Eqbal Ahmad (1930-1999) was a bold and original activist, writer, and theorist who brought uncommon perspective to the rise of militant Islam, the conflict in Kashmir, the involvement of the United States in Vietnam, and the geopolitics of the Cold War.

We are delighted to announce a special panel who will share their personal testimonies about Eqbal Ahmad – on how his life, work and legacy influenced, informed and shaped their careers and choices.

We will have a specially curated presentation of the Eqbal Ahmad digital archive from South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA). We will also be previewing the Chapati Mystery Eqbal Ahmad Zine project!

Confirmed panellists and contributors are:

-    Zulfiqar Ahmad - Zulfiqar Ahmad is an independent scholar and activist, based in New York, focusing on issues of peace and justice in South Asia. He is the president of the Eqbal Ahmad Foundation, a private organization working primarily on issues of education, security and peace in South Asia.

-    Suchitra Vijayan - Suchitra Vijayan is a Lawyer, writer, and photographer. She previously worked for the UN war crimes tribunal for Yugoslavia and Rwanda. She co-founded and was the Legal Director of Resettlement Legal Aid Project in Cairo. She writes regularly for The Hindu, Warscapes, Foreign Policy, and HuffingtonPost.

-    Uzma Aslam Khan - Uzma Aslam Khan is a novelist and essayist. Her short fiction has appeared in various literary magazines and anthologies, such as Granta, The Massachusetts Review, and And the World Changed. Khan’s non-fiction has also appeared worldwide. It covers a wide range of subjects, including women in the arts, ethnic warfare, and US foreign policy.

-    Nidhi Kohli - SAADA Board Member; SAADA (South Asian American Digital Archive) is an independent national non-profit organization working to create a more inclusive society by giving voice to South Asian Americans through documenting, preserving, and sharing stories that represent their unique and diverse experiences.

-    The Chapati Mystery Eqbal Ahmad Zine Project - courtesy Esmat Elhalaby and Sumayya K Ali 

Following the event some of the panelists will be around to informally chat and catch up over light refreshments about the legacy of Eqbal Ahmad as well their work and presentations.

Join us at this special evening and be part of this continued exploration of Eqbal Ahmad’s work, legacy and inspiration. All are welcome.