7th Sindh Literature Festival Concludes, Highlighting the ‘Save Indus’ Theme
SLF founder Naseer Gopang speaks at the inaugural session of the Sindh Literature Festival, on Saturday.—Dawn
The 7th Sindh Literature Festival (SLF), held on 14th and 15th December 2024 in Karachi, celebrated Sindh’s literary, cultural, and artistic heritage under the theme of “Save Indus, Save Life”. The two-day event brought together a diverse group of writers, intellectuals, artists, and performers to engage in discussions, poetry recitations, book launches, and performances, reflecting on themes of literature, history, politics, culture, and social issues.
The festival began with a grand inauguration ceremony, hosted by Saqib Abro and Pirah Syed, featuring prominent personality such as Syed Sardar Ali Shah as chief guests. The keynote speeches were delivered by Hameed Haroon and Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, with notable appearances by Naseer Memon, and Shamsul Haq Memon. The welcome speech was presented by Naseer Gopang, while Zohaib Kaka delivered the vote of thanks.
The festival featured panel discussions and talks on critical subjects such as the “Case of Indus River” moderated by Dr. Ayoub Shaikh, where speakers like Naseer Memon and Ihsan Leghari addressed issues such as the controversial Cholistan Scheme, the health of the Indus Delta, and the rights of the river. Sessions like “Siyasat, Jamhooriyat aur Awam” and “Rawadari Aeen Sindh” explored the role of politics, democracy, and tolerance in Sindh’s sociopolitical landscape. Eminent speakers such as Ayaz Latif Palijo, Jami Chandio, and Kalpana Devi shared their insights, on tolerance in Sindh explored speakers like Alya Bakhshal, Romasa Jami and Sorath Sindhu.
The festival also showcased sessions on youth empowerment and opportunities, with discussions on career development featuring speakers like Abdul Aleem Lashari and Mehboob Ali Shar. The significance of books in driving social change was explored during the SLF Talks, moderated by Pirah Syed. These sessions covered a range of topics, including the impact of digital media, challenges faced by youth, the relationship between humans and nature, wildlife and forest conservation in Sindh, and the cultural importance of the Sindhi language. Contributors to these discussions included Shahrukh Nadeem, Musawir Lashary, Amb Gopang, Amar Fayaz Buriro, Tofiq Pasha Mooraj, Asad Ali Shah, and Ayaz Latif Palijo.
Prominent cultural sessions included “Mazahgiri”, a lighthearted take on humor with Sohrab Soomro & Wahid Raza, and “Evening with a Living Legend”, where iconic actor Mustafa Qureshi was celebrated. The creative journey of legendary writer Amar Jaleel was revisited in a dedicated session moderated by Mahtab Akbar Rashdi. The festival also embraced art and film with a screening of “Indus Echoes: Sindhu Jee Goonj”, featuring a discussion with filmmakers like Rahul Aijaz and actors Vajdaan Shah and Ansaar Mahar.
The festival’s evenings came alive with music performances, including soulful renditions by Manjhi Faqeer and a closing performance by The Sketches Band, led by Saif Samejo. Poetry remained at the heart of the festival, with a special Mushairo session titled “Sindhu Darya Khay Bhetta”, featuring celebrated poets like Adal Soomro and many others.
Additionally, the SLF featured numerous book launches at the Sambara Gallery, showcasing literary contributions from Sindh and beyond. Notable books included “Baloch Danish Say Mukalma”, and “Peasant Perspectives”, with discussions moderated by literary figures like Sadia Baloch, Dr. Ayoub Shaikh, and Amar Pirzado. Authors and scholars such as Dr. Abid Mir, Mehmood Mughal, Madad Ali Sindhi, and Dr. Mubarak Lashari highlighted the importance of literature in addressing social realities.
The SLF concluded with an emphasis on Sindh’s cultural richness and literary vibrancy, providing a platform for critical dialogue, artistic expression, and creative exploration. It served as a reminder of Sindh’s enduring literary tradition and its role in shaping contemporary thought and discourse.
