Partition of Identity: An exploration of Belonging in Bengalis in Pakistan, 1971- 2021
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Department Name: Social Science
Abstract
Following the violent Liberation War of 1971 in which Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan, there was a wave of migration from Bangladesh to the more economically stable Pakistan. Often settling in Sindh province, particularly Karachi, these Bengali migrants have participated widely in the Pakistani economy. Many have been refused citizenship rights in line with the Pakistan Citizenship Act of 1951 and despite their Pakistan-born children and grandchildren having little direct knowledge of Bangladesh, they remain without official documentation. This can create challenges in everyday activities (around education, employment and health) and strengthen the idea that they are not 'true' Pakistani citizens as emphasised by a wider state narrative. Recently, with the arrival of a newly elected government, momentum has been building towards granting the community full rights. Moreover, with the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's creation in 2021 drawing ever closer, our project comes at a critical time.
Our research takes place in 3 phases and overall, we aim to investigate how the identities and contributions of these Bengali migrants are understood within the community, and how they have they been understood by a wider Pakistani state narrative since 1971. Furthermore, we aim to understand how these two accounts influence each other.
No existing record of this group exists. By co-producing a new history of identity, activism, migration memory and belonging with our interviewees and arts partners, we will ensure that the voices of Pakistani Bengalis are recorded and heard. Our sample will be diverse including Pakistani Bengali men, women and young people of different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Our project will:
- transform academic and public understandings of how lack of citizenship influences social identity and sense of belonging, and stimulates resistance, among Bengalis in Pakistan, particularly in young people. This will be through creating written and aural records from this group, accessible for anyone to read or listen to.
- expand understandings of how social representations of minority groups can influence their treatment and social positioning in the developing world
- enhance awareness of the Pakistani Bengali minority group in terms of its cultural heritage and socio-economic contribution to Pakistan through the range of project outputs
The project will be conducted with a series of partners based in the UK and Pakistan. These include: UCL, Where the PI is based, Lahore University of Management Science, where the Co-I is based, the Citizens Archive of Pakistan, National College of Arts, Lahore Students Union and Pakistan Institute for Education and Labour Research. Our partners will be involved to differing degrees in the 3 research phases. In Phase 1 we will conduct a strategic search through historical, policy and media documents for depiction of the community. This will inform the interview and archival elicitation work in Phases 2 and 3. It will also give information on wider state and media representation of this group. Phase 2 will involve oral history interviews and archival elicitation with 48 adults and 30 young people. We will also conduct art workshops with young people. Here we will gather information on community representation of self. In Phase 3, artists and musicians will re-imagine both state representation and also community representations to produce new outputs based on the community.
By the end of the project, we will have created and developed a new oral history archive, art and music based on the research, a documentary, a website, online exhibition, museum exhibition, two output events, media articles, 3 journal articles and co-edited book. Most importantly, we will advance the field by generating important new knowledge regarding the Bengali community in Pakistan following their migration in 1971 and ensure that their stories are told and voices are heard.
Our research takes place in 3 phases and overall, we aim to investigate how the identities and contributions of these Bengali migrants are understood within the community, and how they have they been understood by a wider Pakistani state narrative since 1971. Furthermore, we aim to understand how these two accounts influence each other.
No existing record of this group exists. By co-producing a new history of identity, activism, migration memory and belonging with our interviewees and arts partners, we will ensure that the voices of Pakistani Bengalis are recorded and heard. Our sample will be diverse including Pakistani Bengali men, women and young people of different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Our project will:
- transform academic and public understandings of how lack of citizenship influences social identity and sense of belonging, and stimulates resistance, among Bengalis in Pakistan, particularly in young people. This will be through creating written and aural records from this group, accessible for anyone to read or listen to.
- expand understandings of how social representations of minority groups can influence their treatment and social positioning in the developing world
- enhance awareness of the Pakistani Bengali minority group in terms of its cultural heritage and socio-economic contribution to Pakistan through the range of project outputs
The project will be conducted with a series of partners based in the UK and Pakistan. These include: UCL, Where the PI is based, Lahore University of Management Science, where the Co-I is based, the Citizens Archive of Pakistan, National College of Arts, Lahore Students Union and Pakistan Institute for Education and Labour Research. Our partners will be involved to differing degrees in the 3 research phases. In Phase 1 we will conduct a strategic search through historical, policy and media documents for depiction of the community. This will inform the interview and archival elicitation work in Phases 2 and 3. It will also give information on wider state and media representation of this group. Phase 2 will involve oral history interviews and archival elicitation with 48 adults and 30 young people. We will also conduct art workshops with young people. Here we will gather information on community representation of self. In Phase 3, artists and musicians will re-imagine both state representation and also community representations to produce new outputs based on the community.
By the end of the project, we will have created and developed a new oral history archive, art and music based on the research, a documentary, a website, online exhibition, museum exhibition, two output events, media articles, 3 journal articles and co-edited book. Most importantly, we will advance the field by generating important new knowledge regarding the Bengali community in Pakistan following their migration in 1971 and ensure that their stories are told and voices are heard.
Planned Impact
This study will raise the profile of the Bengali community in Pakistan following their migration in 1971. Through our generational and cross-sectional approach to research, we will ensure stories are told and voices are heard. Through professional and local networks of the Project Partners (The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP), The National College of Arts (NCA), The Lahore Students Union and The Pakistan Institute for Education and Labour Research (PILER) and journalists from BBC Urdu, Dawn and Herald), Partition of Identity will produce:
- A new oral history archive housed at the Citizens Archive of Pakistan
- New art outputs and music
- A project website with an online exhibition
- A documentary film directed by an award winning filmmaker
- A temporary museum exhibition at the National History Museum and film screening event
- 2 output events (one community level in Machar Colony, one at the Pakistani High commission)
- At least 3 academic journal articles
- 2-3 newspaper reports for Dawn, Herald and BBC Urdu
- A landmark co-edited book on the community
In doing so we will produce short, medium and long term outputs and outcomes and engage members of Pakistani Bengali community; Human Rights Groups and NGOs, Museum and Cultural Studies organisations:
Members from the Pakistani Bengali Community: We will provide a platform to tell the stories of this minority community. Through exploring documentary resources on the group and asking for their opinion on state and media representation, through co-producing the first oral history archive, which will be housed in one of the most prestigious organisations Citizens Archive of Pakistan; and open access following the research. We will, work with artists to produce art and music to tell the story of the community and produce a documentary whose aim is to provide a visual narrative of this group.
Human Rights Groups and NGOs: This project brings together NGOs (Lahore Student Union) and Advocacy and rights groups (Pakistan Institute for Labour Education Research - PILER) and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan as well as journalists (Dawn and the Pakistan Herald) to facilitate the formation of new partnerships and networks. The findings will inform policy and practice and news outputs. Moreover, they will be presented at Pakistan High Commission of Pakistan whose audience will be made up of key stakeholders in the policy field. The project comes at a timely point of reflection, of 50 years since the creation of Bangladesh, and this will feature in the impact narrative.
Museum and Cultural Studies organisations: We will hold an exhibition at one of Pakistan's most prestigious museums - the National History Museum. This will provide a new exhibition for the museum and will be the first time it represents this particular community. The exhibition will be a co-production between the researchers, the artist partner and the museum curator. The art and music produced in the research as well as excerpts and narratives of the community will all be presented. This will also provide a platform for the emerging artists in the research to be showcased at a high-profile event.
General Public: For the first time, the general public will have access to a well-informed and accurate portrayal of this migrant community as told by the community, but at the same time reflecting on state narrative. The public will have access to outputs, through our documentary, which we intend to screen at film festivals, our output events and website. We will also attempt to use platforms such as the YouTube streaming service to get this film out. Our newspaper reports (in both Urdu and English) will tell the story of this group, as will our website including an online exhibition. Our exhibition at the National History Museum will be open to the public and schools and will be promoted by social media. CAP has a dedicated YouTube channel and website and will promote the new archive.
