The Khayaal Festival 2015 Day 1: “Pushing The Boundaries”
Click here for The Khayaal Festival 2015 Day 2
The Khayaal Creative Network, the powerhouse team behind the second Khayaal Festival kicked off Day 1 of the festival, in collaboration with the Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore.
The Khayaal Festival aims to promote dialogue through a series of talks, performances and documentaries ranging from politics, culture, economy, art, dance, music, literature, empowerment, identity and sociopolitical issues. The first day of the festival explored a diversity of topics including but not limited to, talks on Punjabi poetry, women writers and writing, Pakistani literature over the years, art and the concept of boundaries, Afghanistan and the challenges of Central Asia, revisiting the new world order, the topics of exile and asylum in today’s world, the post revival of Pakistani cinema, art in public spaces and Lahore’s drastically evolving socio-cultural landscape.
Photos From The Khayaal Festival 2015 Day 1
Photo Credits: Imran Fareed at Pinhole Studio
The core theme for the Khayaal Festival 2015 was Pushing the Boundaries, a theme which was reflected in all sessions and performances. The day 1 lineup included diverse and foreign speakers, drawing on literature, poetry, film, drama, language, documentary, art, music and current affairs. The day one kicked off with the opening speeches by Taimur Rehman, Jibran Nasir, Samina Baig, Zar Aslam and a performance by the first female Pakistani dhol player Horeya Asmat. The panel discussion featured Nandita Das, Sarmad Khoosat, Sara Kazmi, Mushtaq Sufi, Dr Farrukh Khan, Nayyar Ali Dada,Imrana Tiwana Maryam Hussain, Aisha Amir, Asif Farukhi, Shehla Sanwal, Sabir Nazar, Kashif Baloch, Andrew Small, Hina Rabbani Khar, Vladimir Boyoko,Ejaz Haider, Wajahat Malik, Quddus Mirza, Abdullah Qureshi, Risham Hosain Syed, Aziz Sohail, Mehvash Amin, Noor ul Huda Shah, Dr Fatima Hassan, Aamer Hussein, Qudsia Rahim, Farida Batool, Ayesha Jatoi, Atif Khan, Naazish Ataullah, Zeba Sattar, Haris Gazdar, Dr. Ali Cheema, Lubna Dajani, Afiya Shehrbano, Ayesha Siddiqa, Haroon Khalid, Atta Ul Haq Qasmi, Mina Keshavarz, Mina Malik Hussain, Tahira Syed, Zohaib Kazi, Rakae Jamil, Anum Zakaria, Mrs Sonu Rehman, Jami, Adnan Sarwar, Farjad Nabi, Marvi Sirmid, Musharaf Ali Farooqi, Naeem Ahmed, Muhammad Nasir and Nuria Rafique Iqbal. The event concluded with a musical performance by Khumariyaan.
The two-day event was supported by Sapphire, OurSun, LACAS, Interwood, Ferozesons Laboratories, Millat Tractors, UBL, Zaman Foundation, City FM89 and was open to the general public.
About Khayaal Creative Network:
Ayesha Husain has a Masters in English Literature and teaches literature to O and A level students. She also teaches various courses at the LGS Defence’ International Degree Program affiliated with the University of London. With over 16 years of teaching experience, she has a great passion for Literature. Currently enrolled in the MPhil Education program, she also volunteers at The Rising Sun – a school for special children. Her favorite quote is by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Zainab Qureshi has done her Bar –at – Law Inner Temple and is currently the Director of LACAS, Lahore. She is also the Director of the NGO, Sakina Nazli Tribute. Zainab has a keen interest in arts and literature and one of her favorite quotes is by Rumi: “And still, after all this time, the Sun has never said to the Earth, You owe me. Look what happens with love like that. It lights up the sky”.
Amna Omar has taught Government and Political Studies for the last 22 years. She has done her masters in Political Science with honours. She is on the college and advisory board of LACAS. She has a passion for reading and the creative arts. Her favourite quote is by Guillaume Apollinaire, “Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy”.
Nuria Rafique-Iqbal is a qualified UK solicitor and having practiced in London, Moscow and Paris she moved to Pakistan in 2004 and focused on philanthropy. She co-founded the non profit organisations Rising Stars Foundation and The Fundraisers, and is also CEO of Labour & Love, a social enterprise providing income generating opportunities for women. Nuria’s favorite quote is by Martin Luther King: “Life’s most urgent question is: what are you doing for others?”
