Department of English

Events

Exploring the World of Fiction
An Afternoon with Sana Munir
(Author of Unfettered Wings)
14th February, 2020 - Continuing the literary series introduced by Shaukat Ara Niazi literary society's incharge, Aaisha Mumtaz, Lahore College for Women University held the second talk on the topic of short fiction with Sana Munir, notable author of "Unfettered Wings" as well as an alumni of Lahore College for Women University. The program was hosted by society incharge, Aaisha Mumtaz and led primarily by speaker, Sana Munir who engaged the audience in a series of creative imagination activities with short video clips following her steps to writing a good short story. Several worthy guests graced the event with their presence including senior members of the English department LCWU, students from affiliated colleges as well as Sana Munir's poet friend, Ali Mazhar who recited a beautiful poem for the audience. The event was wrapped up with the arrangement of tea for all the guests.

Exploring the World of Poetry
An Afternoon with Dr. Rizwan Akhtar
(Author of Lahore I am Comin)

12th February, 2020 - Under the patronage of Shaukat Ara Niazi literary society and its incharge, Aaisha Mumtaz, Lahore College for Women University held the first talk of its literary series with Dr. Rizwan Akhtar, author of "Lahore, I'm Coming", on the topic of poetry. The program was hosted by Hasna Asif, former president of Shaukat Ara Niazi literary society. Four notable student members made up the panel, including former SAN president, Hasna Asif; current SAN president, Ayeza Yousaf and general secretary Mahnoor Tahir; and MS final year student, Fatima Latif. The panel engaged Dr. Rizwan Akhtar in a meaningful conversation about the creative process behind poetry, his own poetic inspiration, and his advice for aspiring poets. Several mentionable guests graced the event with their presence including senior members of the English department, LCWU and students from affiliated colleges. The event was wrapped up with the arrangement of tea for the guests.

International Symposium titled “The Post-Colonial and the Glocal”


Day 1

A three-day International Symposium titled “The Post-colonial and the Glocal” was held by the department of English, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore in collaboration with the English department of International Islamic University, Malaysia and Higher Education Commission, Islamabad. It was held at Iqra Auditorium at Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan.
Day 1 of International Symposium started with the recitation from the Holy Quran leading to an introductory presentation on the background of the collaboration between the English departments of both the universities. The Vice Chancellor of Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Prof. Dr. Bushra Mirza gave a welcome address, praising the Department of English for its contribution in the internationalization of education and establishing itself as an international center for research and also for signing the first Letter of Intent with the English department of IIUM. She also shared some clauses from the Letter of Intent. Two panel discussions were scheduled for Day 1.
The first panel for Literature was moderated by Dr. Amara Khan, Assistant Professor in the Department of English, LCWU. The panel contained several notable names from the field of English Literature. The second panel for Linguistics was moderated by Ms Memoona Sohail, Assistant Professor in the Department of English, LCWU. This panel also contained Dr. Roziana Rosli from the English Department at International Islamic University, Malaysia. The two panels dealt with various aspects of Literature and Linguistics in relation with Post-colonialism. The day ended with the distribution of certificates to the presenters.

Day 2

Day two of the Symposium was marked by the launch of The Bridge, a book featuring writers from Pakistan and Malaysia. On the occasion, the editor from Malaysia, Prof. Nor Farida Abdul Manaf, the Deputy Rector of Internalization and Global Network at the International Islamic University, Malaysia, expressed her gratitude and her hope that their joint venture will bear fruitful results.
The Editor from Pakistan, Ms. Aaisha Umt Ur Rashid expressed that The Bridge was not just a book but a journey which would continue to build connections between writers from around the globe. The book launch was a beautiful ceremony which included recitations of poems from various poets belonging to academia. The Chief guest, Mr. Rehman Faris, who is an Additional Commissioner, In-land Revenue along with being a poet, a columnist ,a TV anchor and the author of book Ishq Bakhair conveyed his best wishes for the project and hoped that the book would prove to be a stepping stone for the emerging young writers.
The day also saw two workshops held by Prof. Nor Farida Abdul Manaf, from International Islamic University, Malaysia and by Sana Munir, Mass Media researcher and analyst, columnist and the author of Unfettered Wings. The day proved to be a celebration of creativity and innovation.

Day 3
Day 3 of International Symposium started with the recitation from the Holy Quran. The day marked the departure of guests who had come from Malaysia. On the occasion, Ms. Mahrukh Bokhari , Principal, Lahore College for Women, Intermediate Section, expressed her joy at the success of the event and talked about further collaborative activities. Prof. Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf, the Deputy Rector of Internalisation and Global Network at International Islamic University, Malaysia, presented a paper titled “Literature in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. Following this Prof. Fareeha Basit Khan, Head of English Department and the Director, Sabiha Mansoor Institute of Languages and Culture at Lahore College for Women University, concluded the event with a hopeful and optimistic note and said that she hoped that the ties of friendship that  English Department of Lahore College for Women University had cultivated with the International Islamic University Malaysia will be very fruitful for both the institutes. The day ended with distribution of certificates.
 