- A new oral history archive housed at the Citizens Archive of Pakistan
- New art outputs and music
- A project website with an online exhibition
- A documentary film directed by an award winning filmmaker
- A temporary museum exhibition at the National History Museum and film screening event
- 2 output events (one community level in Machar Colony, one at the Pakistani High commission)
- At least 3 academic journal articles
- 2-3 newspaper reports for Dawn, Herald and BBC Urdu
- A landmark co-edited book on the community
In doing so we will produce short, medium and long term outputs and outcomes and engage members of Pakistani Bengali community; Human Rights Groups and NGOs, Museum and Cultural Studies organisations:
Members from the Pakistani Bengali Community: We will provide a platform to tell the stories of this minority community. Through exploring documentary resources on the group and asking for their opinion on state and media representation, through co-producing the first oral history archive, which will be housed in one of the most prestigious organisations Citizens Archive of Pakistan; and open access following the research. We will, work with artists to produce art and music to tell the story of the community and produce a documentary whose aim is to provide a visual narrative of this group.
Human Rights Groups and NGOs: This project brings together NGOs (Lahore Student Union) and Advocacy and rights groups (Pakistan Institute for Labour Education Research - PILER) and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan as well as journalists (Dawn and the Pakistan Herald) to facilitate the formation of new partnerships and networks. The findings will inform policy and practice and news outputs. Moreover, they will be presented at Pakistan High Commission of Pakistan whose audience will be made up of key stakeholders in the policy field. The project comes at a timely point of reflection, of 50 years since the creation of Bangladesh, and this will feature in the impact narrative.
Museum and Cultural Studies organisations: We will hold an exhibition at one of Pakistan's most prestigious museums - the National History Museum. This will provide a new exhibition for the museum and will be the first time it represents this particular community. The exhibition will be a co-production between the researchers, the artist partner and the museum curator. The art and music produced in the research as well as excerpts and narratives of the community will all be presented. This will also provide a platform for the emerging artists in the research to be showcased at a high-profile event.
General Public: For the first time, the general public will have access to a well-informed and accurate portrayal of this migrant community as told by the community, but at the same time reflecting on state narrative. The public will have access to outputs, through our documentary, which we intend to screen at film festivals, our output events and website. We will also attempt to use platforms such as the YouTube streaming service to get this film out. Our newspaper reports (in both Urdu and English) will tell the story of this group, as will our website including an online exhibition. Our exhibition at the National History Museum will be open to the public and schools and will be promoted by social media. CAP has a dedicated YouTube channel and website and will promote the new archive.
Organisations
- UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON (Lead Research Organisation)
- Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (Collaboration)
- Lahore University of Management Sciences (Collaboration)
- The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (Project Partner)
- Lahore Students Union (Project Partner)
- National College of Arts (Project Partner)
- Pakistan Inst of Labour Education PILER (Project Partner)
| Title | 'Aamai Bhashali Re', performed by Pakistani Bengali musician - Music Video by Abdul Haleem Abdullah Khan and Nabiha Rehan |
| Description | 'Aamai Bhashali Re', performed by Pakistani Bengali musician - Abdul Haleem Abdullah Khan and Nabiha Rehan Film, 5mins, 2022 Artists' Note: The following performance is a rendition of the popular poem by Bengali writer Jasimuddin. 'Aamai Bhashaili Re' captures the importance of the rivers and seas to sailors and fishermen across the subcontinent, many of whom belong to the Pakistani Bengali community. The song is performed in Bangla by musician Abdul Haleem, with English subtitles below. About the Artists: Abdullah Khan is a Pakistani independent filmmaker whose work deals with exploring unconventional topics and creating an impact for viewers. Khan's aim is to explore narratives that seem simple from the outside but at the same time hold a complex structure within. Abdullah started a career in filmmaking to tell stories about childhood, silenced voices, and unnoticed traumas, using a naturalistic style. He graduated from the Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture in 2022. Nabiha Rehan is an independent filmmaker who likes to explore themes related to the complexity of human thought and emotion. Her work follows a naturalistic style and aims to give a new perspective on challenging topics. She graduated from the Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture in 2022 |
| Type Of Art | Composition/Score |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | It has been displayed in 3 public international exhibitions (Karachi, London, Kuala Lumper) and viewed by over 1700 people (see https://poistudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Catalog-English-Book.pdf) It has been covered in 2 national media publications It has been featured as part of the Being Human Festival - https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/adrift-paper-boats It has been featured in 2 media clips - Kaghazi Kashtiyan (Paper Boats) - The Karachi Show & PARTITION OF IDENTITY: Reimagining Research Narratives through Art It has been featured in the Think of Others Art Catalogue, Part of the World Conference of Statelessness (https://files.institutesi.org/Think_of_Others_full_catalogue.pdf) |
| URL | https://youtu.be/RzoTDh6vy5c |
| Title | A Collection of 3 works by Syeda Yumna Fatima ('Seascape', 'Broken but in dreams I believe' & 'Save me or it will be the end for both of us',) |
| Description | A Collection of works Syeda Yumna Fatima Artist's Note: This collection of 3 pieces by Syeda Yumna Fatima offers a social commentary on different aspects of life experienced by Pakistani Bengalis living in one of the largest informal settlements in Karachi - Machar Colony. The 3 pieces in the collection are made from wood and hinges and images. Machar Colony covers about 4.5 sq.km with a density 4-7 times higher than that of the majority of Karachi. The population is between 800,000- 1.3 million. Piece1: 'Seascape', Mixed Media, 22"x 29", 2022 The sea is a key source of income and life for many from Machar Colony. Fish is a staple food and central to livelihoods. For fishermen, the journey of going out to sea on large wooden boats can be long and challenging. The crew is often at the mercy of nature and the vast expanse of the sea. Local folklore, music and fishermen's tales passed down to families, also capture the mysticism of the sea. In my piece I have tried to capture the many dimensions of the sea in the lives of Machar Colony dwellers. Piece 2: 'Broken but in dreams I believe', Mixed Media, 32"x24", 2022 The dark imagery here depicts the challenges faced by many Pakistani Bengalis living in Machar Colony, particularly around citizenship, but also around access to infrastructure and basic resources. These challenges impact entire families and generations. In the piece, with a little focus you can see that there is a tree branching out, symbolizing the notion of family, genealogy, and connection. Piece 3: 'Save me or it will be the end for both of us', Mixed Media, 18"x 24", 2022 Adjacent to the densely populated area of Machar colony lie the mangroves which provide flood protection from the Arabian Sea. Poverty has forced some to build homes on stilts here, resulting in deforestation and outwards expansion into 'The Jungle'. This piece provides a reminder of the strong but also fragile connection between man and nature, particularly of the impact of climate change on rising water levels, the aquatic ecosystem and in turn the number of fish in the water. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | It has been displayed in 2 public international exhibitions (Karachi, London) and viewed by over 1400 people It has been covered in 2 national media publications It has been featured as part of the Being Human Festival - https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/adrift-paper-boats It has been featured in 2 media clips - Kaghazi Kashtiyan (Paper Boats) - The Karachi Show & PARTITION OF IDENTITY: Reimagining Research Narratives through Art |
| URL | https://poistudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Catalog-English-Book.pdf |
| Title | A Night of Music and Poetry - with Ustad Abdul Haleem, IVS, Karachi, Pakistan |
| Description | On the 26th May 2023, as part of the Kaghazi Kashtiyan (Paper Boats) exhibition at Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture, we held a special music night in collaboration with Nazrul Academy Pakistan in which we showcased Bengla Music and Poetry. We had a performance from a Pakistani Bengali musician Ustad Abdul Haleem, and we invited members from the community as well as the public for the performance. |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The performance was attended by 100 people, and we were able to capture some of the performance of the musician for our short film. The event also promoted the work of the library Nazrul Academy and we had a speech from the chairman of this organisation. |
| URL | https://poistudy.com/resources/project-events/ |
| Title | ADHOORI SHANAKHT - ?????? ????? - Incomplete Identity: Growing up Pakistani Bengali by Abdullah Khan and Nabiha Rehan |
