Gurmani Center
The Gurmani Center for Languages and Literature (GCLL) was established in 2010 with the generous support of the Gurmani Foundation to promote the study and research of Pakistani languages, including Arabic and Persian. Since its inception, the Center has grown into a leading hub for academic and cultural activities. It has hosted international conferences, published groundbreaking scholarship in the field of vernacular humanities, and offered a diverse range of courses in Pakistani languages.
One of the Center's flagship initiatives is the annual publication of Bunyad, a research journal recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) as one of the top-ranked journals in Urdu studies. Beyond publishing, the GCLL regularly invites artists, poets, calligraphers, and fiction writers to showcase their work and conduct workshops on creative writing, research methodologies, and related themes.
Due to its extensive contributions, the Gurmani Center has become a cornerstone of the vibrant intellectual and artistic life not only on the LUMS campus but also in the broader cultural landscape of Lahore.
Halqa-e-Arbāb-e-Zauq Lahore kī Fikrī o Tanqīdī Riwāyat (1973–1976).
Gurmani Centre for Languages and Literature cordially invites you to an academic and literary session titled:
Halqa-e-Arbāb-e-Zauq Lahore kī Fikrī o Tanqīdī Riwāyat (1973–1976).
The session is based on the book Mubāhiṡ by Hassan Jaffar Zaidi, which documents the proceedings of the weekly meetings of Halqa-e-Arbāb-e-Zauq Lahore held between 1973 and 1976. During this period, leading figures of Urdu literature actively participated in these sessions, presenting their creative works for collective discussion and rigorous critical engagement.
Halqa-e-Arbāb-e-Zauq (Urdu: حلقۂ اربابِ ذوق), founded in Lahore in 1939, is one of the most influential modern literary organizations in Urdu literature. Known for its emphasis on literary experimentation, aesthetic inquiry, and close critical reading, the Halqa established a tradition of sustained intellectual dialogue that has shaped modern Urdu literary culture and continues through regular sessions in Pakistan and abroad.
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Mubāhiṡ captures a particularly vibrant moment in this tradition, reflecting the literary debates, critical sensibilities, and intellectual energies of the 1970s. The volume serves as an important resource not only for students and scholars of literature but also for historians, political analysts, and journalists interested in the intersections of literature, politics, and intellectual life in Pakistan.
Session Details:
Date: Friday, 23 January 2026
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Venue: A-11, Academic Block, LUMS
Registration: https://forms.gle/trLU2dDRRrwrZMUv9z
We look forward to your presence at this important literary and intellectual session.