 

Writers in Conversation

Ms.RabiaZaid Visits LCWU for the “Writers in Conversation” Series.

17th April, 2019-Dr. Sadia Zulfiqar of Lahore College for Women University, Lahore hosted the third talk of the “Writers in Conversation Series” events with Ms.Rabia Zaid as the guest speaker. The topic of the talk was “Locating the ‘Woman’ in Rabindranath Tagore stories”. For this purpose, Zaid speculated Tagore’s short story: Garibala, in which the journey of woman from a dependent housewife to an independent performer was reflected. The story was evaluated through the aspects of “Nature vs. Nurture” and “Production vs. Reproduction”, pondering upon the notions of Simon de Beauvoir - “Imminence vs. Transcendence”. She highlighted the metamorphosis of Garibala,who transcended from the mundane life of dependency and a socially constructed gender; by making a conscious choice to exercise her own agency in defining her gender role, as in view to the Judith Butler’s idea of gender as a ‘performance’ and a ‘fluid’ concept. The talk ended with the Q/A session which helped the students in giving nuanced understanding of gendered perspectives within a patriarchal society. The event was wrapped up with the presentation of a gift by the Head of English Department, Professor Fareeha Basit Khan to the respectable guest speaker, Ms. Rabia Zaid.

Dr Sadia Zulfiqar
Hosted/Organizer
Department of English
LCWU Lahore

Prof. Fareeha Basit Khan
Director ILC/HOD English
LCWU Lahore

ENGLISH DEBATE MANIA 2018

English Debating Society continuing with its tradition to provide stage to the young talent of Lahore College for Women University to practice their debating capabilities, conducted ENGLISH DEBATE MANIA 2018 on November 7, 2018 under the supervision of Director Institute of Languages and Culture, The Head of English Department and Incharge English Debating Society Prof. Fareeha Basit Khan.

Prof. Fareeha Basit Khan, Ms Marukh Bukhari (Principal Intermediate College, LCWU), Ms Muqadas Javed (lecturer) and Ms Bushra Nadeem (Director Student Affairs) were the members of the judgement panel for the competition. Participation of students was highly encouraged.
Incharge
Prof. Fareeha Basit Khan
Director /Head of English Department
LCWU Lahore

Ms. Aimen Bucha Visits LCWU for the “Writers in Conversation” Series

31st October, 2018 Dr Sadia Zulfiqar of the Lahore College for Women University, Lahore hosted the first of the “Writers in Conversation Series” events with Ms. Aimen Bucha as the guest speaker. The talk centred on the problems that women face in Pakistan, the political aspect of feminism, commercial uses of the logo of ‘feminist’ and ‘feminism’, and the misconception about the irrelevance of the Feminist movement in Pakistan because of its Western origin and the supposed need to save our country from this ‘foreign propaganda’. Ms. Aimen raised the issue of the general misconception of patriarchy as an inherent human social system. She unearthed the roots of dismissal of women as unproductive members of the household and their work as meagre, unimportant and unmanly, and debunked this myth by her study of the human history. The students found her lecture relevant to their current experiences in Pakistan, because although there are efforts to unburden women of social, economic, and domestic harassment, albeit the root of the problem i.e, the problem of a diseased mindset, and a diseased behaviour, still affects the society.

Dr Sadia Zulfiqar
Department of English
Organizer
Assistant Professor
LCWU Lahore

Prof. Fareeha Basit Khan
Director ILC/HOD English
LCWU Lahore

NAB Debate Competition

English Debating Society continuing with its tradition to provide stage to the young talent of Lahore College for Women University to practice their debating capabilities, arranged the initial round for NAB Debate Competition under the supervision of Director Institute of Languages and Culture, The Head of English Department and Incharge English Debating Society Prof. Fareeha Basit Khan.

Prof. Fareeha Basit Khan, Ms Marukh Bukhari (Principal Intermediate College, LCWU), Ms Muqadas Javed (lecturer) and Ms Memoona were the members of the judgement panel for the competition. Participation of students was highly encouraged. Hooria Shahzad, Fariha Batool, Saba Nazeer and Daima Imran were able to secure top positions.

Prof.Fareeha Basit Khan
Incharge English Debating Society
Director ILC
HOD English
LCWU,Lahore

Tax Evasion is an Impediment to Growth

A debate competition was being held at Government College University on 5th April , 2018

The topic was Tax evasion is an impediment to growth.

It was held on the direction of the Government of the Punjab Revenue Authority on the Pretext of Tax awareness. A debator from English Debating Society ( EDS) LCWU “Nazneen  Noor” bagged consolation prize at this event and got 15000/- PKR as prize Money.