| Description | The following film shows a series of art workshops that took place in Machar Colony, Karachi in Spring 2022 with children and teenagers from Khel School. Many of these children face issues of statelessness. The workshops form part of the Partition of Identity Research Project (https://poistudy.com/) exploring the lives of Pakistani Bengalis led by University College London and Lahore University of Management Sciences. Research by Humera Iqbal, Anushay Malik, Maria Rashid and Arooj Aurangzeb (University College London & Lahore University of Management Sciences). Directed & Edited by Abdullah Khan and Nabiha Rehan |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | The film has been screened at a series of events and shared widely on social media. It is also on our project website. |
| URL | https://youtu.be/LeepjCdi-eg |
| Title | Amay Nohe Go performed by Ustad Abdul Haleem from the OST of Bhashaili (Adrift), directed by Jawad Sharif |
| Description | Amay Nohe Go - A Music video from Bhashaili, performed by Ustad Abdul Haleem. This is part of the OST of the film. Bhashaili (Adrift) explores the everyday stories of Pakistani Bengalis living in Karachi, including their loves, losses and the challenges they face. |
| Type Of Art | Composition/Score |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The performance has been shared widely on social media. The film has been screened to date 7 times internationally and within the UK The film has been submitted to a number of festivals and will be officially released in 2024 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fufKLV1OYA&t=24s |
| Title | Aqsa's Letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan by Abdullah Khan and Nabiha Rehan |
| Description | The video shows a young member from the Pakistani Bengali Community sharing their letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, sharing their experiences of lack of citizenship access and requesting that their rights be implemented, particularly around education. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | This video has been used in an week long Advocacy Campaign titled Letters to the PM. The campaign was run in collaboration with Imkaan Welfare Organisation and aimed to raise awareness about the issues faced by Pakistani Bengali young people due to issues around citizenship. The campaign was shared across a number of social media platforms and received over 200k views on one platform alone. |
| URL | https://youtu.be/jpN3vCXtGhc |
| Title | Bhashaili (Adrift) - Feature Length Documentary by Jawad Sharif (15) |
| Description | BHASHAILI (ADRIFT) (2024) Directed and produced by: Jawad Sharif Produced by: Humera Iqbal, Syeda Kashmala, Anushay Malik Based on Research: by Dr Humera Iqbal, Dr Anushay Malik, Dr Maria Rashid & Arooj Aurangzeb Year of Release: 2024 Short Synopsis Bhashaili or Adrift tells the story of Pakistani Bengalis living in Karachi, many of whom face issues around citizenship and Statelessness despite being in their fourth generation. We follow the everyday stories of young and old Pakistani Bengalis as they chase their dreams, find love, stand up for injustices, and face despair around their lack of recognition in Pakistan. Other links: Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg81sh_tERs POI Website: https://poistudy.com/artistic-outputs/documentary/ BBFC Certification: https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/bhashaili-adrift-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmde1njm2 |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The film has been screened nationally and internationally (to the general public and also policy makers) and is an important tool to help share the story of the community and the challenges they face around Statelessness. The film has been picked up by the national media in Pakistan and we have also submitted to film festivals. It has received very positive reviews. |
| URL | https://jawadshariffilms.com/bhashaili/ |
| Title | Boat Building, a photo series Abdullah Khan |
| Description | Boat Building, a photo series Abdullah Khan Film, 2022 Artist's Note: This photo series is inspired by the Arabian sea and the beasts that chart its rough waters. Hands that blister and reveal open wounds craft these very beasts. The ships portrayed in this piece are made by hand, measured by careful approximation showing the true power of what man can achieve when our differences are set aside, and we work as one. About the Artist: Abdullah Khan is a Pakistani independent filmmaker whose work deals with exploring unconventional topics and creating an impact for viewers. Khan's aim is to explore narratives that seem simple from the outside but at the same time hold a complex structure within. Abdullah started a career in filmmaking to tell stories about childhood, silenced voices, and unnoticed traumas, using a naturalistic style. He graduated from the Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture in 2022. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | It has been displayed in 2 public international exhibitions (Karachi, London) and viewed by over 1400 people It has been covered in 2 national media publications It has been featured as part of the Being Human Festival - https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/adrift-paper-boats It has been featured in 2 media clips - Kaghazi Kashtiyan (Paper Boats) - The Karachi Show & PARTITION OF IDENTITY: Reimagining Research Narratives through Art |
| URL | https://poistudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Catalog-English-Book.pdf |
| Title | Captured Dispacement by Axel Lucas |
| Description | Captured Displacement Axel Lucas Recycled Plywood, 6ft x 8ft, 2022 Artist's Note: Captured Displacement focuses on the stories and lives of the Pakistani Bengali Community including the challenges they face relating to citizenship and displacement. The installation depicts some of the key localities where the community live as pockets on the map of Karachi. The work is made from recycled plywood. Using a laser engraving machine five shapes have been cut from the wood to represent Pakistani Bengali colonies in Karachi, including Musa Colony, Zia ul Haq Colony, Bilal Colony, Ibrahim Hyderi and Machar Colony. I chose these specific places to highlight historical and contemporary patterns of settlement. The colonies shown are developed to scale, with Machar Colony, which is one of the largest in size, dominating the space compared to Musa Colony. The work highlights how many Pakistani Bengalis settled near the coastlines of Karachi as many in the community are linked to fishing. The net pattern engraved on all the five mapped areas symbolises how many Pakistani Bengalis are trapped around issues of citizenship. About the Artist: Axel Lucas is a Karachi based multidisciplinary visual artist. His work centres on identity and control in the educational system, particularly linked colonial and postcolonial authority. His practice is expressed through installations and large-scale wall drawings. Working with different mediums, he is interested in creating visuals of restriction, repetition, conditioning, and the idea of critiquing authority. Axel recently received the Emerging Artist Award at the Karachi Artfest 2023. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | It has been displayed in 2 public international exhibitions (Karachi, London) and viewed by over 1400 people It has been covered in 2 national media publications It has been featured as part of the Being Human Festival - https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/adrift-paper-boats It has been featured in 2 media clips - Kaghazi Kashtiyan (Paper Boats) - The Karachi Show & PARTITION OF IDENTITY: Reimagining Research Narratives through Art |
| URL | https://poistudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Catalog-English-Book.pdf |
| Title | Jalpari by Abdul Rahman |
| Description | Jalpari Abdul Rehman enamel on slate, 8"x6", 2022 Artist Statement This piece was inspired by the connection between human-beings and the sea. While drawing a human figure and thinking of the fishing and the sea, I was able to merge the two together to create "jalpari". About the Artist: Abdul Rehman is a self-taught artist based in Machar Colony, Karachi. He attends school at Imkaan Welfare Organization's learning and recreational centre, Khel. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | It has been displayed in 3 public international exhibitions (Karachi, London, Kuala Lumper) and viewed by over 1700 people It has been covered in 2 national media publications It has been featured as part of the Being Human Festival - https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/adrift-paper-boats It has been featured in 2 media clips - Kaghazi Kashtiyan (Paper Boats) - The Karachi Show & PARTITION OF IDENTITY: Reimagining Research Narratives through Art It has been featured in the Think of Others Art Catalogue, Part of the World Conference of Statelessness (https://files.institutesi.org/Think_of_Others_full_catalogue.pdf) |
| URL | https://poistudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Catalog-English-Book.pdf |
| Title | Jasem's Letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan by Abdullah Khan and Nabiha Rehan |
| Description | The video shows a young member from the Pakistani Bengali Community sharing their letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, sharing their experiences of lack of citizenship access and requesting that their rights be implemented, particularly around education. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | This video has been used in an week long Advocacy Campaign titled Letters to the PM. The campaign was run in collaboration with Imkaan Welfare Organisation and aimed to raise awareness about the issues faced by Pakistani Bengali young people due to issues around citizenship. The campaign was shared across a number of social media platforms and recieved over 200k views on one platform alone. |
| URL | https://youtu.be/ym5Lvi9NDBg |
| Title | Kaghazi Kashtiyan (Paper Boats) - The Karachi Show by Daira Studio |
