A large delegation from India includes Allahabad-based writer Shamsur Rahman Faruqi makes his first ever visit to Lahore, and actor Naseeruddin Shah returning with his play ‘Einstein’

The inaugural Faiz International Festival is being held under the auspices of Faiz Foundation Pakistan at the Alhamra Arts Council, Lahore, from November 19-22.

The event features talks and discussions by writers, poets, journalists, theatre and film artists, painters, musicians and many others during the day and poetry, music, dance and theatre performances in the evening.

Notable speakers include renowned Allahabad-based writer, poet, translator and critic Shamsur Rahman Faruqi (on his first ever visit to Lahore), activist, writer and speaker Tariq Ali from London, Canada-based poet and writer Ashfaq Hussain as well as film maker Muzaffar Ali.

Renowned Indian theatre and film actor Naseeruddin Shah will return to the Lahore stage for a performance of his play ‘Einstein’, along with a large Indian delegation which consists of film writer and actor Atul Tiwari, TV anchor Vinod Kumar Dua, film director Shilpi Gulati, and writers Annie Zaidi, Dr. Rakhshanda Jalil, Dr. Baran Farooqi, Dr. Mehr Farooqi, Dipa Singh Bagai, Anirudha Bhattacharjee, and Pragya Tiwari. Indian singer Sonam Kalra will also be performing at the festival.

Other speakers and panelists include Intizar Hussain, Zehra Nigah, Mustansar Hussain Tarar, Dr. Asghar Nadeem Syed, Dr. Asif Farrukhi, Musharraf Ali Farooqi, Salima Hashmi, Yasmeen Hameed, Arshad Mehmud, Irfan Khoosat, Sarmad Khoosat, Vasay Chaudhry, Nadia Jamil, Navid Shahzad, Afzal Ahmad Syed, Ikramullah, Nasim Zehra, Baela Jamil, Quddus Mirza, Moneeza Hashmi, Dr Arfa Syeda Zehra, Ajmal Kamal, Mira Hashmi and Mazhar Jameel.

— Extracted from ‘The joys of living: Faiz International Festival’ in The News on Sunday,
by Ali Madeeh Hashmi