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MAHTAB BASHIR
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ISLAMABAD: The speakers in a festival has emphasised the importance of maintaining political stability and economic prosperity as crucial factors in preserving Pakistan’s dwindling culture, heritage, and languages. They also highlighted the need for media outlets to provide ample airtime for discussions on these important issues during prime time slots.
The event titled "Preserved Cultures Literature Festival", hosted by the Area Study Centre (ASC), Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) in partnership with the American Studies Club and Preserved Cultures, participants stressed the importance of conserving and promoting Pakistan's national heritage, culture, and endangered languages.
This inaugural festival at QAU was a groundbreaking event that placed a strong emphasis on the promotion and conservation of Pakistani culture, literature, and various languages. Melaosho, a non-profit organisation committed to tackling environmental challenges in order to promote sustainable development, graciously supported the festival.
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| Khalilur Rehman giving Talat Hussain a briefing on the crafts items displayed at the Melaosho stall. |
Despite scorching heat, vibrant Holi celebration happening other part of the varsity, and the busy yet controversial day of 9th May, this one-day event drew a large crowd of individuals from various schools of thought. The event featured book stalls aimed at promoting literature and preserving traditional cultures. The Cultural and Literary Fest covered a wide range of topics, including a discussion led by renowned journalist and anchorperson Syed Talat Hussain and Mutiullah Jan on the role of media in championing culture, literature, and regional languages.
Attendees were treated to a captivating "Heritage Walk" showcasing the diverse regional cultures. The intricate works of celebrated miniature artist Syed Najamul Hassan Kazmi were on display, delighting the audience. Hailing from Skardu, Kazmi shared insights about his art, language, and literary background with the attendees, further enriching their cultural experience.
During the event, Prof. Dr. Ravish Nadeem provided an insightful analysis of the poetry styles in Urdu prose, shedding light on the evolution of the progressive movement and contemporary Urdu literature. Prof. Dr. Tahir Jamil and Dr. Manzoor Ahmed explored the shades of Sindhi and Saraiki languages, emphasising the importance of nurturing and promoting provincial and regional languages.
Noted free verse poets Sarmad Sarosh, Shoaib Kiani, Dr. Ravish Nadeem, Salim Akhtar, alongside MPhil students Ahmed Ali and Tahreem Sadat from the Area Study Center, captivated the audience with their mesmerising poetry recitation in a “Mehfil-e-Mushaira”. Their emotions packed poetry left a profound and enduring impression on all those in attendance. The students filled with a deep love for poetry eagerly asked the poets to recite their poems; they (students) loved the most- showing their strong desire to hear the beautiful words.
Earlier, renowned anchorpersons and V-loggers, Syed Talat Hussain and Matiullah Jan highlighted the issue of identity crisis plaguing our society. They emphasised that our culture is struggling to thrive due to unfortunate circumstances, and that true cultural prosperity can only be achieved through complete assimilation. It was noted that while we may be beginning to embrace various languages as dialects, it is crucial that we also elevate the status of our languages in academic circles and embrace them as distinct entities. Only then can we overcome the challenges posed by our ongoing identity crisis.
Hussain elaborated by stating that the local and regional media play a crucial role in promoting national heritage and literature. He cited America as a prime example where journalism predominantly focuses on showcasing local culture through newspapers and news channels. In contrast, he highlighted that in our country, there are only a handful of channels and newspapers that prioritize promoting regional heritage. Despite these limitations, he emphasised that dedicated journalists can still contribute to this cause.
Speaking on the occasion, Khalilur Rehman, the Chief Organiser of the festival, CEO Preserved Cultures, and a student of MPhil ASC, QAU, expressed concern over the rapid decline of cultural heritage and languages in Pakistan, particularly in the northern regions. “While major languages receive some attention, the cultures and languages of remote areas are often overlooked. The goal of Preserved Cultures is to raise awareness about these issues and urge governments and stakeholders to take action to preserve Pakistan's heritage,” Rehman emphasised.
It is crucial for us to prioritise the protection of our languages and culture. This is the primary mission of Preserved Cultures,” he concluded.
2 comments:
You have described the event in a wonderful way. Keep up writing this way. Stay blessed.
I think the biggest menace while preserving culture is terrorism and extremism.
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