| Description | This short film showcases the art exhibition - Kaghazi Khastiyan (Paper Boats) and series of events that took place in Spring 2023 in Karachi. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The film has been an important tool in showcasing the art created through the project and also highlighting musicians and athletes from the community. It has been shared widely on social media. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq0_YHw7NIU |
| Title | Kaghazi Kashtiyan (Paper Boats): The Pakistani Bengali Story, IVS Gallery, Karachi Pakistan |
| Description | Kagazhi Khastiyan was an art exhibition held in The Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture (IVS) Gallery in Karachi from 18th May - 26th May, 2023. Here we showcased the work of 8 artists who had created work from the project. We had a big turnout and the event was featured in national news. Summary of exhibition: Kagazhi Khastiyan opens up a window into the experiences of the Pakistani Bengali community. This community has long roots based mainly in the city of Karachi and spread across a variety of neibourhoods. 'Kaghazi Kashtiyan' refers to the connection of the community to the sea, through the work that many of them do as fishermen, but it also refers to the precarious, paper - like fragility of their legal status in Pakistan because of challenges that they face around documentation and citizenship. The artists featured here have drawn inspiration from community visits but also engagement with research from the study. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | We had over 900 people visit our exhibition (as measured by the gallery), and it was covered in national news. As part of the exhibition we asked people to make paper boats and leave messages for the community and with reflections on the exhibition and we collected hundreds of these. We also had a visitors book in which we also gathered messages from visitors. Some examples of these are: - 'A moving exhibition that reminds me of the human realities behind identity and citizenship' -'Thought provoking project. It was great to see such an issue be explored through different art mediums. Deeply inspiring!' - 'Lovely work which balances nuance & also sheds light on their plight. I loved how each of the pieces evokes sadness & holds questions. I hope this is exhibited in other cities as well!' |
| URL | https://poistudy.com/resources/project-events/ |
| Title | Kaghazi Kashtiyan (Paper Boats): The Pakistani Bengali Story - at Think of Others, The Arts & Cultural Experience - The World Conference of Statelessness, KL, Malaysia |
| Description | Curatorial Statement: Kaghazi Kashtiyan or Paper Boats, is an art exhibition offering a window into the experiences of the Pakistani Bengali community. This community has deep roots in the city of Karachi, Pakistan. The term 'Kaghazi Kashtiyan' (the Urdu phrase for Paper Boats) represents the community's connection to the sea as fishermen, but also signifies the precarious, paper-like fragility of their legal status in Pakistan because of the challenges they face around documentation and citizenship. The works come from the Partition of Identity Project, based at University College London and the Lahore University of Management Sciences and led by Dr Humera Iqbal and Dr Anushay Malik. We present a selection of pieces from the larger exhibition at the conference. Artists Featured: 1. Adan Shaikh 2. Abdullah Khan and Nabiha Rehan 3. Abdul Rehman 4. Areeba Aslam 5. Kremena Dimitrova |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | We were able to showcase our work at a large international event. The World Conference on Statelessness was held from 26-29 February 2024 at Taylor's University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Organised by the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI), Nationality for All (NFA) and Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas (DHRRA) Malaysia, the conference brought together 400+ participants with lived and learned experience of statelessness from across the globe to exchange knowledge, perspectives, ideas and skills. Through our exhibition we were able to stimulate further awareness on this little known topic. |
| URL | https://files.institutesi.org/Think_of_Others_full_catalogue.pdf |
| Title | Kiran's Letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan by Abdullah Khan and Nabiha Rehan |
| Description | The video shows a young member from the Pakistani Bengali Community sharing their letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, sharing their experiences of lack of citizenship access and requesting that their rights be implemented, particularly around education. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | This video has been used in an week long Advocacy Campaign titled Letters to the PM. The campaign was run in collaboration with Imkaan Welfare Organisation and aimed to raise awareness about the issues faced by Pakistani Bengali young people due to issues around citizenship. The campaign was shared across a number of social media platforms and received over 200k views on one platform alone. |
| URL | https://youtu.be/bcbzmsgY7x8 |
| Title | Monsters Behind Vines: A Collection of Tales by Areeba Aslam |
| Description | Monsters Behind Vines: A Collection of Tales Areeba Aslam Online and Print publication, 2022 Artist's Note: Storytelling conveys the culture, history, and values that unite people together. Given this, my approach for this work was to collect tales either imagined or shared by children from the Pakistani Bengali community. While speaking with students from Khel school in Machar Colony, I heard accounts of jalparis (mermaids), jalparas (mermen), jinn and bhoots (ghosts). The stories they told, bear invaluable information about their spaces and culture. My work aimed to illustrate the imaginations of their creative young minds. About the Artist: Areeba Aslam is an illustrator and designer who graduated from the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture based in Karachi Pakistan in 2022. Her interest lies in visual storytelling, with a focus on children's literature. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | It has been displayed in 3 public international exhibitions (Karachi, London, Kuala Lumper) and viewed by over 1700 people It has been covered in 2 national media publications It has been featured as part of the Being Human Festival- https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/adrift-paper-boats It has been featured in 2 media clips - Kaghazi Kashtiyan (Paper Boats) - The Karachi Show & PARTITION OF IDENTITY: Reimagining Research Narratives through Art It has been featured in the Think of Others Art Catalogue, Part of the World Conference of Statelessness (https://files.institutesi.org/Think_of_Others_full_catalogue.pdf) |
| URL | https://poistudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Catalog-English-Book.pdf |
| Title | Murshad by Nazrul Islam, OST from the Film Bhashaili, Directed by Jawad Sharif |
| Description | Murshad - A music video & performance from the film Bhashaili, performed by Nazrul Islam. Part of the OST. Bhashaili (Adrift) explores the everyday stories of Pakistani Bengalis living in Karachi, including their loves, losses and the challenges they face. |
| Type Of Art | Composition/Score |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The performance has been shared widely on social media. The film has been screened to date 7 times internationally and within the UK The film has been submitted to a number of festivals and will be officially released in 2024 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jjqQM7v0Oo&t=3s |
| Title | PARTITION OF IDENTITY: Reimagining Research Narratives through Art by Nabiha Rehan and Abdullah Khan |
| Description | This film shows a series of art and research-based workshops that took place at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi in Spring 2022 with student artists. The workshops were led by Irfan Hasan, Dr Humera Iqbal & Dr Anushay Malik and form part of the Partition of Identity Research Project (https://poistudy.com/) exploring the lives of Pakistani Bengalis. Many live in Karachi, Pakistan. Part of the research explores the citizenship challenges faced by this community, but also the rich culture and traditions of this group. It was up to the artists to reimagine this research in visual and creative ways... Research by Humera Iqbal, Anushay Malik, Maria Rashid and Arooj Aurangzeb (University College London & Lahore University of Management Sciences) Directed & edited by Nabiha Rehan and Abdullah Khan |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | It has been displayed in 2 public international exhibitions (Karachi, London) and viewed by over 1400 people It has been covered in 2 national media publications It has been featured as part of the Being Human Festival - https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/adrift-paper-boats It has been featured in 2 media clips - Kaghazi Kashtiyan (Paper Boats) - The Karachi Show & PARTITION OF IDENTITY: Reimagining Research Narratives through Art |
| URL | https://youtu.be/5A_cQXk4j4Y |
| Title | Paper Boats - The Pakistani Bengali Story, Rich Mix, London, UK |
| Description | This ground-breaking exhibition explores the experiences of statelessness within Pakistani Bengali communities. 'Paper Boats' refers both to the connection many in the community share with the sea, through their work as fishermen, as well as the fragility of their legal status in Pakistan - due to the challenges they face around documentation and citizenship. To be stateless is to live in a world of uncertainty. Through art, music, animation, and film, this exhibition features work from nine artists who celebrate the rich culture and explore the daily challenges this group contends with. Artists featured are - Kremena Dimitrova, Abdul Rehman, Abdullah Khan, Adan Shaikh, Areeba Aslam, Axel Lucas, Habib Nasir, Nabiha Rehan and Yumna Fatima. The show opens on Thu 16 Nov and runs until the 9th December 2023 Curated by Humera Iqbal, Anushay Malik, Adan Shaikh and Axel Lucas. Based on research from the Partition of Identity Project, University College London, UK and Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | We had over 300 visitors at the show and were able to capture some of the responses from the public in our visitors book. They include: - 'Beautiful exhibition drawing attention to an issue that should be more widely recognised.' -'Seeing the world becoming more cruel to those who are already suffering. I'm so happy to see this amazing work voicing the experiences of this community' -'The exhibition captures the essence and plight of the displaced peoples who are voiceless and marginalised. There is none to represent them in the midst of all mainstream politics' Given this we believe our show has helped to raise awareness about the very unknown issue of Statelessness particularly in relation to the Pakistani Bengali community. |
