Daily Times

Without the visible support of the state, coupled with a widespread terror threat stemming from extremist elements in society, the arts and culture in Pakistan have experienced a shrivelling public space. Nevertheless, it would be premature to read out an extravagant eulogy; recent years have witnessed an upsurge in collaborative efforts by the cultural community to not just reclaim the lost public space but also promote an alternative narrative that defies a myopic understanding of the prevailing socio-political order. Despite a revival of culture catering to a niche urban educated class, creative visions of artistic voices are blooming all over the country. Over the past week, three events in Lahore opened to audiences with a growing interest in localised cultural events and artistic performances: the Faiz International Festival, 14th Youth Performing Arts Festival by Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop and the 7th Lahore International Children’s Film Festival (LICFF). The annual Faiz International Festival aimed to showcase Pakistan’s greatest talent and minds on display. The festival provided a platform for national and international artists, poets and thinkers to not just congregate but also deliberate on the politics of the Left as envisioned by the late progressive thinker and poet. The Youth Festival and the Children’s Film Festival provided a much needed scope for schools and colleges to participate in this cultural revival by performing theatre plays, promoting the next generation of cinema and art for children and youth in the hope of developing an understanding of societal issues depicted through aesthetics, fostering a general space for critical discussion. Elsewhere, the burgeoning film industry and a somewhat established music industry of Pakistan is a speculum for a similar trend. Truth is the arts and culture are a form of liberal expression that mirrors the intellectual growth and sophistication of a society. It is perhaps the biggest weapon against growing intolerance, extremism and a terrorised public space.
Despite this hopeful resurgence, a wave of such events remains a seasonal activity only, one that is invigorated in winter and dies down with rising temperatures. Organised art and cultural events should be available to the public all year round. Moreover, there should be active promotion of a wider public involvement rather than confining this new found return of freedom of expression to a particular privileged class. This dynamic space, lost to terrorism in recent years, can only survive with support from the government and authorities so that it has a legitimate place in the collective consciousness of our society. Pakistani art, literature, music, poetry, sports and lifestyle are all part of an all-encompassing culture, ordinary and extraordinary, and have to necessarily be an extension of our true selves. This means we should not just inculcate in ourselves the appreciation of culture, but the courage to practice it while critically appraising it. *