Friday, November 26, 2021 | 4:00 PM | Online on Zoom
کرونا کی وبا اور ہمارا اداب
(Corona and Our Literature)
The pandemic has influenced every part of life in one way or the other. In some cases, it has completely transformed our way of living, perception of reality, and structure of society. Literature mirrors all such changes and events, and it did the same during the COVID-19 pandemic. Urdu and other Pakistani languages have also produced literature that reflects the socioeconomic, political, and existential crises of the pandemic. This panel discussion was an attempt to explain how Pakistani languages like Punjabi, Siraiki, Sindhi, and Urdu have registered the COVID experience.
Moderator: Dr. Nasir Abbas Nayyar
Guest Speakers: Dr. Rifat Abbas (Siraiki), Dr. Aurangzaib Niazi (Urdu), Dr. Ishaq Samejo (Sindhi), Muhammad Ejaz (Punjabi)
Dr. Rifat Abbas is a Siraiki poet born in Multan and is a retired Assistant Professor from the Punjab Education Department. His literary work, spanning 40 years, consists of 10 poetry collections and a novel. Abbas has received three National Awards, from the Academy of Letters in Pakistan. In 2005, Abbas was given the Khawaja Ghulam Farid Award for Siraiki poetry, for his collection Ishq Allah Saeen Jagiya.
Dr. Aurangzaib Niazi is the Associate Professor of Urdu at Government Islamia College Civil Lines, Lahore. His areas of research include ecocriticism, environment, and Urdu literature. His essay “Pandemic: Facts and Fiction” was published in Bunyād this year.
Dr. Ishaq Samejo is a writer, poet and cultural activist. He serves as an Associate Professor of Sindhi language and literature in the Department of Sindhi at University of Sindh, Jamshoro. Currently, he is serving as the director of the Institute of Sindhology. Dr. Samejo did his PhD in Sindhi literature on “Progressive thought in Sindhi Poetry” in 2014, from the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, and is also a literary critic.
Mr. Muhammad Ejaz is a Punjabi author and poet. To his credit, he has over ten books of poetry, translations, short stories, and critique. He has worked as the editor of prominent Punjabi journals and currently, teaches Punjabi language and writing.