| URL | https://richmix.org.uk/events/paper-boats-the-pakistani-bengali-story/ |
| Title | Sonia's Letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan by Abdullah Khan and Nabiha Rehan |
| Description | The video shows a young member from the Pakistani Bengali Community sharing their letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, sharing their experiences of lack of citizenship access and requesting that their rights be implemented, particularly around education. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | This video has been used in an week long Advocacy Campaign titled Letters to the PM. The campaign was run in collaboration with Imkaan Welfare Organisation and aimed to raise awareness about the issues faced by Pakistani Bengali young people due to issues around citizenship. The campaign was shared across a number of social media platforms and received over 200k views on one platform alone. |
| URL | https://youtu.be/0UMFBldhV1c |
| Title | The Others by Adan Shaikh |
| Description | The Others Adan Shaikh Digital Animation, 3mins, 2022 Artist's Note: The Others is an animated social commentary that depicts the impact of having one's identity taken away. The animation explores issues of 'othering', citizenship, and statelessness faced by members of the Pakistani Bengali community living in Karachi including those from Machar Colony. Everyday struggles such as accessing education and employment opportunities are shown. The film also delves into the impact of being considered foreign or 'alien', labels often associated with this group. Throughout the film, characters disappear, leaving their surroundings desolate, highlighting the ongoing issue of statelessness that has impacted generations. The plot centres around three stern-looking men playing a game similar to Ludo, depicting the control and power of decision-making held by higher authorities over common people. Each move they make strips away the identity of individuals, emphasizing the loss of identity that statelessness causes. The repetition of certain scenes in the film creates a complex and distressing connection between the characters' experiences. Additionally, the depiction of fish in the film acts as a poignant and vulnerable symbol that is deeply intertwined with the community's way of life. About the Artist: Adan Shaikh is a Karachi based illustrator, new media, and visual artist who works with both digital and traditional art mediums. Her artistic practices primarily focus on gender, class, and identity discrimination prevalent in Pakistan. As a South Asian woman, Adan documents and navigates the lack of safe public spaces for women and the role of women in a patriarchal society. She currently works around the themes of home and displacement. She graduated from the Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture in 2022. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | It has been displayed in 3 public international exhibitions (Karachi, London, Kuala Lumper) and viewed by over 1700 people (see https://poistudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Catalog-English-Book.pdf) It has been covered in 2 national media publications It has been featured as part of the Being Human Fesitval - https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/adrift-paper-boats It has been featured in 2 media clips - Kaghazi Kashtiyan (Paper Boats) - The Karachi Show & PARTITION OF IDENTITY: Reimagining Research Narratives through Art It has been featured in the Think of Others Art Catalogue, Part of the World Conference of Statelessness (https://files.institutesi.org/Think_of_Others_full_catalogue.pdf) It has been submitted to a number of festivals. |
| URL | https://youtu.be/SXZXWVA-7R0 |
| Description | 1. Significant new knowledge generated and the importance of intersectionality: For the first time ever, a detailed collection of oral history interviews documenting the stories of the Pakistani Bengali community has been collected, making the data incredibly valuable. Our research position has been one that is rooted in a concern for social justice and equity. In particular, the concern that nationality and access to citizenship are fundamental human rights. As a social psychologist, a historian and political sociologists, interdisciplinarity has been integral to our research methods and has allowed us to collect 85 intergenerational oral history interviews, with Pakistani Bengalis (the majority of whom are from different localities in Karachi), detailed archival work (from national and international archives), media analysis, as well as community workshops, participatory research and arts-based work. We also will make an anonymised version of our oral history archive available for public use. 2. Some key findings: Our early findings show how systematic discrimination of the 3 million strong Pakistani Bengali community in Pakistan is rooted in a longer history has been compounded at key historical junctures and turning points (The year 2000 being a particularly important ine which marked the digitisation of former manual ID cards (introduced in 1973)). This discrimination takes various forms and has led to a great many from the community facing issues around citizenship, leaving them stateless. Moreover, since citizenship record keeping is genealogy based in Pakistan, we find statelessness extended across generations, resulting in intergenerational statelessness. Our interviews reveal multiple in-depth accounts of how events in the past impact families today, and most importantly how obtaining and renewing ID cards can be a challenging process for Pakistani Bengalis with the issue of card blocking and stigma faced in citizenship registration offices being immense. How state officials identify and surveil Pakistani Bengalis- based on cultural attributes like appearance and accent, place of residence is telling of wider social prejudice. This is crucially important, because to deny that Bengali speakers can also be Pakistani is yet again an erasure of the fact that Bangladesh and Pakistan were once one country. Most importantly, lack of citizenship means people 1) do not have the same protections as people who have nationality 2) You are vulnerable to discrimination and unequal treatment. 3) are denied access to education, healthcare, housing, employment, documentation, right to own property, travel, vote. Immense discrimination is thus faced by members of this community and leaves many leading precarious lives. A key point is discrimination causes an implementation gap exists between policy and practice denying people of basic rights. One example is the lack of implementation of birth right citizenship laws. Another is for the right to education for all children born in Pakistan. 3. Improved research methods or skills and Art as advocacy: Our project has so far produced a range of art-based outputs, including music videos, animations, letters to the prime minister and importantly our feature length documentary - Bhashaili (Adrift). We have found these to be incredibly powerful tools in raising awareness about the issue as well as in advocacy work. They have also been used by our partner organisations. 4. Important new research areas opened up and ties to new research networks, collaborations and partnerships: Our project partners and wider team have been intrinsic to this process. Of particular importance has been our partnership with Imkaan Welfare Organisation. Without this partnership much of our research would not have been possible. We have also been happy to connect with the Institute of Statelessness and Inclusion who have been supportive of our work. Our research has opened up new research areas and gaps, which require future work. These include the recognition that Stateless peoples often reside in the most vulnerable localities susceptible to climate change and face further risk of displacement. Stateless people face a range of mental health challenges due to their exclusion and Stateless young people are disproportionately impacted in the subcontinent and make up a large proportion of the stateless population. |
| Exploitation Route | From an academic perspective we plan to take the outcomes of this research further, to explore compartative experiences of Statelessness across South Asia. We envisage our research being used by policy makers, think tanks and lobby groups as evidence for the experiences faced by the community. We would like cultural organisations and heritage groups to acknowledge the contribution of this community to the culture of Pakistan |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Education Environment Healthcare Government Democracy and Justice Culture Heritage Museums and Collections Security and Diplomacy Other |
| URL | https://poistudy.com/ |
