LAHORE, Pakistan: The fifth edition of Lahore Literary Festival (LLF), showcasing intellectual, cultural, historical and creative aspects of life, will begin on February 24 in Lahore to continue for three days till February 26. Â
The free and open-to-all LLF 2017 will relive its tradition of bringing literary figures, intellectuals, writers, historians and artists on one platform.
LLF founder and CEO Razi Ahmed told media on Wednesday that LLF is all about celebrating the intellectual and creative vitality of this city, its cosmopolitan and syncretic past, its storied cultural contributions, as well as its place in global literary world today.
“Lahore has historically been the firmament of big ideas,” Razi Ahmed said.
To a question, he said the three-day, open-to-all event will feature eminent writers, historians, artists, and opinion makers from home and abroad in nuanced, thought-provoking discussions on the varied political and social changes our world faces today.
The keynote inaugural address will be by Zehra Nigah followed by historian Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads. Other speakers include, author and social worker Tehmina Durrani on the legacy of humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi; Mohsin Hamid, who is out with his new book, Exit West; historian Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads: A New History of the World; Michael Palin, writer, television presenter and Monty Python alumnus.
Eminent panelists from Pakistan, Lebanon, Syria, Indonesia, South Africa, Germany, the US and UK will make up the talks at the LLF 2017 with sessions on the life, art, activism and struggle of noted painter Ijazul Hassan, and history of Pakistani cinema.
A session will be dedicated to poetess Parveen Shakir, titled ‘Parveen Shakir and the Marsh Marigold’ which will be moderated by Mujahid Barelvi and include Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, poet Amjad Islam Amjad, and Rakhshanda Naveed.
