Fans of Booker prize winner Ben Okri will have been especially pleased by the one on one session between him and Zareen Saeed, in which the writer talked about his latest work and the process of both reading and writing that he believes in.
An event for thorough lit-heads, Okri mentioned the art of reading slowly, and how the general measurement of intelligence by the pace of reading was something that reduced textual engagement between the reader and literature.
Zareen Saeed also brought up Okri’s “fictive philosophy” style of writing, which proved to be a praise (and a label) that Okri was reluctant to accept, but talked about nonetheless.
Carried forward from his earlier session was also the idea of “finding a new language.”
According to Okri, one of the needs of the time was to discover a new way of communication and to stop using overused terminology which has become redundant to the ears of changemakers.
Today’s event is expected to have an even higher attendance than Saturday, and talks involving Raza Aslal, Ziya Mohiyudin and a performance by band Laal are the main attraction.