| Description | The first significant impact of the award has been on raising public awareness. Through our national social media campaign in partnership with the Imkaan Welfare Organisation, we have highlighted the right to education for stateless children in Pakistan. Our media outreach both within Pakistan and internationally, coupled with exhibitions, art-based ourputs, and our feature film, has allowed us to shed light on the experiences of the Pakistani Bengali community and the challenges they face concerning citizenship. The film has been privately screened for various audiences, third-sector organizations, and submitted to multiple film festivals. Another key area where the award has made a difference is in identifying additional issues related to statelessness that require further investigation. One such issue is the connection between statelessness and mental health, particularly among young people, who make up a significant portion of the community. At the 2024 World Conference on Statelessness, we engaged with third-sector organizations, individuals with lived experience, policymakers, and academics to discuss our research and identify this gap. As a result, we have secured funding (from the Wellcome Trust) to explore this issue in partnership with Imkaan Welfare Organisation, with support from the Institute of Statelessness and Inclusion. The third area of impact has been in our attempts to influence policy on statelessness, both within Pakistan and internationally. In Pakistan, through policy campaigns and collaborations with key third-sector stakeholders, we have advocated for (1) the implementation of Pakistan's Jus Soli (2) the assurance that Bengali and Bihari children who are legally entitled to citizenship by birth on the territory, are not denied their right to citizenship because of discriminatory implementation of the law (3) for the right of access to education for all children in Pakistan including undocumented and stateless ones, as protected under Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan (4) for the recognition and restoration of the citizenship of all Bengali and Bihari persons who have been forcibly registered as aliens and issued with ARCs and NARA cards, thereby in effect, depriving them of their Pakistani citizenship and (5) the assurance that all undocumented persons should have the access to public health facilities. Within the UK, we have presented evidence at APPGs and submitted written evidence for committees alongside key actors in the field around the issue of Statelessness more generally. We will continue to lobby for this cause, drawing from the evidence we have ammased through our research |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | Event Title: Where do I belong? The Plight of Stateless Persons, with a focus on Pakistan, and South Asia more generally (the APPG Human Rights) |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | http://appg-humanrights.org.uk/ |
| Description | LETTERS TO THE PM - A Policy and Advocacy Campaign |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| URL | https://poistudy.com/policy-and-advocacy-work/letters-to-the-prime-minister/ |
| Description | Submission of written evidence to International Development Committee |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/132384/pdf/ |
| Description | GCRF and Newton Consolidation Account |
| Amount | £7,473 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 185337 |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | UCL Public Voices |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | UCL-Wits Bilateral Partnership Development Seed Fund 2023/24 |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2023 |
| End | 11/2024 |
| Description | Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture |
| Organisation | Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We partnered with The Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (IVS) to host a series of workshops (June 2022) with 3rd and 4th Year Art Students from IVS. The artists have created a series of works and short films linked to our research. The workshops were led by the project PI and Co-I as well as Irfan Hasan, an artist linked to the project. These workshops took place within the gallery space at IVS and the art produced will make up exhibitions in 2023. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (IVS) is a leading art university based in Karachi, Pakistan. IVS has partnered with the project to provide access to their resources (including their gallery space, and media resources). They have faciliated workshops and allowed us to work directly with students from the university. They have been integral to Phase 3 of our project. |
| Impact | 1. A workshop in June 2022 with 4 artists based at the university. During the workshop, artists were presented with findings from our research project including historical, cultural, citizenship and identity based findings. This was a multidiciplinary collaboration (Arts, History and Social Psychology). The artists produced a series of works (which will be exhibited in May 2023). 2. An internship held for 2 film students at the university which has resulted in the production of 2 short films and a music video linked to the project. This was multidiciplinary (arts- film, history and social psychology). The internship was in partnership with IVS. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Lahore University of Management Sciences |
| Organisation | Lahore University of Management Sciences |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Partition of Identity (POI) project involves a partnership between University College London (UCL) and Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). LUMS is one of the leading research and teaching universities in Pakistan and the project Co-Investigator Dr Anushay Malik is based here. As part of the agreement between UCL and LUMS, part of the budget is being directly managed by LUMS. This covers research time for Dr Anushay Malik, a one-year research assistant at LUMS, data Collection and fieldwork costs, costs for art workshops and costs for output events in Pakistan. |
| Collaborator Contribution | LUMS has provided excellent administrative support, office space for our shared research assistance, use of resources such as the library, and IT resources and access to journals. Our project is a partnership and without the expertise of the university in supporting us and facilitating fieldwork and other research needs, the project would not be possible. |
| Impact | This is a multi-disciplinary collaboration between History, the Arts and Social Psychology. We have recruited a Research Assistant who is based at LUMS. As of March 2022, we have collected our research interviews (85 oral history interviews) following fieldwork. This falls under phase 2 of our research methodology. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Adhoori Shanakht (Suspended Identity), An Exhibition in Machar Colony, Karachi Pakistan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An exhibition was held in Machar Colony, Karachi at Khel school titled 'Adhoori Shanakht' (Suspended Identity).This exhibition showcased the art work developed during the art workshops with young people held in May 2022. This was attended by children parents and community members from Machar Colony. In total there were around 120 attendees. The workshops were co-curated by artists Amani Noor , Ahsan Javid and the PI. The exhibition allowed for multiple discussions and interaction with the audience relating to key issues faced by the community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://youtu.be/LeepjCdi-eg |
| Description | Adrift in troubled waters - By Shazia Hasan, DAWN NEWS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Journalist Shazia Hasan published a detailed and very positive review of our documentary Bhashaili, Directed by Jawad Sharif following our initial private screening in Karachi Pakistan (at the Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture). The piece featured interviews from our project team and was published in Pakistan's oldest national English language newspaper - DAWN news. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.dawn.com/news/1755644 |
| Description | All aboard paper boats - all about Pakistani Bengalis by Shazia Hasan (DAWN NEWS) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The article published in DAWN NEWS, Pakistan's oldest leading English-language newspaper, gives a detailed review the 'Kaghazi Kashtiyan (paper boats): The Pakistani Bengali Story' exhibition held at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture. It also more widely discusses the Partition of Identity study and features comments from Dr Humera Iqbal |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.dawn.com/news/1754269 |
| Description | BBC New Thinking: Writing exile and overcoming statelessness |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Title: New Thinking: Writing exile and overcoming statelessness Platform: BBC Radio 3 - Arts & Ideas Description: Around 3 million Bengali Pakistanis now live in Pakistan it is estimated and a research project has been exploring their experiences, mixing oral testimony and art projects with analysis of recent history. Humera Iqbal explains their findings to presenter Sarah Jilani. And Ahmad Naji Bakhti discusses his novel about the dreams of a boy growing up in Lebanon and how writing it in exile in Wales has led him to reflect on the language and phrasing he uses and what audience he is addressing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0gqf2rg |
