ADAB FESTIVAL: 31 January, 1, 2 February 2020, Arts Council, Karachi
*Adab Fest organizers reserve the right to change the programme at any time. Effort will be made to adhere to this programme. Throughout Adab Fest: •Author Signings •Education Fair •Food Court •Book Fair •Display of literary posters by Abro Khuda Bux.
FRIDAY, 31 JANUARY 2020: INAUGURATION - LAWN. MC Pomme Gohar
3:30 pm: Arrival of Guests and string puppet show by Thespianz
4:00 Speeches: Ameena Saiyid, Asif Farrukhi, Shayma Saiyid and sponsors Stefan Winkler and Ahmed Shah
Keynote speeches: Asif Saeed Khosa, Maleeha Lodhi, Francis Robinson, and Amar Jaleel
Announcement of the 2020 Adab Fest - Infaq Foundation Best Urdu Book Prize.
Video message for Adab Festival by HRH Prince El Hasan bin Talal of Jordan. Sketches music performance: Saif Samejo, Bhagat Bhooro Lal and Nomi Ali.
| Workshop Room | Getz Pharma Auditorium: Auditorium 1 | Ahmad Shah Auditorium: Auditorium 2 | Lawn (Book Launches) |
Fri 6 to 6:50 pm | AAO TASHADDUD PE GUFTAGU KARAIN Asha Bedar, Kausar Khan, Maliha Zia, Seema Sheikh, Shumaila H. Shahani, Uzma Noorani Moderator, Noorulain Masood The audience will sit at roundtables and share their views, with expert views woven in, about what sexual abuse is, what legal options and social support are available, and what we can do to strengthen the system. | THE NEVER-ENDING BATTLE FOR THE PAKISTAN NARRATIVE Najmuddin Shaikh, Francis Robinson, Hina Rabbani Khar, Pervez Hoodbhoy Moderator. Syed Khawar Mehdi Identity, history, ideology, geography, culture, foreign policy, etc influence national narratives. Pakistan has been in search of one since independence and its contested nature is reflected in the long delay in passing the Constitution, and the fact that the first two Constitutions were passed without unanimous consensus. Hopefully the new national narrative will be more pragmatic than ideological. | UNITY OR DIVERSITY IN SINDH Shah Mohammed Pirzado, Izhar Soomro, Attiya Dawood, Masood Lohar, Saif Samejo Moderator: Mahtab Rashdi | LAUNCH: OMAR S. HAMID’S THE FIX Qamar Ahmed, Urooj Mumtaz Khan with author. Moderator: Saad Shafqat Cricket has become tarnished in recent years with allegations of rigged outcomes. Although only a handful of claims have been proven, there is suspicion that it’s only the tip of the iceberg. This dialogue will be framed by Omar Shahid Hamid's The Fix, a tale of women cricketers ensnared in match-fixing and spot-fixing. |
Fri 7 to 7:50 pm | NAUJAWANON KO DERPESH CHALLENGE OR UN KE ASRAATکیا طلبا یونین کا بحال ہونا مسائل کا حل ہے؟ Led by Dr Riaz Shaikh and Anis Haroon, student leaders Sindhu Nawaz, Zahbia, Naghma, Fawad, Asghar Dashti will be asked to identify key issues and solutions. The new draft bill for the revival of students’ unions and its importance will be discussed. Songs by Sibte Hassan will be sung. A participatory session | MALICE IN MEDICINE: THE PERILS OF BEING A PATIENT Khairunnisa Hooda, Sadiah Ahsan Pal, Syed Adeel Azhar, Furquan Kidwai Moderator: Saad Shafqat With increasingly complex diagnostic tests and cutting-edge therapies, medical care today can be an ordeal to negotiate for even the most resourceful individuals as uncertainties around competence, ethics, and runaway expenditures dominate. | ASK ME ANYTHING Do you wonder how to help someone with emotional issues, or know what to do when overwhelmed with stress / anxiety? Are you confused about the difference between a psychiatrist, a therapist, and a counselor? Ask a panel of