Lahore Literary Festival 2026: Kamila Shamsie, British Ambassador Jane Marriott discuss power, politics

2026-02-07 - 11:36

LAHORE – A high-profile and intellectually engaging session was held at the Lahore Arts Council Alhamra on Saturday under the ongoing Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) 2026, featuring internationally acclaimed author Kamila Shamsie in conversation with Jane Marriott, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan. Organised in collaboration with the Wimbledon Book Festival, the session was titled “The Private Life of Power: How Politics Affects Friendships, Memory, and Moral Choice.” The discussion examined the personal and ethical dimensions of power, focusing on how political authority shapes human relationships, moral judgment, and collective memory—areas often overlooked in mainstream political discourse. Kamila Shamsie said that reducing politics to policies and state decisions ignores its deeper human impact. She noted that power gradually influences friendships and personal values, forcing individuals to reinterpret their past choices in light of political realities. According to her, proximity to power often leads people to justify actions that were once considered morally unacceptable. The session also explored how authority can distort truth and memory, creating moral compromises that strain friendships and social bonds. Speakers emphasised that The Private Life of Power is not limited to criticism of politicians alone but is relevant to anyone involved in decision-making or influence at any level. A large audience attended the session and actively participated in the question-and-answer segment. The participants described the discussion as timely and highly relevant amid current global and domestic political challenges. The event reflected LLF’s vision of using literature as a tool for critical thinking, ethical reflection and meaningful dialogue. The Lahore Literary Festival continues at Alhamra with a series of sessions aimed at promoting intellectual exchange and cultural discourse. Earlier, the second day of the festival began with a sitar performance at the Alhamra Academy of Performing Arts. Other sessions included discussions on contemporary trends in Urdu literature, Siraiki revolutionary poetry, identity and belonging, immersive writing practices and a lecture on India’s 5,000-year-old history by historian André Truschke, with commentary by South Asian history expert Prof Mahboob Hussain of Punjab University.