| Description | Exploring commonalities in research on Bengali identity, citizenship and migration status post 1971 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This workshop titled ' Exploring commonalities in research on Bengali identity, citizenship and migration status post 1971', was inspired by our project which delves into the modern history and contemporary realities of the Pakistani Bengali community primarily centred in Karachi. Our interdisciplinary research has been conducted by a team of social psychologists, historians and political sociologists and is supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. At a time when citizenship, wielded as a weapon of exclusion, appears as a theme resonating across South Asia, we invited scholars and activists who are working on overlapping or parallel themes to come discuss some of these ideas with us with a view toward thinking about the potential of building a network or a shared publication. Some of the questions that we invited workshop participants to discuss in their work included: 1. How has the pivotal year 1971 featured in your research, and does it continue to shape the narratives of belonging among younger people who were affected by 1971 today? 2. How does your research navigate the paradox of increasingly policed borders amidst significant transnational flows of migrants, refugees and trade? 3. What social or narrative practices have people deemed as migrants or outsiders used to try and create a sense of belonging or "homing" . How have these been policed or viewed as contentious by state officials and other residents? 4. Have you come across the interplay between the intimate and the geopolitical in your work, particularly in contexts involving gendered citizenship laws, shifting cultural norms and, at the more extreme end of the scale, sexualized violence? 5. Is there a distinctive or exceptional quality to the way in which global Bengali migrants are viewed, especially after 1971? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Film Screening - of Bhashaili (Adrift) followed by a Q&A with the team behind the film |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | On the 20th May 2023, we held a Private Screening of our documentary Bhashaili (Adrift) at Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture (with a panel discussion featuring Jawad Sharif, Shahid Shah, Tahera Hasan and Dr Humera Iqbal, chaired by Dr Maria Rashid) with 85-95 attendees. The film watchers were mainly made up of members of the community and it was the first time the film was being shown. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://poistudy.com/resources/project-events/ |
| Description | Interdisciplinary approaches to studying statelessness: case studies from Australia and Pakistan, The World Conference on Statelessness, 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The World Conference on Statelessness was held from 26-29 February 2024 at Taylor's University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Organised by the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI), Nationality for All (NFA) and Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas (DHRRA) Malaysia, the conference brought together 400+ participants with lived and learned experience of statelessness from across the globe to exchange knowledge, perspectives, ideas and skills. At the event we held a panel with the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness and reflected on how in our work, we draw from a range of sources to study, research and do advocacy work on the topic of Statelessness. The event was a non-academic one, and following the panel we engaged with a detailed and interesting discussion with the audience. Details of the panel are below: Panel: Interdisciplinary approaches to studying statelessness: case studies from Australia and Pakistan Moderator: • Radha Govil, Deputy Director, Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness, University of Melbourne Speakers: • Michelle Foster, Director, Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness, University of Melbourne • Humera Iqbal, Lead Investigator, Partition of Identity Project and Associate Professor of Social and Cultural Psychology, University College London, United Kingdom • Kremena Dimitrova, Lecturer of Visual Culture and Illustrator-as-historian, University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom • Tahera Hasan, Founder and Director, Imkaan Welfare Organisation, Pakistan • Jordana Silverstein, Senior Research Fellow, Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness, University of Melbourne |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.institutesi.org/pages/conference2024 |
| Description | Kagaz ki kashti : An exhibition based on issues of Pakistani Bengali community - Aaj News |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Reporter Qaisar Kamran from Urdu TV channel - Aaj News, did a special feature on the Kaghizi Kashtiyan (Paper Boats) exhibition from our project, held in Karachi, Pakistan. The piece featured on the news multiple times and was also shared widely on social media channels. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQW9dyS0bSs |
| Description | Kaghazi Kashtiyan (Featured in The News International, Pakistan) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The News International featured our exhibition (on Pg 14). The News International, published in broadsheet size, is one of the largest English language newspapers in Pakistan. It is published daily from Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://e.thenews.com.pk/static_pages/5-14-2023/karachi/thenews.pdf |
| Description | Official Selection of Bhashaili (Adrift) to the FILM SOUTHASIA 2024 Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Our film Bhashaili (Adrift), made the official Selection of the FILM SOUTHASIA 2024 Festival. Film Southasia (FSA) is a biennial festival that was set up in 1997 with the goal of popularising the documentary so that it entertains, informs and changes lives. It takes place in Kathmandu, with screenings across South Asia. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://filmsouthasia.org/fsa24selections/ |
| Description | Open University - Invited talk to a research group (AH/T000619/1) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The purpose of this invited talk was to introduce our research study and use of multiple disciplines in our research to the Open University School of Psychology Research Day. The event was attended by around 30 people and it generated a discussion afterwards which was followed up by correspondence. One of the main outcomes, was a group discussion about the uniqueness of the research in using the particular theory we are using (Social Representation Theory) in a postcolonial setting (Pakistan) and the relevance of the work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Paper Boats: The Pakistani Bengali Story exhibition at Rich Mix in ROMAN ROADS, LDN |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Roman Road LDN is an independent news and culture publication for Bow and its surrounding areas of Mile End, Globe Town, Fish Island and Hackney Wick in East London. The publication featured details of our exhibition held in Rich Mix, London in Nov-Dec 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://romanroadlondon.com/events/paper-boats-the-pakistani-bengali-story-exhibition-rich-mix/ |
| Description | Partition of Identity Artist Workshop in partnership with Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This activity involved a one week series of art and research-based workshops that took place at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi Pakistan in Spring 2022 with student artists. In total 4 artists took part. The workshops were led by Irfan Hasan, Dr Humera Iqbal & Dr Anushay Malik. The workshops involved the discussion of some of the archival, media and interview based research with the artists including the citizenship challenges faced by the Pakistani Bengali community but also our research on the rich culture and traditions of this group. It was up to the artists to reimagine this research in visual and creative ways. There were active discussions and during the workshops, guest speakers attended and field visits took place. The artists each produced a piece or a series of art works during the workshop. These will be presented in a series of exhibitions in Pakistan, internationally and online. Some of the material produced (e.g an animation, a children's book) will be used for dissemination and raising awareness about the issue of Statelessness. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://youtu.be/5A_cQXk4j4Y |
| Description | Postcards from a Dream: A Comic Workshop on Belonging (Think of Others - WORKSHOP 3) - Held at the World Conference of Statelessness, 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Postcards from a Dream was an arts based workshop held at the World Conference for Statelessness (2024). It was led by Dr Humera Iqbal, and artists, Zahra Marwan, Diwakar Chetri and Kremena Dimotrova. The workshop focused on story telling, through postcards and comics as a means of art advocacy, and reflected on what it means to belong when you are a Stateless person. The workshop involved a streams of consciousness activity led by Zahra and erasure poetry activity led by Kremena. Workshop members had a detailed discussion reflecting on their lived and learnt experiences of Statelessness. Artist Diwakar, captured the workshop as it happened through a series of illustrations. The World Conference on Statelessness was held from 26-29 February 2024 at Taylor's University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Organised by the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI), Nationality for All (NFA) and Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas (DHRRA) Malaysia, the conference brought together 400+ participants with lived and learned experience of statelessness from across the globe to exchange knowledge, perspectives, ideas and skills |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://files.institutesi.org/Think_of_Others_full_catalogue.pdf |
| Description | Presentation at the Statelessness Asia Pacific Research Network Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The project PI and a practicioner from one of our key partner organisations gave a talk to the Statelessness Asia Pacific Research Network Meeting around interdisciplinary approaches to Statelessness. The event was hosted by the Peter McMullan Institute on Statelessness. Following the presentation, there was an active discussion by the audience and a series of interesting questions asked. The presentation led to further meetings and engagement the Peter McMullan Institute on Statelessness. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Private Screening of Bhashaili (Adrift) at LSE |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On the 22 November 2023 we held a private screening of our film Bhashaili (Adrift) at the London School of Economics with a panel discussion featuring Jawad Sharif (Director), Dr Humera Iqbal (Producer and lead researcher) And Dr Mahvish Ahmad (journalist and academic) which was chaired by Dr Maria Rashid. We had 40 audience members and the event was held in collaboration with LSE Gender and LSESU Pakistan Development Society. . The aim of the screening was to highlight the issues faced by the Pakistani Bengali Community and have a wider discussion about issues of statelessness. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.tickettailor.com/events/lsedepartmentofgenderstudies/1033156 |
