Despite some shortcomings, the Festival was a massive success
Of all the lofty goals of the LLF 2014 set out in their official programme there was quite aptly a marked emphasis on the relevant words, arts, poetry and prose, music, painting, filmmaking, architecture and Lahore’s significant connection with and influence in promoting culture.
Politics and the political framework no doubt had a mention in the ‘manifesto’ because much classic and dissident art has been built around historical and political events such as the Partition and our various Martial Laws. Then there is also an almost ‘fine print’ casual mention that the said programme was ‘tentative and subject to change at LLF’s discretion’.
As far as the first ideal was concerned, one dismayingly found that somehow sub-continental politics reared its ugly head in some of the discussions, whether of political or purely artistic nature, if the latter phrase is not an oxymoron in the modern (albeit deeply divided) epoch. But in programmes such as ‘India, Cultural Conundrum’ and ‘War on Culture’ the debate sometimes degenerated to the level of another India versus Pakistan slanging match, and the usual suspects, our progressive-elitist liberals sometimes outdid themselves in self-criticism and singing others’ praises, no doubt much to the amusement of our guests from across the Eastern border sitting next to them.
On occasions, the proceedings seemed like a combination of Paki-bashing (please excuse the term) and Aman ki Asha carried to a cliché-ridden extreme on the part of our own stalwarts. Dripping sarcasm and snide remarks seemed to come naturally to them while commenting on our no doubt chaotic state of affairs or affairs of state.
The LLF should primarily remain what it was intended to be: an event of global overtones dwelling only on literary and aesthetic matters, without regional politics butting in.
The LLF should primarily remain what it was intended to be: an event of global overtones dwelling only on literary and aesthetic matters, without regional politics butting in.
As for the ‘small print’ clause, one can only say, you never said (or printed) a truer word. On the concluding day of the LLF most of the famous names were conspicuous by their absence, greatly disappointing the vast Sunday crowds thronging the Alhamra halls. What exactly was the reason for this absenteeism, one can only surmise, but this, and the delay in getting started with a hurriedly assembled makeshift panel, also upset the schedule of all the subsequent programmes of the last day. Among the star attractions missing were Hameed Haroon, Jugnu Mohsin and Salman Rashid, among others. Reportedly the first named was out of the country despite which his name was included in the programme list. He had been a big hit during the inaugural LLF2013.
The schedule was also hurriedly and haphazardly made out as the timing of the most interesting programmes clashed, leaving the audience with a difficult choice of which of the two to omit.
For instance, on Day 1, ‘The Suitable Duo’ with Vikram Seth and ‘Lahore, Literature and Longing’ with Aitzaz Ahsan and Pran Neville were both scheduled for 2.30 to 3.30, while on Day 2 ‘An Equal Music: A writer and his Other Arts’ again with Vikram Seth and the mouth-watering ‘Zia Mohyeddin Recites Mushtaq Yusafi’ were similarly scheduled for 11.15 to 12.15 leaving the potential viewers torn and undecided till the last.
The schedule of future LLF’s must redress this crucial aspect of the vastly successful Lahori festival which has made waves around the literary world. The selection of the invitees should also be widened and diversified to include many more famous literary and artistic names from the Western hemisphere, instead of concentrating solely on our region.
But despite all these shortcomings, LLF 2014 was overall a hugely successful affair, and kept the Lahorites, or a certain section of them (mostly the fashionable set) engrossed in its events on all the three days. They kept on coming back for more and that should be most heartening for the organizers and the sponsors, with the latter surely growing in numbers with each event.
When all is said and done, we should be appreciative, if not proud, that we still possess competent and committed people who are able to organize and manage such a high profile event even in the midst of our present troubles and gloom.
Among the most delightful programmes one was privileged to watch were, ‘Zehra Apa aur Zia Mohyeddin ke Saath, ‘Zia Mohyddin Recites Mushtaq Yusafi’ ‘Citizen Cowasji’, ‘Lahore, Literature and Longing’, and the hilarious ‘The Making of Political Satire’ (there goes that P word again!) which will remain long in happy memory. A friend with a keen sense of appreciation said, ‘An Equal Music: A writer and his other arts’, Vikram Seth in conversation with Asim Fareed was exceptional.
Another too obvious observation in LLF 2014 was that the LLF has outgrown its present, no doubt beautiful and central premises, and in some of the more popular (read big names) programmes, many people were left dejected as the doors were closed even before one could get from one hall to the other. This was experienced even in Hall 1, the biggest auditorium, which could not accommodate the vast, overflowing crowd during the discussion on ‘India, Cultural Conundrum’ on the third day, while Hall 3 and Baithak are too small in any case.
The organizers should be thinking really big next time, perhaps the EXPO building has become a more logical site, though situated in a far off and busy locality, as compared to the Alhamra Complex on the Mall.
But when all is said and done, we should be appreciative, if not proud, that we still possess competent and committed people who are able to organize and manage such a high profile event even in the midst of our present troubles and gloom.
