KLF organiser seeks govt support for promotion of literature
By: Asad Farooq
KARACHI: The three-day Karachi Literary Festival (KLF) gathered the literary class of the metropolis on the second day through its remarkable interactive sessions, including roundtable discussions, book launching ceremonies, readings and other programmes.
Several sessions were organised on the second day of the festival. Internationally regarded authors and intellectuals shared their views on various issues. Subjects like fall and rise of Pakistani cinema, stories revolve around the Karachi city, political parties and upcoming general elections, impacts of political received wisdom, issue of missing persons and overall Baloch community, and those non-Balouchs who also went missing, human rights, education, Urdu novel and others were discussed at different halls of the venue.
Managing Director Oxford University Press (OUP) and Co-founder of the event Ameena Saiyid, while talking to the Daily Times, said that this year 150 foreign and 50 local intellectual arrived at the festival. She stressed the need of governmental help to promote the literature and literary trends in the society.
To a question, she said that the government could sponsor the accommodation and traveling of local intellectuals, like diplomatic missions from France, Germany, Britain and Italy in Pakistan.
She said that this year children literary festival, poetry bazaar, and workshops for creative writings were also included at the festival, which, too, would continue in future.
It is pertinent to mention here that couple of days back, KLF founder Saiyid was given the prestigious award of France titled ‘Knight of the Order of Arts and Literature’ by the French Ambassador Philippe Thiebaud. This prestigious award distinguishes personalities who, through their creations and work in the field of arts or literature, had contributed to the promotion of culture in France as well as in the world. Earlier, Saiyid was also awarded with British Knighthood and she was the first Pakistani woman, who has been bestowed with the award. Besides, a large number of art-loving people, students, various prominent literary people, authors and social activists also visited the 4th KLF.
Talking to DT, young emerging author Khuram Sohail hailed the role of KLF and stressed the need of fluent festivals of such type. He said that the government should come forward for patronising such type of events on more grass root level. “At least it should support literary events and literary festivals,” he added. He further said, “Literature describes the inner self of a person. The need of the hour is to absorb the literature.”
To a question, he suggested the organisers of the festival to deal the giants of Urdu literature with their deserving protocol. He regretted that the foreign intellectuals were more highlighted at the festival, however legendry but local novelists were seen isolated at the food court. He was of the view that contrary to the claims of organisers, Urdu was being dealt like a step-mother. He raised an objection that the stars of Urdu literature were being neglected continuously at the festival. He said that he felt acute absence of the sun of Urdu, Jamil Jalbi, without whom history literature was not completed. He urged organisers to follow the ethics of literature if they wanted to promote it in the society.
Mahnaz Rahman of Aurat Foundation admired the organising of the festival. She said in view of the worst law and order situation, activities like KLF were a blessing, which should be promoted.
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