Attending the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) alongside educators and companions in Karachi was a truly remarkable experience for me. The KLF, which began in 2010, is a relatively recent addition to the world of literary events. The event brings in different people from various fields including professionals like authors, lawyers, philosophers, poets, journalists, and even more. They not only come from diverse backgrounds but also from various countries like Australia, Japan, the USA, Spain, and many more.
However, the primary goal of the festival is to link different people. The people, who are connected to this festival, are passionate about literature, culture, and intellectual discussions.
Moreover, participating in the 2022 KLF program brought me immense joy. Seeing attendees from countries like the United States, Australia, China, Spain, and Canada come together was satisfying. As this proved to me that the pursuit of knowledge knows no boundaries.
The event, furthermore, provided me with the immenent opportunity to interact with different people having rich insights about various topics. This experience was also accompanied by the enjoyable interaction with freinds who made the interaction even better.
Attending esteemed conferences like the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) offers both enjoyment and knowledge, these occasions also provide attendees with wisdom from the experts thus expanding their intellectual horizons.
An interesting encounter took place with Emma, an Australian woman. She chatted about the goodness of her homeland and asked me about the challenges in Pakistan. Although I didn’t delve much into the latter topic, Emma admired Australia’s societal harmony, where individual autonomy and a well-functioning legal system cater to citizens needs. Our conversation, no doubt, went on for a while, and Emma’s affection for her country led her to suggest I consider relocating to Australia.
Moving towards KLF panelists, it featured a mixed array of commentators that included Ahmad Shabbar, Zoha Tunio, Afia Salam, Mathieu Paley, and Maha Husain, discussing topics like Climate Justice and Embedded Injustices. Similarly, Tariq Rahman, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Farid Panjwani, Salma Alam, and Shahid Siddiqui tackled Education Policies in Pakistan’s political context, delving into projections and practices. Skillful moderators guided these discussions, allowing each participant to share their perspectives eloquently.
The audience, no doubt, engaged with numerous enlightening and thought-provoking questions that highlighted the event’s intellectual appeal. Our group comprised seventeen attendees, including two senior educators, five junior faculty members, and the rest students. Our exploration included browsing a bookstall with offerings like Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist,” Yuval Noah Harari’s thought-provoking “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind,” and Harper Lee’s seminal “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Unfortunately, budget constraints prevented me from acquiring desired titles. We left at 3 o’clock, searching for a dining spot, eventually finding a hotel three kilometers from the KLF venue. After lunch, our journey continued on foot, culminating in a bus ride to Hub.
My companionship during the day added to the overall enjoyment of the events.
In a nutshell, attending esteemed conferences like the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) offers both enjoyment and knowledge. These occasions also provide attendees with wisdom from the experts thus expanding their intellectual horizons. Moreover, they enable new friendships among individuals who share the same passion for literature and learning. Interacting with people from different backgrounds definitely broadens one’s perspective. The energetic atmosphere of the KLF kindles a greater love for the written word, fueling a continuous quest for knowledge. As an anonymous saying goes, “The Karachi Literature Festival celebrates the power of language while nurturing a sense of community and intellectual exchange essential for societal progress.” Whether you’re a student, educator, or simply a lover of learning, I wholeheartedly recommend participating in events like the KLF for extraordinary experiences and intellectual revelations.
About the Author:
Shehzad Peeral
Contributor at SIT Ink & InsightShehzad Peeral is an alumni of School of Intensive Teaching [SIT], Hub. He regularly writes about social issues in different newspapers. He also keeps an interest in sketching.