Urdu Fiction, History, and Historical Novel Writing
How does fiction shape our understanding of history? And when historical events are transformed into stories, characters, and legends, what happens to the way societies remember their past?
Urdu literature has a long and influential tradition of historical fiction, often bringing the past to life through narratives of conquest, conflict, heroism, and resistance. But can such stories also romanticize conquest, glorify violence, or present complex histories through simplified ideas of heroes and villains? What happens when literary imagination becomes part of collective historical memory?
This session will examine the relationship between Urdu fiction and history, with a particular focus on historical fiction writers and the ways their narratives have influenced social perceptions of the past.
The discussion will also explore Keewal Ram Ka Kafirkot, a research-based work of fiction by Hamza Hassan Sheikh that engages with the history and legacy of the Indus Valley Civilization and examines the impact of successive invasions on the region’s social, cultural, and political development.
About the Panelists:
- Hamza Hassan Sheikh
(Poet, Novelist, Author of ‘Keewal Ram ka Kafir Kot’) - Dr. Salahuddin Derwesh
(Professor, Author, Critic) - Dr. Ravish Nadeem
(Author, Poet, Educator, Critic) - Dr. Snobar Altaf
(Author, Poet, Educator, Critic — Moderator)
This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.
The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
Click here for Google Maps Location
