By Minahil Makhdoom
ISLAMABAD: A book titled ‘Siren Song: Women Singers’ of Pakistan published by the Oxford University Press launched here at Pakistan National Council of the Arts.
Minister for Federal Education, Professional Training, National History and Literary Heritage Division Shafqat Mahmood was the chief guest on the occasion. Director General PNCA Dr. Fouzia Saeed and senior officials were also present on the occasion.
In his remarks, the minister highly praised the book, saying that it is a great contribution and tribute to the women singer and the book trace the history of Pakistan in the context of world politics, through the lives, challenges and musical contributions of its female singers, as these lives in turn grapple with the imbricated nature and effect class, gender, religious and nation-state politics and identities in Pakistan after partition 1947. He said that government would appreciate such efforts for promoting the true image of Pakistan culture and history. Earlier, DG PNCA Dr. Fouzia Saeed welcomed the guest at the book launching ceremony. She congratulated the writer of the book and said that it was beautiful addition in the cultural history books. I also face resistance for my book TABOO while interviewing women in the field. That is why their problems and hardships do not coming to limelight and people remain unaware of their issues, she added.
The book is an analysis of Pakistani cultural history based on research conducted by Dr. Afzal Khan initially for her documentary film project Pakistani women singers, for which she received a building bridges through film development grant in 2011 from the National Endowment of the humanities.
The writer sharing her thoughts said that I wanted to pay tribute to those women singers who inspite of all discouragement and risks have made it possible to show their talent in the unacceptable environment.
Fawzia Afzal Khan holds a Phd in English from Tuft University, has been a university distinguished scholar, Fulbright alum, NEH film grant awardee, and professor of English and Former Director of the Program in Gender, sexuality.
