Living in the west, listening to the cacophony of differing opinions on issues, it is hard to imagine places where the state narratives are so strong and overwhelming they stifle competing commentaries. When such places still manage to produce independent thinkers and writers, a round of applause is in order.
Haroon Khalid and Anam Zakaria are two such independent researchers and writers from Pakistan. They are currently touring the US. Both Khalid and Zakaria talked about their recent books—‘Walking with Nanak’ (Haroon Khalid) and ‘Between the Great Divide’ (Anam Zakaria)—and engaged with the audience in Q&A sessions (session with Haroon Khalid moderated by Stanford history professor Priya Satia) in a program held at the Chandni Restaurant in Newark, California, on April 28.
The event was jointly organized by UMA (United Muslims of America) and the Sikh Foundation, an organization founded by the father of fiber-optics, Dr. Narinder Singh Kapani, to preserve artifacts and history of the Sikhs. The two main people behind the program were Urdu poet Tashie Zaheer, and Sonia Dhami, co-editor of the book ‘Sikh Art, from the Kapani Collection.’
Videos:
3-Haroon Khalid Q and A session
4-Anam Zakaria--discussion on 'The Great Divide'
5-Anam Zakaria Q and A session