Prof. Fareeha Basit Khan
Director ILC / HOD English
LCWU Lahore

Talk by Dr Tehmina Pirzada

The English Department organized a talk by Dr Tehmina Pirzada on March 22, 2018. The talk was part of the Writers in Conversation series, organized by Dr Sadia Zulfiqar of the Dept of English. The Writers in Conversation series has seen literary personalities come to LCWU in the past and share their insights with the students and academia of LCWU.
This time, the topic of Dr Pirzada’s talk drew a lot of attention. The topic Reinventing Muslim Girlhood: Defamiliarization  and the Muslim Cool in Persepolis and Burka Avengerpromised to address many of the current issues that are a key part of the Muslim Girlhood experience.

Dr Pirzada shared her insights regarding the experience of girlhood and how Muslims girls and women are rediscovering and redefining concepts such as ‘space’, ‘discourse’ and ‘clothing/veiling’ etc.

The talk ended with the students asking many thought provoking questions of Dr Tehmina Pirzada.

HEC INTERNAL DECLAMATION CONTEST 2018

Lahore College For Women University English Debating society organized HEC Declamation Contest 2018 (Internal) on 19th March,2018 to develop among students the leadership qualities, best interpersonal skills, the art of public speaking & intellectual development. Orators from affiliated colleges including Govt.Gulberg College for Women, Govt.Islamia college for Women Cooper Road lahore & Govt.College Samanabad contested for coveted cash prizes.Students from academic departments showed their oratory skills on the given topis.speakers were judged by distinguished judges Prof.Fareeha Basit Khan & prof.Sana Farrukh. Ms Fizza kakous won the first prize, second & third prizes were grabbed by Hafsa Khalil & Nazneen Noor Consolation prize was awarded  to Saba Nazir.
  

Prof. Fareeha Basit Khan    Ms. Aniqa Osman                       Ms. Ammara Iqbal

Advisor                            Incharge                                    Ms. Masooma Zaidi

EDS  LCWU                      EDS LCWU                                  Ms. Kaneez Fatima

                                                                                      Coordinators

                                                                                      EDS LCWU

A book talk with Dr. Rizwan Akhtar

Under the patronage of Shaukat Ara Niazi literary society, LCWU arranged  a book talk with Dr. Rizwan Akhtar  whose first  collection  of poetry has recently been published titled “Lahore, I am Coming.” The program was hosted  by Ms. Aaisha Mumtaz, co-incharge SAN literary society  . Many mentionable names graced the program with their  presence and participation. Dr. Waseem Anwar provided an influential review of Dr. Rizwan Akhtar poems. Ms Iffat Saeed , Assistant professor, PU read a paper. The discussion panel included Dr. Shahid Imtiaz, Ms. Shireen Raheem and Ms. Ayesha Barque. The poetry recitation session was exclusively entertaining for the audience. Ms. Zakiya Nasir and Ms. Mudassira Makhdoom  from the faculty English Dept, BS students Ayeza, Omama and Abreera, and Intermediate participant Mahnoor Elahi. Everyone contributed in introducing the audience with Dr. Rizwan’s  work. Vote of thanks offered by Prof. Zareen Fatima Isaad, the incharge of Shaukat Ara Niazi literary society .

Ms. Aaisha Mumtaz                                      Prof. Zareen Fatima Isaad
co-incharge                                                   Incharge
Shaukat Ara Niazi literary society LCWU           Shaukat Ara Niazi literary society LCWU

A talk by Mr Musharraf Ali Farooqi

A talk by Mr Musharraf Ali Farooqi,eminent translator, novelist and publisher on February 9,2018.

Snuffing out the Moon

A Talk with Dr. Osama Siddique , author of Snuffing out the Moon.

Transcreation-Translative and Creative writing based on the Poetry of Madho Lal Hussain

The Department of English, LCWU, Lahore organised a talk by Mr Naveed Alam from BNU on ‘Transcreation-Translative and Creative writing based on the Poetry of Madho Lal Hussain’. The talk was part of the Writers in Conversation series that arranges for interaction between students, writers and the academics.

The talk was moderated by Dr Sadia Zulfiqar, Assistant Professor at the Department of English, who thanked Mr Naveed Alam for his eagerness to share his ‘transcreative’ work with the students and faculty of English Department.

The talk focussed on the transgressive aspects of Shah Hussain’s poetry, especially focussing on the homoerotic overtones of his poetry that led him to being known as ‘Madho Lal Hussain’ due to his love for Madho, a Hindu boy.

The talk then spiralled into a discussion of how poetry like Shah Hussain’s ‘kafis’ can inspire people to indulge in transcreative ventures of their own like Mr Naveed Alam who shared this the his own poems, directly inspired by the countless kafis of Shah Hussain. The talk ended on a high note with a question and answer session with the enthusiastic faculty and students.