Karachi, 21 March: Oxford University Press (OUP) organized a discussion around Irshad AbdulKadir’s new novel The Deriabad Chronicles. The story traces the lives and fortunes of the family members of the deceased ruler of Deriabad, a fictitious princely state of British India that has acceded to Pakistan. The cast of characters include the ruler’s eldest son, Nawab Sartaj Alam Khan, who succeeds his father, and his half-sister, Princess Bisma who breaks family tradition by entering national politics. The story also features twin princesses and Prince Meheryar, the ruler`s second son, who leads an expedition to discover a lost tribe and in the process uncovers many family mysteries.
Irshad AbdulKadir is a Barrister at Law, based in Karachi. Several articles written by him on socio-economics, governance and politics have appeared in newspapers and journals. His first publication Trademark Protection in the United Arab Emirates (1989) appeared when he was practising law in the UAE. He has also made TV documentary films on cultural, historical and socio-political subjects. His first work of fiction, Clifton Bridge: Stories of Innocence and Experience from Pakistan was published in 2013.
The event held at the Oxford bookshop in Dolmen Mall Clifton featured an animated discussion between Irshad AbdulKadir and the bestselling author and academic, Sabyn Javeri. The conversation highlighted how the novel’s characters constitute a microcosm of the lives, loves, and preoccupations of the feudal class of Pakistan.
Earlier in her welcome address, Ameena Saiyid, Chair, OUP Pakistan, introduced the author and the moderator, and spoke about OUP’s Platinum Series of books published to celebrate 70 years of Pakistan.
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