experts, Dr. Shameel Khan, Dr Humair Yusuf (IBA), and Zehra Moinuddin, moderated by Azra Nasim. You can submit anonymous written questions. This is the 3rd conversation about mental wellness, youth engagement, and community responsibility towards mental health in a series organized by the directors of a foundation in Sabeen Mahmud’s memory. A participatory session. | LAUNCH: REZA PIRBHAI’S FATIMA JINNAH: MOTHER OF THE NATION Nusrat Khawaja in conversation with the author. Fatima Jinnah has often been overshadowed by her brother, but she was and still has the potential to be a trailblazer for Pakistanis, particularly women. Nusrat Khawaja will explore with the author Fatima Jinnah’s place in Pakistan’s history and its potential to impact our present and future. |
FRIDAY, 31 January 2020, 8 PM: Qawwali by Farid Ayaz and Abu Muhammad group
SATURDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2020
GETZ Pharma Auditorium: (Auditorium 1) | Ahmed Shah Auditorium: (Auditorium 2) | Lawn | |
Sat 9:50 -10:50 am | JOSH AUR ASR E HAAZIR Syed Jaffar Ahmed, Muslim Shamim Recitation: Javed Hasan. Chair: Dr Aliya Imam. Moderator: Gul Jafri | LAUNCH: TANVEER ANJUM’S DAS LAKH PARINDEY (TRANSLATION OF ETEL ADNAN’S FRENCH NOVEL SIDBERRY ROSE) Anwer Sen Roy with the translator. Moderator Tazeen Erum | |
Sat 11 am to 12 noon | KARACHI’S URBAN PLANNING, PUBLIC SPACES, AND GARBAGE MANAGEMENT Arif Hasan, Marvi Mazhar, Saeed Ghani, Severine Minot, Farhan Anwar, Ahmed Shah. Moderator: Syed Khawar Mehdi Sindh’s largest city, Karachi, with a population of 26-30 million accounts for more than a fifth of Pakistan’s urban population. There has been a reduction in violent crime. However, fragmented governance between provincial and municipal levels, land contestation among government entities, and weak institutional capacity have made it difficult to manage the city’s development. Social segregation of disregarded parts of its population is a major challenge, as are public spaces and waste management. Watch now | PEASANTS IN LITERATURE Jaffar Ahmed, Masood Lohar, Raza Naeem Moderator: Zafar Junejo | 11:00-11:30 am. LAUNCH: HASAN MANZAR’S AIYE FALAK E NA INSAAF Speaker: Haziq ul Khairi with the author. Moderator: Asif Farrukhi 11:30 am -12 pm: LAUNCH, ARSHI AZIZ’S THE MESSAGE SENT: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF ADIL SALAHUDDIN Arshi Aziz, Kaleemullah Lashari, Akbar Dero, Asma Ibrahim Watch now |
Sat 1 Feb 1210-1:10 pm | IS THE TOP 1% (ELITE) THE PROBLEM IN PAKISTAN? Ishrat Husain, Ahsan Mehanti, Malik Ahmad Jalal, Karamat Ali, Shamshad Akhtar Moderator: Adnan Rizvi | BEZABANI ZABAN NA HO JAEY: IN CONVERSATION WITH ARFA SAYEDA ZEHRA Moderator: Ghazi Salahuddin | LAUNCH: ZAFAR SIDDIQI’S TV NEWS 3.0 AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO LAUNCHING AND RUNNING NEWS CHANNELS IN THE DIGITAL AGE Ayesha Tammy Haq with the author |
Sat 1 Feb 1.20-2:20 pm | ADAB AUR ELECTRONIC MEDIA Electronic media has been in existence in Pakistan for decades but the inclusion of segments on art and literature in mainstream channels is insignificant. Mahtab Rashdi, Sultana Siddiqui, Azhar Abbas, Syed Kashif Raza, Seema Taher Moderator. Nasira Zuberi | URDU MAIN NAYA TAZA KIYA HAI? Afzal Ahmed Syed, Hoori Noorani; Iftikhar Arif; Rafaqat Hayat Moderator: Fatema Hassan The discussion will focus on new trends in Urdu literature including what has persisted from the past and what is emerging. | PRE-LAUNCH: TARIQ ALEXANDER QAISER’S 4-VOLUME SET, EDGE OF DELTA: KARACHI’S KORANGI CREEKS: The Mangrove Forest; Man, Animal, Tree in Water; Birds of the Korangi Creeks; The Bioluminescent Creek 1:50-2:20: LAUNCH: JALLIANWALA BAGH: LITERARY RESPONSES IN PROSE & POETRY Francis Robinson, Sheheryar Badar Sheikh and Faisal Nazir in conversation with Raza Naeem (the only Pakistani contributor to this anthology) |
