Urdu which is called language of the lashkar – not just because it was spoken among soldiers; but because of its organic assimilation of words from other languages. One can, therefore, say it was not just the language of the refined and elite (as it – perhaps? – evolved to be) but that of the masses as well. It became a binding force for the people of the Subcontinent. Poetic, lilting and indeed a subversive tool, works and artistic expression in Urdu have played a pivotal role especially in the evolution of South Asian society. Ananke’s Festival of Literature proudly focuses on Urdu language and literature, as part of its special, first of its kind, language series.
Sessions focusing Urdu envision to celebrate and explore how thinkers and the immense body of work in Urdu have given the world alternate perspectives, subversive narratives as well as enabled connoisseurs of language and literature to relish in the joys of delving deep into the enchanting realm of imagination.
The sessions will also explore the heritage and legacy of the language as it stands in the multipolar world of today; as it stands on the shoulders of the Literati in South Asia as well as the diaspora. Lastly, is there a need to decolonize the perception of a South Asian Language? That of Urdu?
Talking about the series, author, poet and translator, Naima Rashid said: “The range of experiences that literatures in other languages cover can simply not be available in English. This year, the festival’s edition includes a special series of sessions on the landscape of Urdu literature and Urdu literature in translation.
We have Hammad Rind chairing a session on the dynamics of writing in Urdu and the challenges of bringing that literature to a global marketplace via quality translations and research. Raza Naeem will be moderating two sessions, one on women writers in Urdu and the other on Urdu publishing. For the first, we have writers Neelum Ahmed Bashir, Sameena Nazir and Fatima Usman. That way, we are getting the perspectives of both established and emerging writers.
No talk about a literature scene is complete without talk of publishing. For the panel on publishing in Urdu, we’ll be looking at the landscape of Urdu publishing, equally full of promise as well as challenges. Book Corner, Collage Publications and Maktaba-e-Daniyal from Pakistan will be joining us on this panel. There are so many other publishers doing interesting work in Urdu as well – Aks from Lahore, City Press in Karachi and Arshia Publications in India, among others, all of whom we hope to engage with in future editions.”
Special attention will be given to discussions on how literature is a vocal manifestation of eras and ages; past and present; influencing narratives, challenging the status quo; preserving our linguistic heritage through snapshots of cultural geographies and thereby shaping our humanity.
Talking specifically about Urdu publishing, Publishing Director at Book Corner, Amar Shahid opined: “At Book Corner, we are trying to redefine the art of publishing and thinking about a long-term reading culture. We try to uphold high literary standards, balancing editorial judgment and attractive visual presentation of books.
Through impactful author introductions and compelling book marketing, we try to bridge the gap between readers and books. We introduced the concept of reader-author meetups and signed copies at our events, and readers and visitors take very well to the live meet-ups with authors. Over time, these breed loyalty in readers.”
Writing in, and engaging with, Urdu and other South Asian languages. Speakers will also share practical challenges encountered in writing, publishing, or translating into and from Urdu. Talking about the publishing dynamics, Hoori Noorani, running the Karachi (Pakistan) based publishing house Maktaba-e-Danyal also remarked: “While one might not want to look at anything to do with literature or art in terms of marketing and pricing, the fact is that books are a commodity requiring money while being written, produced and marketed. Writing and translating involves labour and the writer/translator has to be paid to undertake the work as much as the publisher and the bookseller.
The economics of publishing is very closely linked to the rate of literacy in our country. The higher the ratio of educated people in society the more books will be produced. Low print runs , non availability and high prices of quality printing paper , heavy postal air and rail freights , lack of a scientific system of book distribution, shortage of skilled staff and absence of training facilities for persons associated with different sectors of the publishing and printing industry and lack of stringent copyright laws are some of the problems facing the local publishing industry.”
Urdu holds a particularly interesting position in the subcontinent. While widely spoken and understood, perceptions of the language seem to have shifted significantly in recent times. In India, it is increasingly associated with a single community and, at times, perceived as an “outsider’s” language. In Pakistan, meanwhile, some ethno-nationalist currents view it as a hegemonic force – similar, in some ways, to English.
Thinkers in the series will delve deep into these shifting perceptions of Urdu, and its evolving relationship with other languages in the region. Speakers include, Rahman Abbas, Amar Shahid, Tanvir Anjum, Hoori Noorani, Naima Rashid, Hammad H Rind, Raza Naeem, Hammad Niazi, Neelum Ahmed Bashir, Samina Nazir, Fatima Usman, Syed Kashif Raza, Riaz Latif,
With this year’s festival theme: Speaking Truth to Power, the three-day, digital event will commence on April 29th, 2025 and streamed on Ananke’s YouTube page; with links shared on its Facebook page as well. These sessions will be conducted bilingually on May 1st, 2025 – Day 3 set specifically for the language series.
Join us as we celebrate the fearless pursuit of truth and the enduring strength of words. Together, let’s imagine a world where speaking out is an act of hope and where every story told becomes a step toward justice.
