Event Islamabad Literature Festival, 2015 Date April 24 26, 2015 Venue Margalla Hotel, Islamabad Organized by OXFORD University Press, Pakistan Press coverage date April 22 27, 2015 Date of Compilation April 28, 2015 Number of Pages 24 pages including title page Page 1 of 24
Online Coverage Page 2 of 24
Daily Times April 25, 2015 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/25-apr-2015/three-day-islamabad-literature-festival-kicks-off-oupbrings-together-thinkers-writers-from Three-day Islamabad Literature Festival kicks off: OUP brings together thinkers, writers from across the globe * Event to host 175 authors, speakers and panelists, 60 sessions and 22 book launches ISLAMABAD: The Oxford University Press (OUP) on Friday opened the third Islamabad Literature Festival (ILF), gathering avid readers, writers, academics and literary figures from across Pakistan and the world. The three-day festival is sponsored by USAID-funded Pakistan Reading Project; American Embassy Islamabad; Embassy of France Islamabad; Embassy of Italy Islamabad; British Council; American Institute of Pakistan Studies; Beaconhouse School System; Awaaz; Getz Pharma; HBL and ArtNow. The ILF will feature exciting three days of literature, music, art, poetry, politics, history, education and more. Alongside all this will be a book fair. A scintillating array of literary, artistic, intellectual, and political talent and achievement will be there to regale all. There will be almost 175 authors, speakers, and panellists (about 150 from Pakistan and 25 from different countries: Britain, France, Australia, and India, 60 sessions, and 22 book launches. The speakers said that ILF is a literary catalyst that will expose audiences to big ideas and stories. It is a literary and cultural show that brings together thinkers and writers from Pakistan and the world. Authors at this Islamabad Literature Festival range from a Pulitzer Prize winner to debut novelists. The event also featured a performance on Kishwar Naheed s poem Yaey Hum Gunahgaar Aurtain Haen by Feriyal Aslam, dramatic readings of Ismat Chughtai s stories by Feryal Ali Gauhar, English poetry recitation, film screening of Life s Worth Living, and Sufi music by the Rafi Peer Ensemble. The US Embassy s participation in this weekend s festival demonstrates our commitment to cultural exchange between Pakistan and the United States through the promotion of literature, education, and the fine arts, said Minister Counsellor for Public Affairs Thomas Leary. The festival is part of the USAID-funded Pakistan Reading Project, an initiative that supports Pakistan s provincial and regional departments of education to improve reading skills of children across Pakistan. The US Embassy is also sponsoring three sessions featuring Paul Harding as well as a film screening and discussion with Alison Gilkey and Eric Neudel, whose documentary on disability rights in the United States, Life s Worth Living, will screen at ILF following a week of presentations in Islamabad and Lahore. Harding will be joined by Cultural Attaché Judith Ravin and alumni of the Iowa Writers Program for a panel discussion on art and citizen diplomacy. French Ambassador Martine Dorance said the ILF is one of the main literature events in Islamabad and Pakistan as well. It gives poets, writers and intellectuals to share their emotions. It portrays the reality of Pakistan and the world we live, said Dorance, adding that France is a committed partner to the event. Italian Ambassador Adriano Chiodi Cianfarani said culture is essential key to success and growth. Renowned columnist and poet Ataul Haq Qasmi said that the country s situation was going towards betterment and needed such events. We are a secular country in reality where every individual has the right to live his life, said Qasmi, adding that languages in Pakistan remained only a passion and needed promotion. OUP Managing Director Ameena Saiyid OBE said that ILF would feature music, poetry, history, and book fair. She further said that such events promote the habit of reading. She said all previous literature festivals had been heralded as massive successes, attracting a great deal of attention among the literary and intellectual communities in the country. In Islamabad last year, literary enthusiasts thronged the ILF to meet renowned authors and attend over 60 interactive sessions. Page 3 of 24