Sat 1 Feb 2:30-3:30 pm | THE CHALLENGES FOR THE MEDIA IN PAKISTAN TODAY/SAHAFAT AUR JADEED TAQAAZE Azhar Abbas, Haroon Rashid, Nasira Zuberi, Najea Ashar, Sabrina Toppa Moderator: Munizae Jahangir | EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN: ENGAGING STUDENTS IN LEARNING Ameena Saiyid, Baela Raza Jamil, Salma Alam, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Ali Raza Moderator: Shahnaz Wazir Ali | 2:30-3 PM: LAUNCH: MANIZA NAQVI’S A GUEST IN THE HOUSE Syed Kashif Raza with the author 3-3:30 PM: LAUNCH: SAYEDA HABIB’S LIFE COACHING FOR MUSLIMS (A participatory session) Exploring Fulfilment in a Stressful World |
Sat 1 Feb 3:40- 4:40 pm | IN CONVERSATION WITH YASMEEN LARI Fariha Amjad Ubaid and Shayma Saiyid Watch now | A HISTORY OF THE SINDH POLICE Aftab Nabi, Saud Ahmed Mirza Moderator: Omar Shahid Hamid | 3:40-4:40 pm LAUNCH: UZMA ASLAM KHAN’S THE MIRACULOUS TRUE HISTORY OF NOMI ALI Framji Minwala in conversation with the author Watch now |
Sat 1 Feb 4:50- 5:50 pm | URDU SHAERI MAIN EHTIJAJ KA RUNG: Zehra Nigah with Arfa Sayeda Zehra | WOMEN IN PAKISTANI TV DRAMAS & FILMS Bee Gul, Haseena Moeen, Angeline Malik, Raana Shaikh, Reema Abbasi Moderator/curator. Tasneem Ahmar In many TV dramas, women are not depicted as human beings wishing to reach their full potential but as accessories to men. They are told that the "honour" of the family lies in their hands. There is excessive focus on glamour and 'falling in love’ instead of on realistic depictions of working women and the issues they face. Domestic violence is depicted as normal and even rapists are shown as heroes. Viewers are thus being brainwashed: no surprise then that too many women are being denied the rights to education and training, to choosing a life partner, and access public spaces. Watch now | 4:50-5:50 pm LAUNCH: FIDA HUSAIN MALIK’S BALOCHISTAN: A CONFLICT OF NARRATIVES Tariq Wasim Ghazi, Javed Jabbar with the author. Moderator. Omayr Aziz Saiyid Watch now |
Sat 1 Feb 6-7 pm | TARJUMAY KAUN PARHTA HAI? (LITERARY TRANSLATION IN THE GLOBAL WORLD) Afzal Ahmed Syed, Azra Abbas, Kishwar Naheed, Aamer Hussein Moderator: Asif Aslam Farrukhi | DEMYSTIFYING SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT THE WORKPLACE Maliha Lari Zia; Asiya Munir, Abira Ashfaq, Zahrah Sehr Vayani Moderator: Palvasha Shahab The legal claim of sexual harassment at the workplace was first articulated in 1976 by Catherine MacKinnon. What are the economic, social, and political consequences of not addressing sexual harassment at the workplace? Can it be distanced from gender-based harassment? How is sexual harassment at the workplace (un)addressed in the law? What happens in unregulated workplaces such as those of domestic workers, agricultural workers, workers of cottage industries, artisans? Watch now | BOOK: TARIQ KHOSA’S INCONVENIENT TRUTHS: PAKISTAN’S GOVERNANCE CHALLENGES Tariq Khosa, Mohammad Zubair, Jameel Yusuf Moderator Mazhar Abbas |
