The Gurmani Centre for Languages and Literature is delighted to invite you to an insightful event titled "Urdu, Islam, and the Cold War: Literary Narratives and Ideological Currents".
February 7, 2025
Time:
4 - 6 pm
VC Lounge, Academic Block, LUMS
This event will explore Urdu literature's ideological and literary evolution across colonial and postcolonial periods, focusing on the Cold War's influence on literary narratives and cultural production in Pakistan. We will analyse the portrayal of religious and martial figures in Urdu literature, tracing their transformation from colonial-era resistance stories to postcolonial representations. Additionally, the discussion will address how CIA-backed initiatives like the Congress for Cultural Freedom shaped Urdu literary trends in South Asia, promoting specific ideological currents while sidelining others. By examining these dynamics, the event will shed light on the intersections of global politics, cultural dominance, and the literary shaping of identity within the Urdu literary landscape.
The session will feature Dr. Ali Raza and Dr. Maryam Wasif Khan as the speakers, and Dr. Ali Usman Qasmi will join as the discussant.
Please click here to register for the event.