Ameena Saiyid said the 3rd Islamabad Literature Festival would feature talks/interviews, panel discussions, English poetry recitation, book fair, book launches, readings, author signings, film screening, performing arts, Sufi music, art exhibitions by ArtNow, and much more. Apart from Pakistani authors, poets, and academics, speakers from the UK, US, France, India and Australia are also participating in the ILF. Page 4 of 24
Literature Festival 2015 concludes today * People of twin cities are invited to attend festival Daily Times April 27, 2015 ISLAMABAD: The three-day third Islamabad Literature Festival, arranged by Oxford University Press (OUP), is going to conclude today (Sunday). OUP Managing Director Ameena Saiyid said the OUP is gathering avid readers, writers, academics, and literary figures from across Pakistan and the world for the second day of the 3rd Islamabad Literature Festival, which began on Friday at a hotel. The second day of the festival commenced with a plenary session Army Public School, Peshawar, Students and Teachers in conversation with Ayesha Mian and Ameena Saiyid. It was followed by Power Failure: The Political Odyssey of a Pakistani Woman by Syeda Abida Hussain, moderated by Nasim Zehra; Witness Kahani ka Safar, Masood Ashar in conversation with Mustansar Hussain Tarar and Tabeer ki Talash Mein by Rehan Alvi, moderated by Najeeba Arif. Also Midwifing the Masterpieces: Authors, Literary Agents, Publishers, and Booksellers moderated by Ameena Saiyid, was followed by Art and the Market by Art Now and moderated by Quddus Mirza. The festival will continue with Baat se Baat in conversation with Ataul Haq Qasmi, followed by Full of Sound and Fury: Elections in Pakistan moderated by Rashed Rehman and Winning the Pulitzer Prize in conversation with Paul Harding, followed by Reading Art by Art Now moderated by Farida Batool. Attendees will then be treated to The Rights and Wrongs of Transgender Issues by Awaz, News, Views, and Sensationalism moderated by Rashed Rehman, Reading in Early Grades: Why it s Important and What can be Done to Promote It? moderated by Sidra Iqbal, New Faber Poet in conversation with Zaffar Kunial and Educational Crisis and Reform: Perspectives from South Asia by Abbas Rashid and Irfan Muzaffar. The celebrations will continue with Yemen: Difficult Choices for Pakistan moderated by Aasim Sajjad Akhtar, Author to Author with Mohammed Hanif, A Women s Jirga from Swat by Awaz and The Matter of Moving Image by Art Now; Politics: The Art of the Possible and Sometimes the Impossible moderated by Farhan Bokhari, The Heart Breaks Free: Dramatic Readings of Ismat Chughtai s Stories by Feryal Ali Gauhar, moderated by Ali Madeeha Hashmi, Balochistan: Tareekh, Siyasat aur Hassaas Mehl e Waqoo moderated by Mujahid Barelvi and Art, Culture & IT by Art now. Patrons will enjoy the Intoxicated with Love book launch; Bulleh Shah: A Selection rendered in English verse by Taufiq Rafat, moderated by Shahid Nadeem; Teaching More or Better? moderated by Baela Raza Jamil, The poet looks eastward. In conversation with Athar Tahir and Masculinity, Sexuality, and Illegal Migration: Human Smuggling from Pakistan to Europe by Ali Nobil Ahmad. Followed by a Musha ira, Nizamat by Najeeba Arif. The Islamabad Literature Festival is free and open to all. The co-founders, Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi, have invited the people of the twin cities to attend the festival and join in the festival. Page 5 of 24
The Nation April 25, 2015 http://nation.com.pk/national/25-apr-2015/islamabad-literature-festival-is-back Islamabad - Following the resounding success of the previous editions, 3rd Islamabad Literature Festival (ILF) was inaugurated here at a local hotel on Friday. The festival has been expanded to three days and visitors will have a chance to listen to and interact with as many as 175 authors, writers, artists and media experts from Pakistan and abroad. Oxford University Press (OUP) has organised the event with support from US embassy, British Council, embassies of France and Italy and some other donor agencies, which is featuring 60 sessions with 150 Pakistan and 25 foreign speakers lined up in the schedule. There will be 22 book launches. Speaking on the opening ceremony, Ameena Saiyid, Managing Director of OUP in Pakistan, said, Islamabad, with special beautifies and deep peace, is certainly a