The first ever literary festival in Lahore will start today (Saturday) where at least 50 authors from across the world are participating.
The Lahore Literary Festival explores the dialogue and interface between conventional literature and other arts, milieus, and society in pursuit of literature’s subliminal power to improve social, academic, cultural, and even political, frameworks.
The aim of the festival is to bring together, discuss and celebrate the diverse and pluralistic literary tradition that distinguishes Lahore as a city of arts, activism, and generally, of big ideas.
The scheduled panels include Urdu novels, legacy of political autobiographies, Urdu writing’s future in the Punjab, the holy warrior in Pakistani cinema, literature of resistance, discovering Pakistan’s English-language poetry, challenges of language and storytelling in the 21st century.
Participation from Ahmed Rashid, Ayesha Jalal, Bapsi Sidhwa, Daniyal Mueenuddin, Hameed Haroon, Intizar Hussain, Jeet Thayil, Linda Bird Francke, Mohsin Hamid, Nayyar Ali Dada, Salima Hashmi, Tariq Ali, Tehmina Durrani and Zehra Nigah is expected.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Rafay Alam said, “This is an amazing event and almost 50 authors are coming to Pakistan. This will also help to present a soft image of Pakistan all over the world. Our image in the world through all these authors will be more positive and healthy.”