Sat, 1 Feb | PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN PAKISTAN 7:10 to 8:10 pm Ashar Lodi (Exponent Engineers), Muneeb Maayr, Rameen Nadeem (Scoot bicycle rental), Moderator: Ishaq Kothawala Watch now | Sat 1 Feb 7:10–9:10 pm: Lawn. MUSHAIRAH: Inamullah Nadeem, Amar Pirzado, Saani Syed, Usama Ameer Sheikh, Ghazal Ansari, Peerzada Salman, Kashif Ghyre, Nasira Zuberi, Ajmal Siraj, Kishwar Naheed, Ahmed Naveed, Tanveer Anjum, Fatema Hassan, Shahida Hassan, Afzal Ahmed Syed, Anwer Shaoor, Iftikhar Asif. Sadaarat: Iftikhar Arif. Nizamat: Inaamullah Nadeem. | |
SUNDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2020
| Hall 1( GETZ Pharma Auditorium) | Ahmed Shah Auditorium | Lawn |
Sun 2 Feb | 10:30 am to 12 pm: IN CONVERSATION WITH THOMAS WOHLFAHRT Moderator: Asad Alvi Screening of a selection of poetry films by the Zebra Poetry Film Festival, introduced by Thomas Wohlfahrt, director of Haus für Poesie (House of Poetry), the 20th international poesiefestival berlin (Poetry Festival Berlin) and the online multilingual platform for international poetry Lyrikline | 10 am AWAKENING CONSCIOUSNESS: A PRACTICAL WAY FORWARD Naeem Zamindar Our VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity)world is forcing us to raise our consciousness or face dramatic challenges. In this talk, we will not only explain but make you experience the shift that is possible. | . 11- 11:30 am: LAUNCH: AFZAL AHMED SYED’S BADA E DOSHEENA (on Indo-Persian Poetry) Asif Farrukhi with the author Chair. Zehra Nigah 11:30 am-12 pm: LAUNCH: INAAM NADEEM’S DOZAKHNAMAH (translation of Rabinsankar Bal’s book from English. The book was originally written in Bengali. Ghazi Salahuddin with the translator Chair: Zehra Nigah |
11 am-12 pm IDENTITY AND IDEOLOGY IN GLOBAL POLITICS Massimo Ramaioli, Manzoor Ahmed, Sadia Mehboob; Moderator. Aqdas Afzal Ever since the financial crisis of 2008-2009, identity and ideology have emerged in global politics with many countries hurtling towards de facto authoritarianism. Is the resurgence of such demands unique, or have they come about due to the failures of economic development? | |||
Sun 2 Feb 12.10- 1.10 pm | THE CHANGING FACE OF MUSLIMS IN URDU AND HINDI CINEMA AND ITS IMPACT ON POLITICS AND SOCIETY Bushra Ansari, Khusro Mumtaz, Sultan Arshad, Nadya Chishty-Mujahid Moderator: Javed Jabbar The earliest “Muslim Socials” were made in the 1930s (Pukar (1939) on Emperor Jahangir being the first notable one). Bombay became the hub, employing numerous Muslims in every capacity. Films on the Mughals included Humayun (1945) Shahjehan (1946), Taj Mahal (1963), Jahan Ara (1964), Mughal-e-Azam (1960). Another theme centered on nawabi culture, highlighting the sophistication of language, literature, music, and lifestyle (Mirza Ghalib (1954), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), Mere Mehboob (1963), Pakeezah (1972)). Musical romances include Laila Majnu (1976). Thereafter films also depicted fading nawabi culture (Shatranj ke Khiladi (1977), Bahu Begum (1967), Umrao Jaan (1981). Themes then shifted to middle-class North Indian Muslims, and from mainstream Bollywood to parallel cinema (Dastak (1970), Garm Hava (1973), Bazaar (1982), and Nikaah (1982), Anjuman (1986), Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro (1989), Naseem (1995)). The genre resurfaced in Mammo (1994), Sardari Begum (1996), Fiza (2000), Zubeidaa (2001). Muslim high culture was thus popularized amongst the Indian masses who sang / quoted songs and dialog in Urdu. Contemporary films such as Do Rasste, Amar Akbar Anthony, Zanjeer as well as period dramas such as Kranti showed Muslim characters positively. Islamic symbolism permeated films such as Deewar, Amar Akbar Anthony, and Coolie.. These