suitable place and lovely venue for Islamabad Literature Festival. She said that Islamabad festival will work as model and wished that such festivals would be organised in every village, town and city of Pakistan. These are literary and cultural shows that bring together thinkers and writers from Pakistan and the world, she added. According to her, the audiences of the events would not only listen to but they would be also heard. Asif Farrukhi, founder of Karachi and Islamabad Literature Festivals, during his welcome speech said that the idea about the festival was borrowed from India but now it has become our own activity. Islamabad Literature Festival is different in terms of its scope and feature and contents, he said while comparing the event with other literary festivals. Professor Anatol Lieven, British Scholar and author of Pakistan a Hot Country, was one of the keynote speakers. He said that insurgency in Pakistan was defeated and would be defeated in future. He while referring to his book said, Political parties are congeries of landlords, clan chieftains and urban bosses seeking state patronage for themselves and their followers and vowing allegiance to particular national individuals and dynasties. Ataul Haq Qasmi, the second keynote speaker, said on this occasion that language has become a status symbol in Pakistan and people instead of talking in their mother tongues try to speak in English or in Urdu. He said that fundamentalism and extremism have dented the image of the country. We will have to adopt secularism; everyone must be allowed to live a life according to his/her wishes, he said and added, It is the only way to give a positive message to the world. French Ambassador Martine Dorance said on this occasion that her embassy was committed partner of the literature festival. I m very happy tonight to see myself amongst the outstanding Pakistani writers, she added and informed that two French authors were also participating in the festival. Page 6 of 24
Adriano Chiodi Cianfarani, Italian Ambassador to Pakistan, said, I have a strong belief that culture is essential key for peace development and growth. He said that writers play important role to present a positive image of the country. Besides the aforementioned speakers, officials from British Council and US Embassy spoke on the need to highlight positive image of Pakistan around the world. Writers play significant role in maintaining and enhancing the culture, one of the speakers said. The Islamabad Literature Festival being held at local hotel is also featuring book stalls and discussions on arts and politics by experts. Page 7 of 24
The Nation April 26, 2015 ILF reviving spirit of art, culture: Mushahid ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad Literary Festival (ILF) is reviving the spirit of art and culture and shows dynamic, vibrant and lively aspects of Pakistani society, according to prominent literati participating in the event. I think this literary festival is a resounding success; it shows that the people of Pakistan, including young generation, women, students, and the scholars, have a lot of zing in them. The festival shows that Pakistani society is dynamic, vibrant and lively, said Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed. He said that it was very good thing which was happening in Islamabad. It is important for people to read books. Books generate ideas, ideas generates discussions and they (discussion) stimulate the mind and lead to open-mindedness, a questioning mind, and a mind which is also more tolerant because you hear different views, different perspectives through books, he told The Nation. Abbas Rashid, writer and chairman of Society for the Advancement of Education (SAHE), said that literary festivals could develop book readings amongst the people. These gatherings are extremely useful because they bring writers together, and also bring together people who are interested in reading books and those who are interested in writing. He said that literary festivals were very common in rest of the world and a strong need was also felt in Pakistan. In many countries these things are done by university but that happens much less here, so any activity of this kind helps fill a gap. It is very useful and I hope it grows and remains a regular feature for Islamabad, he added. One of the ILF s sessions was about Syeda Abida Hussain s book Power Failure: The Political Odyssey of a Pakistani Woman. Talking to The Nation, Syeda Abida Hussain said that ILF was a great addition to the life of Islamabad. She said that it was very important to divert the attention of the people of Islamabad, the city of leaders, towards book reading. This event is to remind people about the books and writers, she said. The 3rd ILF is featuring talks/interview, panel discussions, poetry recitation, book fair, book launches, readings, author singing, film screening, performing art and Sufi music etc. Around 175 speakers (including 25 foreigners) are participating in this event. Page 8 of 24
Business Recorder April 24, 2015 http://www.brecorder.com/general-news/172/1179352/ Oxford University Press (OUP) is once again gathering avid readers, writers, academics, and literary figures from Pakistan and the world at the 3rd Islamabad Literature Festival to be held on April 24, 25, and 26, 2015 at the local hotel in Islamabad. This was announced by Ameena Saiyid, Managing Director OUP. OUP's previous literature festivals have been heralded as massive successes, attracting a great deal of attention among the literary and intellectual communities in the country. In Islamabad last year, literary enthusiasts thronged to the ILF to meet renowned authors and attend over 60 interactive sessions. Ameena Saiyid highlighted that the 3rd Islamabad Literature Festival will feature, talks/interviews, panel discussions, Mushaira, English poetry recitation, book fair, book launches, readings, author signings, film screening, performing arts, Sufi music, art exhibitions by Art Now, and much more. Apart from Pakistani authors, poets, and academics, speakers from UK, USA, France, India and Australia will also be participating in the ILF. The keynote speakers at the opening and closing ceremonies will be Anatol Lieven, Ataul Haq Qasmi, Zehra Nigah, and the Pulitzer Prize winner, Paul Harding. Prominent speakers at the 3rd ILF will be Ahmed Fouad, Ali Akbar Natiq, Almas Bobby, ArfaSayeda Zehra, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Asif Noorani, Asif Raza Mir, Ataul Haq Qasmi, Athar Tahir, Bilal Tanweer, Aitzaz Ahsan, Fatema Hassan, Farooq Qaiser, Feryal Ali-Gauhar, Harris Khalique, HaseenaMoin, HinaJillani, I A Rehman, Ilona Yusuf, Ikram Sehgal, Intizar Husain, KishwarNaheed, Masood Ashar, Mohammed Hanif, MujahidBarelvi, Mushahid Hussain, Mustansar Hussain Tarar, Nasim Zehra, Raju Jamil,SarwatMohiuddin, Shahid Nadeem, ShandanaMinhas, Shehryar Fazli, Sorayya Khan, Syed Talat Hussain, SyedaAbida Hussain, ZahedaHina, Zehra Nigah, and Zobaida Jalal. The event will also feature a performance on Kishwar Naheed's poem 'Yaey Hum GunahgaarAurtainHaen' by Feriyal Aslam, dramatic readings of Ismat Chughtai's stories by Feryal Ali Gauhar, English Poetry Recitation, film screening of 'Life's Worth Living', and Sufi music by the Rafi Peer Ensemble.-PR Page 9 of 24
Shafaqna April 27, 2015 http://pk.shafaqna.com/en/pk/126432 Literature Festival 2015 concludes today ISLAMABAD: The three-day third Islamabad Literature Festival, arranged by Oxford University Press (OUP), is going to conclude today (Sunday). OUP Managing Director Ameena Saiyid said the OUP is gathering avid readers, writers, academics, and literary figures from across Pakistan and the world for the second day of the 3rd Islamabad Literature Festival, which began on Friday at a hotel. The second day of the festival commenced with a plenary session Army Public School, Peshawar, Students and Teachers in conversation with Ayesha Mian and Ameena Saiyid. It was followed by Power Failure: The Political Odyssey of a Pakistani Woman by Syeda Abida Hussain, moderated by Nasim Z Witness Kahani ka Safar, Masood Ashar in conversation with Mustansar Hussain Tarar and Tabeer ki Talash Mein by Rehan Alvi, moderated by Najeeba Arif. Also Midwifing the Masterpieces: Authors, Literary Agents, Publishers, and Booksellers moderated by Ameena Saiyid, was followed by Art and the Market by Art Now and moderated by Quddus Mirza. The festival will continue with Baat se Baat in conversation with Ataul Haq Qasmi, followed by Full of Sound and Fury: Elections in Pakistan moderated by Rashed Rehman and Winning the Pulitzer Prize in conversation with Paul Harding, followed by Reading Art by Art Now moderated by Farida Batool. Attendees will then be treated to The Rights and