Aitchison College Literary Festival

By: Robin Umar

Lahore: The second edition of the Aitchison College Literary Festival, which took place virtually about this week, was inaugurated by retired Justice Nasira Iqbal.

The first book festival at school level this year, brought together more than 150 participating students from schools in various cities. The festival featured sections of poetry, prose, re-enactment of Shakespeare's novels, including a translation into Urdu. The highlight of this year’s edition was a special session entitled ‘The Fiction of Relationship’ organized by Literary Society President Sinan Waheed and featuring renowned authors Mohsin Hamid and Bilal Tanweer. Starting the session, Waheed explained that while one likes to look at relationship books using the love lens of romance novel such as Heer Ranjha or Romeo and Juliet, fiction explore a broad set of relationships between man and his demons (Shakespeare's disasters), mundane and absurd (Kafka), a citizen and the state as well as with the beloved city.  

In a speech on 'Fiction of Nationality' author Mohsin Hamid argued that it is human nature to emigrate, to seek new experiences and to aspire to a better life. The second part of the 'Fiction of the Beloved City' session featured Bilal Tanveer. Waheed began on the basis that personal relationships with their cities can be as personal and intimate as a relationship with a partner or parent. Both authors shared their experiences and challenges and shared tips for aspiring writers. Hamid stressed the importance of making writing a common practice, deliberately setting aside time to practice until the practice becomes part of who you are. Tanveer said there is always a gap between the writer and the reader between what is written and what is read.

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