Speakers, both in person and via web links, in discussion at the 13th International Urdu Conference at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi | Fahim Siddiqi/White Star
One could sense a note of dejection in the voice of Ahmed Shah, president of the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, when, at the press conference to talk about the programme for the 13th International Urdu Conference, he told the media that this time round the event would be organised largely online because of the Covid-19 situation in the country. It was understandable.
The conference in the last 12 years had attracted large crowds — for multiple reasons and not necessarily for the love of the Urdu language — especially on its opening and closing days. To be honest, when Indian scholar Professor Shamim Hanfi and Pakistani poet Yasmeen Hameed (whom one had seen in the flesh at some of the earlier editions of the very conference) delivered their keynote addresses on the inaugural day via video link from Delhi and Lahore, it felt a bit strange.