UrduFest 2008

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 the sar-e asman, in both Urdu and English.

Shamsur Rahman Faruqi
Keynote Speaker

• Christina Oesterheld, University of Heidelberg
• Sean Pue, Michigan State University
• Barbara Metcalf, University of Michigan
• C.M. 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

The UrduFest begins on Friday, September 12th, with a Welcome Reception hosted by the Harrison Institute and Library at the University of Virginia. The reception is followed by the keynote address to be given by the conference's featured guest, Shamsur Rahman Faruqi. The conference continues on Saturday, September 13th, with a full day of panels, followed Saturday evening by a Mushaira poetry reading.

All conference events will be held at the Harrison Institute / Small Library on the campus of the University of Virginia.

Click the link to download the complete conference program in PDF format.

Click here to view a brief movie from the UrduFest 2008 conference.

Prajna Parasher (Chatham University)

We are pleased to have an exhibit of original calligraphic artwork by acclaimed artist and scholar Prajna Parasher. Her work will be displayed at the Harrison Institute / Small Library as well as at the Shea Residence House.

The UrduFest conference is made possible by the generous support from:

• The American Institute of Pakistan Studies
• The Indian Council for Cultural Relations
• The Harrison Institute / Small Library
• The International Studies Office
• The College of Arts and Sciences
• The Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures
• The Middle East Studies Program
• The Corcoran Department of History
• The Special Lectures Fund
• The Center for South Asian Studies
• The English Department
• The Comparative Literature Program