Wrongs of Transgender Issues by Awaz, News, Views, and Sensationalism moderated by Rashed Rehman, Reading in Early Grades: Why it s Important and What can be Done to Promote It? moderated by Sidra Iqbal, New Faber Poet in conversation with Zaffar Kunial and Educational Crisis and Reform: Perspectives from South Asia by Abbas Rashid and Irfan Muzaffar. The celebrations will continue with Yemen: Difficult Choices for Pakistan moderated by Aasim Sajjad Akhtar, Author to Author with Mohammed Hanif, A Women s Jirga from Swat by Awaz and The Matter of Moving Image by Art Now; Politics: The Art of the Possible and Sometimes the Impossible moderated by Farhan Bokhari, The Heart Breaks Free: Dramatic Readings of Ismat Chughtai s Stories by Feryal Ali Gauhar, moderated by Ali Madeeha Hashmi, Balochistan: Tareekh, Siyasat aur Hassaas Mehl e Waqoo moderated by Mujahid Barelvi and Art, Culture IT by Art now. Patrons will enjoy the Intoxicated with Love book Bulleh Shah: A Selection rendered in English verse by Taufiq Rafat, moderated by Shahid N Teaching More or Better? moderated by Baela Raza Jamil, The poet looks eastward. In conversation with Athar Tahir and Masculinity, Sexuality, and Illegal Migration: Human Smuggling from Pakistan to Europe by Ali Nobil Ahmad. Followed by a Musha ira, Nizamat by Najeeba Arif. The Islamabad Literature Festival is free and open to all. The co-founders, Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi, have invited the people of the twin cities to attend the festival and join in the festival. Page 10 of 24
BBC Record London April 27, 2015 http://bbcrecordlondon.com/live/10-pakistan/73584-3rd-islamabad-literature-festival-continue.html Islamabad : Oxford University Press (OUP) is gathering avid readers, writers, academics, and literary figures from across Pakistan and the world for the second day of the 3rd Islamabad Literature Festival, which began on Saturday. The event is scheduled to continue till today (Monday).This was stated by Ameena Saiyid OBE, Managing Director, OUP. The day will commence today at 10am with a plenary session Army Public School, Peshawar, students and teachers in conversation with Ayesha Mian and Ameena Saiyid. Followed by Power Failure: The Political Odyssey of a Pakistani Woman by Syeda Abida Hussain, moderated by Nasim Zehra. Witness Kahani ka Safar; Masood Ashar in conversation with Mustansar Hussain Tarar and Tabeer ki Talash Mein by Rehan Alavi, moderated by Najeeba Arif. Also Midwifing the Masterpieces: Authors, Literary Agents, Publishers, and Booksellers moderated by Ameena Saiyid, followed by Art and the Market by Art Now moderated by Quddus Mirza. The festivities will continue with Baat se Baat in conversation with Ata-ul-Haq Qasmi, followed by Full of Sound and Fury: Elections in Pakistan moderated by Rashed Rehman and Winning the Pulitzer Prize in conversation with Paul Harding, followed by Reading Art by Art Now moderated by Farida Batool. Attendees will then be treated to The Rights and Wrongs of Transgender Issues by Awaz, News, Views, and Sensationalism moderated by Rashed Rehman, Reading in Early Grades: Why its Important and What can be Done to Promote It moderated by Sidra Iqbal, New Faber Poet in conversation with Zaffar Kunial and Educational Crisis and Reform: Perspectives from South Asia by Abbas Rashid and Irfan Muzaffar. The celebrations will continue with Yemen: Difficult Choices for Pakistan moderated by Aasim Sajjad Akhtar, Author to Author with Mohammed Hanif, A Womens Jirga from Swat by Awaz and The Matter of Moving Image by Art Now; Politics: The Art of the Possible and Sometimes the Impossible moderated by Farhan Bokhari, The Heart Breaks Free: Dramatic Readings of Ismat Chughtais Stories by Feryal Ali Gauhar, moderated by Ali Madeeha Hashmi, Balochistan: Tareekh, Siyasat aur Hassaas Mehl e Waqoo moderated by Mujahid Barelvi and Art,Culture & IT by Art now. Patrons will be able enjoy the Intoxicated with Love book launch; Bulleh Shah: A Selection rendered in English verse by Taufiq Rafat, moderated by Shahid Nadeem; Teaching More or Better moderated by Baela Raza Jamil, The poet looks eastward. In conversation Athar Tahir and Masculinity, Sexuality, and Illegal Migration: Human Smuggling from Pakistan to Europe by Ali Nobil Ahmad. Followed by a Mushaira, nizamat by Najeeba Arif. Page 11 of 24
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