| Description | Private Screening of Bhashaili (Adrift) at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | On Monday 22nd May, 2023 we held a small private screening followed by a Q&A with social science students at the Karachi University - Institute of Business Administration, Karachi. There were around 25 students and we were able to have a intimate and detailed discussion about the film as well as the larger research project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://poistudy.com/resources/academic-work/ |
| Description | SASNET Workshop (AH/T000619/1) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This activity was an in person invited workshop based at Lund University organised by SASNET (the Swedish South Asian Study Network). It was titled 'A Nation and its Fault Lines' and the workshop brought together an international range of academics, poets, activists, artists and filmmakers. Our team gave a talk at this invited event about some of our emerging findings and this sparked question and a detailed discussion. Plans were made for a follow-up collaboration with some of the attendees. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.sasnet.lu.se/article/workshop-nation-and-its-fault-lines-organised-isha-dubey-and-amrita... |
| Description | Screening of Bhashaili (Adrift) at Rich Mix London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On the 16 November 2023, we held a screening of our documentary Bhashaili (Adrift) at Rich Mix London, followed by a panel discussion featuring Jawad Sharif (filmmaker) Tahera Hasan (lawyer working on the issue) and Dr Humera Iqbal (producer and lead researcher), chaired by Dr Maria Rashid. The event was fully booked with over 170 audience members. The aim of the screening was to highlight the issues faced by the Pakistani Bengali Community and have a wider discussion about issues of statelessness. We were also able to have an audience survey following the screening and hear views from members on their views on the film. The event also was part of the Being Human Festival, details here: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/adrift-paper-boats-opening-night |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://richmix.org.uk/cinema/bhashaili-adrift/ |
| Description | Screening of Bhashaili (Adrift) at the World Conference of Statelessness |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The 2024 World Conference on Statelessness was held from 26-29 February 2024 at Taylor's University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Organised by the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI), Nationality for All (NFA) and Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas (DHRRA) Malaysia, the conference brought together 400+ participants with lived and learned experience of statelessness from across the globe to exchange knowledge, perspectives, ideas and skills. Our film Bhashaili (Adrift) was one of three films selected for showing to the conference. Following the screening we had 'in conversation' with Founder and Director of Imkaan Welfare Organisation: Tahera Hasan, film producer and lead researcher: Humera Iqbal and Lawyer and former supervisor of the Legal Aid project at Imkaan Welfare Organisation - Hiba Thobani. We also opened up the discussion to our audience and were able to reflect and speak about the issue of Statelessness facing the Pakistani Bengali community in Pakistan. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.institutesi.org/pages/conference2024 |
| Description | Screening of our film Bhashaili (Adrift) and presentation at the UNHCR (London office) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | On the 15 January 2024, we held a private screening of our film Bhashaili (Adrift) at the UNHCR London office. This was followed by a discussion with members from the organisation. The aim of the screening was to bring to the attention of UNHCR staff members the issue of Statelessness within Pakistan. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Series of Art Workshops at Imkaan with young people |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | In May 2022 - as part of Phase 3 of our research, a series of art workshops were held at Imkaan Welfare Organisation (our partner NGO). These were co-led by artists - Amani Noor and Ahsan Javid and the PI of the project. There were three workshops: 1. The Letters to the PM Workshop. Run by artist, Ahsan Javid and the PI (arts, social psychology, history). This was for 10-18 year olds (11young people in total) and involved young people writing powerful letters to the Prime minister of Pakistan in Urdu. These letters have been translated into English and will form part of our policy campaign in March 23rd 2023. 2. My Neighborhood and environment pottery workshop was run by artist Amani Noor and the PI (arts, social psychology) Twelve young people aged 8-10 years took part and the workshop involved painting ceramics following a discussion and exercise about their neighbourood and some of the challenges they face. The workshop also captured some of the knowledge children had relating to the sea and fishing (the school is near the coast of Karachi). 3. My Identity - An arts workshop led by artists Amani Noor and Ahsan Javid. This workshop involved young people (40 children, all ages) who created a portrait that was in the format of an identity card photograph and another image of what they would like to be when they grow up. This workshop involved a discussion around some of the challenges associated with lack of identity status and citizenship in achieving ones goals (arts and social psychology). The images which were then painted on slates by the young people, were used to create a mural for the school. The workshops involved detailed discussions about key issues faced by the children and sparked multiple questions. The school reported that many of the issues raised were discussed within the school following the workshops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://youtu.be/LeepjCdi-eg |
| Description | The SCIT Workshop - at Imkaan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The Synallactic Collective Image Technique (SCIT) workshop took place in May 2022 at Imkaan Welfare Organisation (our partner NGO). The Synallactic Collective Image Technique is a therapeutic technique in which a group of young people recall and create images of day-to day instances around a central collective theme. The researcher then uses 'imports', the essence of these stories from each group member, to construct a joint group narrative. The workshop used an adapted version of the SCIT and was led by the project PI. Eleven children from the community took part in the exercise and it resulted in the creation of a collective and powerful story on Statelessness. The activity sparked multiple questions and discussion and allowed for the children to actively listen to the stories of their peers. The story is now being developed into a comic book on statelessness in Pakistan which will reach an even wider audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | The Victims and Aftermath of Partition and Colonialism Internationally |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A panel discussion with experts held at the Cambridge Union exploring the topic of 'The Victims and Aftermath of Partition and Colonialism Internationally'. The panel brought experts working on Ireland, India, Cyprus and Pakistan together. It was attended by around 100 students from the Cambridge Union as well as former Union members. The topic sparked questions and discussion afterwards and the talk which was recorded was shared on the Cambridge Union website which has a far reach. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIcZxPj5sbE |
| Description | The impact of Statelessness on Mental Health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On Thursday the 7th March 2024, we presented some short reflections from our research on the connection between Statelessness and Mental health at a University College London event titled - 'Mapping a route to discovery: mental health & wellbeing research at UCL'. This event aimed to bring together researchers working on mental health across UCL and was part of the Grand Challenges initiative. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challenges/our-themes/mental-health-wellbeing#:~:text=Improving%20mental... |
| Description | Three School Visits to the Kaghazi Khashtiyan Exhibition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Pupils from three separate schools (Begum Hajira, Zubaida High School and Goodluck Public School) visited our Kaghazi Kashtiyan exhibition at Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture over three days (A total of 140 pupils). We gave students a guided tour of the show plus held a making workshop with them. The students were from local schools and many pupils belonged to the community. We had really interesting discussions with students |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0MhbYLFbTVGtBPcgqGY43yg9KwQcmqrfGzio2hc2b3rZZTW4U... |
| Description | Tracing the Story of the Pakistani Bengali Community |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This blog gives an overview of our research mission and lays out some early project findings. The blog was re-posted on social media and shared widely. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://poistudy.com/tracing-the-story-of-the-pakistani-bengali-community/ |