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    THE LEGACY OF LITERATURE COMES ALIVE AT ILF- PART II

    Written by: Eeman Amjad and Salma Chaudhry
    Posted on: May 07, 2013 | | 中文

    Opening ceremony with Asif Farrukhi, Ameena Saiyid and Kamila Shamsie

    What Do You Know About The Voices of Pushto Poetry?
     

    New Voices from Pushto Poetry

    A diverse panel of four poets: Amjad Shahzad, Zubair Hayat, Arif Tubassum and Muhib Wazir, all hailing from different parts of the country. The topic is “New Voices in Pushto Poetry.”  These voices today explore major fundamental changes that their poetic traditions have undergone, since the time of the Father of the Pushto poetry, Kushhaal Khan Khattak.  The political has always found space in Pushtun lyrics since Khushal Baba’s time, but since the 80s, the poetic energy has focused on darker themes of anger and hopelessness. Pushto poetry looks at its own land and laments; songs to the beloved are now songs focused on war and displacement; instead of water in the lakes, there is blood. The difference in the 21st century is the focus of the self in the political sphere, a greater emphasis on self-criticism and awareness. Although the Pushtuns have become self-conscious of the issues they need to fight, but they know, even as the Pushtun poet looks inwards, that there is no one in the rest of the country listening, and they will never hear the Pushtun poet sing:

    “Come bird, make your nest in the palm of my hands
    Because I see around me the trees have all gone”

    Pakistan’s First Man Booker Nominee
     

    Intizar Hussain

    “I didn’t even know that they gave Booker prizes to non-English novels!” laughed the legendary writer. Meet Intizar Hussain, the first Pakistani and Urdu writer to be nominated for an international prize. When he learnt of his nomination from Asif Farrukhi’s daughter his first inquiry was regarding the weather. The recognition he has received in being nominated for the International Man Booker only humbles him.  “I never thought I was pushing boundaries. My seniors, they reveled in the art of short fiction in an age of realism. I just wrote.”

    His inspirations include a diverse range of individuals from Ratan Nath Sarshar, Anton Chekhov, Mahatma Budhand his Nani; Nani, because she was his first story teller and Mahatma Budh, because it was only after reading Jatak Katha that he realized that short stories found perfection in Budh’s stories. The two best encounters in his life were with Madhuri Dixit and with Saadat Hassan Manto. In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony, he remarked upon the simultaneous emergence of terror and new innovations in the last century, which shaped the future of fiction writing. Intizar Hussain is a product of that century.  A legend, an “Urdu ka janwar” who is witty, poetic and dynamic

    From Hindi to Urdu:  One Language Two Names
     

    Dr Tariq Rahman

    There was a time when Urdu was known as Hindi, which at one point was known as Hindustani. Dr. Tariq Rahman at the ILF launched his book “From Hindi to Urdu: a Social and Political History.” Hindi borrows its script from the Devanagri script, while Urdu, script is adapted from the Persian one. The two languages are linguistically similar, but over the years, a dichotomy has emerged between the mowing to political realities rather than any natural and unconscious separation.  The book is not just an exploration of the politically led differences, but a motion to de-bunk certain myths surrounding the Urdu language. When was the language most promoted? What does the term Urdu mean? Why did the Hindi language movement start? In our time where the conversation around the Urdu Language and its future is gaining momentum, the book takes a look back at where we came from.

    In Conversation with “Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists 2013”

    The writer of “In the City by the Sea,” “Salt and Saffron,” “Broken Verses” and “Kartography,” Kamila Shamsie reads her new novel “Burnt Shadow” for the audience at ILF. The narrative she reads out centers around a Pashtun soldier who loses an eye fighting for the British. She explained the motivation and inspiration behind being a writer.
     

    Kamila Shamsie

    “A novel is a form of storytelling and the form exists and continues, because it is a vehicle. The easiest part is once it is written, you have your world, you can come back to swim in it and find the mistakes. Young writers should be committed to their story because it is a story they will have to live with for the next couple of years of their life. The writer has to have a great capacity in terms of imagination and empathy and what matters most is your will. As a novelist, where do you position yourself in history? Learn to contrast extremism on both sides. A novel does not need to be balanced. You have to be willing to present what you believe in.”

     

    A Carrot is a Carrot: Zia Moheyuddin reads his memoirs


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    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021