Images

This year’s Urdu Conference to celebrate Karachi’s vibrant past

This year’s Urdu Conference to celebrate Karachi’s vibrant past

The 17th edition of the mega cultural event will be held at Arts Council from December 5 to 8.
19 Nov, 2024

The 17th International Urdu Conference will be held from December 5 to December 8 in the metropolis and the event is going to celebrate the city of Karachi.

This was announced by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi President Ahmed Shah at a press conference on Monday evening.

Shah said recently the council held the world’s longest-running international festival (for 38 days). Before that, there used to be travel advisories for Pakistan but the festival changed that perception about the country. Artists from all over the world participated in the festival.

“Now that the city of Karachi has become the centre of culture in the region, it doesn’t have to do with the council itself, the media has also played a part in it.”

He said for the Urdu conference this year’s iteration, his team thought that previously the moot had focused on the entire world.

“This time we’re paying a tribute to Karachi. This means the city’s past, how it was made, its architecture, its TV, its historians, etc… all will be discussed. There’s a session on the painters of Karachi, ranging from Sadequain to Gulgee and from Bashir Mirza to Shahid Sajjad. One session will home in on the city’s musicians, from Sohail Rana to Nisar Bazmi and from Mehdi Hasan to Mehnaz. Similarly, theatre and film will be analysed.”

Shah also mentioned an open-ended session called Shehrnama in which people will share their memories of how the city’s bustling cultural life once existed. For example, its coffee houses and other spaces where people used to gather. The benefactors of Karachi are also there, such as those who helped construct recreational spots and educational institutions.

“It is a serious conference but we have also been confronted by a problem which is how to engage our coming generations with the Urdu language. Therefore, we have included a number of celebrity sessions, which will feature actors (Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed and others) and singers (like Asim Azhar). Apart from that, we will be talking about the new challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) which will impact each one of us, especially the creative lot. The world is changing quickly and it’s going to affect everyone,” he said.

Shah said the council has invited writers and poets from India, too. If they’re unable to come, they will take part in the moot online.

He added the council is taking big steps because of which it needs more space. In that connection, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has agreed to make Fayzee Rahimin Gallery a part of the council soon.

Eminent poet Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui said he’s been taking part in the conference ever since its first edition in 2008. The council needs to be praised for it, but Shah has a huge role in it because he has a vision and a mission, he said.

*Originally published in Dawn, November 19th, 2024*

Comments

Anon Nov 19, 2024 01:46pm
Urdu Conference although written in Urdu text but English.words. I wonder if English words can be eliminated from Urdu & replaced with Arabic or Persian words to really embody the essence of the language.
Recommend
Shagufta Qaiser Nov 19, 2024 02:27pm
I am attending urdu confrense last five years regularly , very wonderful speakers was attend these days, I like very much all events specially Anwar Maqsood sb's closing ceremony speech , very legendary Shah sb Thanks
Recommend
Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Nov 19, 2024 02:35pm
Great move and excellent news.
Recommend
Tahmad Nov 19, 2024 04:09pm
Karachi is always been mother of all Pakistanis, this city never sleeps and I called it mini Pakistan. Please everyone living in this city, just do good work and be humble, caring and respectful to one each others and keep this city well organized and cleaned all times. Karachi-Sindh-Punjab-Baluchistan-KPK and Azad Kashmir Zindabad.
Recommend
Laila Nov 19, 2024 06:55pm
@Anon Well Urdu is essentially originally derived from Hindi but Persianized and has many borrowed words from Arabic. With that in mind, Urdu does not have equivalent of many modern day English words. So in that context we can use the English words as borrowed words similar to what we do with Arabic words. However I also think it is important that in order to protect the Urdu language the linguistics experts need to find Urdu equivalents for foreign words and also minimise the usage of English which has seeped through everywhere including dramas.
Recommend
Ibrahim Nov 19, 2024 07:18pm
what percentage speaks Urdu. Why other mother languages are demeaned and discourage to speak. Urdu is same as Hindi but written in Persian and Arabic script . I guess we never learned a lesson from past
Recommend
KhanRA Nov 19, 2024 11:07pm
Replacing one set of foreign words with a different set of foreign words is a waste of time. Languages like Urdu are hybrid languages, that rapidly and continuously evolve. Embrace the change.
Recommend
harry Nov 20, 2024 09:12am
@ ANON why replace with Arabic or persian words. It is urdu language, so just use Urdu words. Arabic or Persian is not spoken in area around Lucknow where urdu originated.
Recommend
harry Nov 20, 2024 09:13am
what does this comment add value to...
Recommend