening Anatol Lieven Readings and Contemporary Conversation Meherjaan Moderator: Ayesha Siddiqa Conversation with Fiction Writings with Michel Boivin Duration: 2 hours Urdu Fiction Writers Mohsin Hamid, H. M. (Artefacts of Devotion) Intizar Hussain and Naqvi, Shehryar Fazli, and Jurgen Frembgen Zaheda Hina Ayesha Salman (Nocturnal Music in Moderator: Asif Moderator: Maniza the Land of the Sufis) Farrukhi Naqvi Moderator: Samina Quraeshi, Raza Rumi
3.00 – 4.00 p.m. Indus Journeys: A Book Launch Tolerance Through Film Screening Conversation with Koshish-e-Natamam Children’s Literature Meherjaan continued. William Dalrymple by Shaista Ikramullah Fauzia Minallah Moderator: Kamila Shamsie Aamer Hussein, Naz (Session for Children) Ikramullah Moderator: Arfa Sayeda Zehra
4.00 – 5.00 p.m. Miracle Man Sher o Sukhan Today’s Pakistan: A Conversation with Q&A on Meherjaan Book Launch and Conversation Poetry Readings and An Economic and Siddhartha Deb, with one of the film’s with Mohammed Hanif, Author Conversation with Political Perspective Author of The lead actors, Omar of Our Lady of Alice Bhatti Iftikhar Arif and Asad Sayeed, Ishrat Beautiful and the Rahim Moderator: Bina Shah Kishwar Naheed Husain, Anatol Lieven, Damned Moderator: Raza Rumi Maleeha Lodhi Moderator: Nauman Moderator: Ghazi Naqvi Salahuddin
5.00 – 6.00 p.m. Afghanistan and Pakistan: Ibn-e-Safi Aik Naye Honour Killings: Writing Kashmir Film Screening Conflict, Extremism and the Andaaz Main/ Silent Voices, Untold Book Launch and A Certain Liberation Taliban The Re-birth of Stories Conversation with Duration 38 min Ahmed Rashid, William Ibn-e-Safi Nafisa Shah, Tahira Mirza Waheed, author Q&A with Firdous Dalrymple, Maleeha Lodhi, Ahmad Safi, Shakeel Khan, Anita Weiss of The Collaborators Azim, Shaheen Akhtar Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Adilzada, Sher Shah Moderator: Fouzia Moderator: Kamila Navid Kermani Syed, Khalid Jawed Saeed Shamsie Moderator: Rasul Bakhsh Rais Moderator: Bilal Tanweer
7.00 – 10.00 p.m. MUSHAIRA MUSHAIRA Nizamat: Fatema Hassan and Zehra Nigah, Kishwar Naheed, Iftiikhar Arif, Fahmida Riaz, Imdad Hussaini, Sahar Ansari, Harris Khalique Shahida Hassan, Khwaja Razi Hyder, Azra Abbas, Ahmed Fouad, Aqeel Abbas Jafri, Inam Nadeem, Ali Akbar Natiq, Kashif Hussain Ghayer Sunday, 12 February 2012
Ballroom Maharani Maharaja Scillinas Sehr 1 Theatre
10.00 – 11.00 a.m. The Emergence of Klaseeki Adab aur Aaj kay Literary Criticism Book Launch Film Screening Harun Bangladesh: A Military Failure Parhne Valey/Reading Urdu Muneeza Shamsie, Rock and Roll Jihad Arun or a Collapse of Civil Society Classics Today Hanif Kureishi, Aamer by Salman Ahmed of Duration: 75 min Khaled Ahmed, Sarmila Bose, Chair: Intizar Husain Hussein, Alok Bhalla, Junoon A. R. Siddiqi Iftikhar Arif, Nomanul Haq, Stefan Weidner Moderator: Ameed Moderator: Yaqoob Bangash Zehra Nigah, Khalid Jawed Moderator: Maniza Riaz Moderator: Asif Farrukhi Naqvi
11.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon Kashmir Looking Back at Partition The Arab Spring Satire/Comedy Book Launch and Film Screening Harun Basharat Peer, A.G. Noorani, Yasmin Khan, Hamida Khuhro, Stefan Weidner, Ali Aftab Saeed of the Talk by Navid Arun continued, Najmuddin Shaikh, Mirza Syed Jaffar Ahmed, Alok Robin Yassin-Kassab, Beygairat Brigade, Kermani, author of followed by Q&A with Waheed Bhalla, Asif Noorani Anouar Benmalek Saad Haroon, The Terror of God: Asif Noorani Moderator: Victoria Schofield Moderator: M. R. Kazimi Moderator: and Banana News Attar, Job and the Mohammed Hanif Network (BNN) Metaphysical Revolt Moderator: Nadeem Moderator: Samina Paracha Quraeshi
