From South Asia, Europe and North America the University of Virginia has brought together three generations of scholars of Urdu and its literature for enlightening and inspiring discussions on Urdu and Urdu literature's past, present and future. All presentations will be aimed not only at fellow scholars but at students of comparative literature and of South Asia generally. The keynote speech is by the renowned critic, poet and novelist Shamsur Rahman Faruqi. In addition to a full day of academic panels the University also hosts an informal evening of poetry and a reading by S R Faruqi from his recent novel Kai chand thay sar-e asman, in both Urdu and English.

• Shamsar Faruqi, Keynote Speaker
• Christina Oesterheld, University of Heidelberg
• Sean Pue, Michigan State University
• Barbara Metcalf, University of Michigan
• Choudri Naim, University of Chicago
• Fran Pritchett, Columbia University
• Kamran Ali, University of Texas
• Akbar Hyder, University of Texas

• Mehr Farooqi, University of Virginia
• Gail Minault, University of Texas
• Aditya Behl, University of Pennsylvania
• Tanveer Anjum, IQRA University, Karachi
• Muhammad Mahfooz, Jamia Millia Islamia
• Khalid Jawed, Jamia Millia Islamia
• Syed Muhammad Ashraf, Author

Friday, September 12 to Sunday, September 14. The conference will be held at the Harrison Library on the campus of the University of Virginia. It is sponsored by the Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures.