To convince a bustling city of 10 million people to take out the time to appreciate and enjoy literature is no small feat. Ameena Saiyid, CEO of Oxford University Press, has accomplished this feat for five consecutive years. The Karachi Literature festival was held for the fifth time in 2014, through the support of the Oxford University Press, the British Council, HBL and various partners.
Zeb Bangash, Sarmad Khoosat, Tina Sani and Ali Sethi
The literature festival is a gathering at which writers, poets, political analysts, film makers and other artists launch and showcase their work, hold intellectual debate and discussion — and reach out to the inhabitants of the busy city. For an increasing number of Karachi-ites, the KLF is an annual ritual at which they mingle, hear new ideas, see new books and meet the superstars of the literary world.
Director Karachi Literature Festival Ms. Ameena Saiyid OBE along with KLF Mr. Asif Farrukhi and President of The Arts Council of Pakistan, Mr. Ahmad
The KLF is not merely a local affair. Participants and visitors from around Pakistan attend the event. The festival remains free and open to all. In recent years, with more speakers attending the event from India, Europe, America and other parts of the world, KLF is becoming a truly international event. Each year, the speakers at KLF have been outstanding. Previous keynote speakers have included Shamsur Rahman Faruqi (2010), Karen Armstrong (2011) and William Dalrymple (2012). The keynote speaker at the inauguration this year was the renowned Indian historian, Dr Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. Dr Gandhi held several talks on his own work and his grandfather’s legacy.
At the KLF, the event moderators and compeers also include leading artists and writers, from a cross section of communities within and outside Pakistan. KLF is thus symbolic of the diversity, tolerance and inclusiveness literature and knowledge can create.
The festival created a buzz in Karachi. The sheer enthusiasm and interest could be seen on visitor’s faces as they moved from one event room to the other, or sipped coffee in the open spaces during the breaks. The cross-sectional appeal of the Festival was evident from the range of visitors.
Visitors at a book stall
This year, the Karachi Literature Festival was held from 7th to 9th February at the Beach Luxury Hotel, from approximately 10 am to 8 pm. The festival was very well-organised. Visitors were greeted by volunteers at an information desk. Volunteers were also available throughout the event to assist visitors and participants.
The festival was marked by a simple opening ceremony and a closing ceremony. Award-winning novelist, Kamila Shamsie, and the BBC broadcaster, Raza Ali Abidi, were the keynote speakers at the closing ceremony. The closing ceremony was followed by a performance by Nahid Siddiqui and a concert by Laal.
Amra Alam from the session Storytelling by Amra Alam
The most incredible aspect about the KLF was that there was something for everyone, regardless of age group or ethnic background. There were debates, discussions, mushairas (Urdu poetry recital), celebration of provincial poetry and literature, a book fair, book readings, signings, plays, film screenings, theatre, puppet shows and storytelling for children.
From a talk with Moni Mohsin (author of Diary of a Social Butterfly) to sessions on Faiz; from conversations with Zehra Nigah to the ‘French Connection’ (a round table of Pakistani authors with French Publisher, Marc Parent); from a discussion on political cartoons to a session on Simurgh and the Birds (from Sufi poetry traditions) — to the launch of a book on ganga jamuni dance and another book on Pakistani cuisine…the range of topics covered over three days was remarkable! Thirty books were launched at KLF this year. Literary skills were imparted, at sessions on the art of storytelling, writing on art and the art of translation. Visitors were encouraged to analyse current events, through talks on contemporary politics, Karachi, and the inadequacies in the national education system.
A variety of food, including every Pakistani’s favorite dish biryani, was available for visitors, some of whom spent the entire day at the festival.
Directed by Ameena Saiyid, co-founded by Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi, and produced by the Oxford University Press, the Festival has grown rapidly. Attendance doubled between 2010 and 2011, and has increased substantially each year. As the Festival has grown, so has its range of sponsors and participants.
Yasmin Mehta, Zubeida Mustafa, Nargis Sultana, Shaha Jamshed (moderator), Zubaida Jalal and Faisal Mushtaq
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, while addressing the needs of the environment. OUP Pakistan is committed to promoting the reading culture and improving the intellectual content of life in Pakistan. The leadership of Oxford University Press has to be saluted for creating, sustaining and building this much needed platform and outlet for the people of Karachi! The festival has so far proved that any city, given well-planned exposure to literature and the arts, will respond and participate.