12.00 noon – 1.00 p.m. Nuclear Pakistan: An Tareekh aur Pakistan Legal Reforms and Live Cartoon Film Screening Overview of the Strategic Mubarak Ali, Syed Jaffar Women’s Rights in Presentation and A Certain Liberation Dimension Ahmed, Sultan-i-Rome Pakistan Puppet and Muppet Duration 38 min. Q&A Zafar Iqbal Cheema, Zulfqar Moderator: Ghazi Salahuddin Anita Weiss, Fouzia Show with Firdous Azim, Khan, Mushahid Hussain Sayed Saeed, Tahira by Nigar Nazar Shaheen Akhtar Moderator: Pervez Hoodbhoy Abdullah (Session for Children) Moderator: Tahira Khan
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 Pakistani Zabanon ka Adab/ Songs of the Falcon: Book Launch and Film Screening Vikram Seth Pakistani Languages Balochistan Conversation with Meherjaan Moderator: Nasreen Rehman (Curated by Mohammed Hanif) Naheed Azfar, Zobaida Jalal, Attiya Dawood, Ainay kay Duration: 2 hours Amar Sindhu, Ahmad Fouad, Yaqoob Bangash Samnay Nukhbah Langah Moderator: Rasul Bakhsh Rais Ali Akbar Natiq, Qaim Deen Khalid Jawed, Maut ki Kitaab Moderator: Tanveer Anjum
3.00 – 4.00 p.m. Education in Pakistan with a Pakistani Authors and Global Eyewitnesses and Observers: A Conversation with Film Screening focus on Textbooks Literary Forums Writing about Pakistan Anouar Benmalek and Claudine Meherjaan continued. Rubina Saigol, Pervez Madeline Clements, Claire through a Foreign Perspective Le Tourneur D’ison Hoodbhoy, Faisal Bari, Tariq Chambers Manu Joseph, Declan Walsh, Moderator: Misbah Khalid and Rahman, Baela Jamil Moderator: Asif Farrukhi Anatol Lieven, Kishore Fouzia Saeed Moderator: Ameena Saiyid Bhimani, Hartosh Bal Singh, Alok Bhalla, Stefan Weidner Moderator: Raza Rumi
4.00 – 5.00 p.m. The Mother-Tongue as a Mediaspeak: How the Media Book Launch Q&A on Meherjaan with one Medium of Instruction Talks to Us? Iffat Humayun Khan’s Electoral of the film’s lead actors, Omar Zubeida Mustafa, Abbas Mujahid Barelvi, Shaheen Malpractices during the 2008 Rahim Rashid, Wajihuddin Ahmed, Salahuddin, Jasmeen Manzoor, Elections in Pakistan Ray Brown Kamran Shahid Mohammad Waseem, Khaled Moderator: Arfa Sayeda Zehra Moderator: Ayesha Siddiqa Ahmed Moderator: Rasul Bakhsh Rais
5.00 – 6.00 p.m. The Silent Minority: A Voice Kaargaah-e-Sheesha Gari The Psychological Effects Book Launch A Conversation with for the Voiceless A Talk on Urdu Literature of Wars, Insurgencies and The Oxford Companion to Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy on Tariq Rahman, Khaled Ahmed, Arfa Sayeda Zehra Terrorism Pakistani History edited by her film nominated for the Stefan Weidner Moderator: Fatema Hassan Mowadat Rana, Unaiza Niaz, Ayesha Jalal Oscar Moderator: Haris Gazdar Sarmila Bose, Feriha Peracha Speaker: Hameed Haroon Moderator: Bilal Tanweer Moderator: Murad Moosa Moderator: Syed Jaffar Ahmed
6.30 – 7.00 p.m. Beach View Garden Closing 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 Films to be screened at the Karachi Literature Festival
A 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