One of the most anticipated sessions was the launch of Fareed Zakaria’s book. Clockwise from top left, Maleeha Lodhi, Razi Ahmed and Fareed Zakaria
We have been encountering extraordinary times surreal, sometimes dystopian for about a year now. As a consequence of the ‘new normal’ working from home, Zoom-ing, e-classes, e-commerce, e-everything one of this year’s first litfests, the Lahore Literary Festival (LLF), went online from February 18-21, featuring pre-recorded videos of conversations and book launches.
GOING VIRTUAL
In one of the most anticipated sessions the launch of journalist and television anchor Fareed Zakaria’s book Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World the author imagined “a new hybrid world. I imagine one in which we move greatly into digital economy.”
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 Laho