The Gurmani Centre for Languages and Literature at LUMS hosted its Annual Conference 2026, titled “The Mughals: Their Past, Our Present,” bringing together leading scholars, researchers, artists, and practitioners to examine the continuing influence of the Mughal legacy on contemporary South Asia.
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Marking nearly five centuries of Mughal history, the two-day conference explored how the Mughal past continues to shape modern discussions on culture, identity, governance, language, and artistic expression. Through a series of academic panels and discussions, participants engaged with themes including political thought, literary traditions, visual culture, architecture, law, regional histories, and material heritage.
The conference highlighted the Mughal era not merely as a historical period but as a living intellectual and cultural legacy that continues to inform present-day debates on pluralism, sovereignty, and collective memory.
A key highlight of the event was the keynote address by Professor Jamal J. Elias, titled “A Voice Like Persian: Maulana Rumi and Nostalgia for a Literary Past.” Moderated by Professor Nomanul Haq, the lecture examined the enduring relevance of Rumi in South Asia and reflected on the ways Persian literary traditions continue to influence contemporary cultural imagination. The address also explored questions of language, identity, and cultural memory in a postcolonial context.
Organised by the Gurmani Centre for Languages and Literature, the conference reaffirmed LUMS’ commitment to advancing critical scholarship in the humanities and fostering meaningful engagement with the region’s rich intellectual and cultural traditions.