films, songs and dialogue are some of the famous in Indian cinema, contributing to communal harmony. Concomitant with this mass cultural consumption, Indian Muslims rose to become presidents, Supreme Court justices, federal ministers, air chief marshals, etc. We will showcase the iconic songs and scenes and talk about the forces behind them: politics and people. | THE EFFECTS OF DIGITAL MEDIA ON SOCIETY/ DIGITAL MEDIA KE MUASHRE PEH ASRAAT Haroon Rashid, Badar Khushnood, Najia Asher, Muneer Kamal Moderator: Shahab Zuberi | LAUNCH: AAMER HUSSEIN’S URDU SHORT STORIES. ZINDAGI SE PEHLAY Asif Farrukhi and Sheeraz Dasti in conversation with the author |
Sun 2 Feb | 1:20-2:20 pm IN CONVERSATION WITH IFTIKHAR ARIF AND KISHWAR NAHEED Moderator: Ahmed Shah | 1.20-1:50 pm FROM THEORY TO ACTION: HOW TO BUILD RADICALLY HUMAN AND RESILIENT ORGANISATIONS DRIVING PROGRESS IN PAKISTAN AND BEYOND Vladimira Mesko Briestenska, Nadeem Shaikh. Moderator: Asma Khan From globalisation, environmental crisis to machine learning and automation, society is experiencing systemic challenges and changes. Yet, organizational bureaucracy and hierarchy remains unchanged, and is holding us back. Organisations aren’t machines to be controlled but interconnected, dynamic, and complex systems. The ability to adapt, invent, and experiment has become necessary. People should be seen as a collective of change-agents with a joint purpose and ambition, and not as human resources. How can Pakistan become one of the pioneers in this evolution? Lessons from London to Melbourne. | 1.20-1:50 pm LAUNCH FATEMA HASSAN‘S FASLON SAY MAAVARA Shahida Hasan with the author |
Sun 2 Feb | 2:20 - 3 pm LAUNCH: SHEHERYAR B. SHEIKH’S CALL ME AL Nadya Chisty-Mujahid with the author | 2-3 pm A DISCUSSION ON COMEDY AND SATIRE Soraya Mahmood, Saad Haroon, Hassaan Bin Shaheen | 2-3 pm DISCUSSION: HM NAQVI’S, ABDULLAH THE COSSACK City of Stories Arif Hasan with the author |
Sun 2 Feb 3.10 - 4.10 pm | THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY IN PAKISTAN: PUTTING OUT THE FIRES Ehsan Malik, Kaiser Bengali, Khurram Schehzad, Shamshad Akhtar Moderator. Salim Raza | 3.10- 3.40 PM IN CONVERSATION WITH SHERRY RAHMAN Moderator: Maheen Usmani Watch now 3:40-4:10: BOHTAN GOI Recitation/ Performance by Peerzada Salman on the power of literary gossip and anecdotes | LAUNCH: NOMAN UL HAQ’S tadveen, tahqeeq, muqadma (scholarly editing) of KULLIYAT E FAIZ AHMED FAIZ Arif Hasan and Aamer Hussein with Noman ul Haq Moderator. Jaffar Ahmed |
Sun 2 Feb 4.20- 5.20 pm | WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT Kishwar Zehra, Mahtab Rashdi, Nafisa Shah, Nehal Hashmi, Seema Zia, Syma Nadeem, Taj Haider Moderator, Shaheen Salahuddin | WHERE TO MAKE MONEY IN PAKISTAN International investors managing USD 10+ billion, Nadeem Shaikh, Arshad Ashraf, and Shamoon Tariq will assess Pakistan relative to other Frontier and Emerging markets; share their non-obvious investment themes for Pakistan; discuss their strongest-conviction investment opportunities in Pakistan; and make recommendations for how different stakeholders can drive Pakistan to achieving its full potential, based on their own investment experiences. The conversation will cover private and public markets, equity and fixed income, and multiple sectors including tech. Watch now | IN CONVERSATION WITH ADANIA SHIBLI on Palestinian Literature and her novels (Goethe Institut) Aamer Hussein and Maniza Naqvi |
CLOSING CEREMONY, Lawn, Sunday, 2 February 2020: 6 - 8 p.m.