The Rebel English Academy

Thursday, 12 February 2026 | 5:00- 6:30 PM | Faculty Lounge, VC Office, LUMS

The Gurmani Centre for Languages and Literature hosted the book launch of Rebel English Academy by Mohammed Hanif. This powerful and darkly comic novel probes the entanglements of language, power, friendship, and protest under political repression. The event brought together students, faculty, and members of the wider literary community for an evening of conversation, reflection, and literary engagement. The event was moderated by Bilal Tanweer, who guided a rich and engaging conversation with the author.

In his remarks, Hanif situated the novel within the fraught political climate following the execution of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, a historical moment that forms the narrative's backdrop. The discussion highlighted how the novel imagines language not merely as a medium of communication but as a contested site of authority and resistance. Set around Sir Baghi’s modest English tuition center—envisioned as a training ground for future “rebels” who learn to question even as they master the language of power—the text deftly interweaves satire, political thriller, and testimonial narrative.

Several key themes were discussed: the politics of English as both an instrument of authority and a medium of resistance; the mechanics of authoritarianism and surveillance; the role of memory and marginal testimony in unsettling official histories; and satire as a powerful mode of political critique. The moral ambiguities of friendship and ethical doubt under repression also formed an important thread in the conversation.

A segment of the event included a reading of selected excerpts from the novel by the author himself. These readings brought to life the tonal shifts of the text—its slapstick humor, sharp political commentary, and moments of poignant testimony—allowing the audience to experience firsthand the texture of Hanif’s prose.

The session concluded with a lively question-and-answer segment, during which participants reflected on the novel’s contemporary resonance, especially in relation to ongoing debates about dissent, free expression, and the politics of language in Pakistan.