KARACHI: Speakers at a literary gathering have called for legislation to address forced conversions and greater efforts to dismantle caste and religion-based discrimination, saying that deeply entrenched social divisions continue to deprive vulnerable communities of their rights and dignity.

The event, organised by Sindh Abhyas Academy and Progressive Writers Association (PWA) at Szabist University, was held to launch The Last Bench, a novel by Vijesh Kumar. Educationist Dr Suleman Sheikh presided over the proceedings.

The novel primarily deals with themes of caste discrimination, forced conversions of Hindus and hatred among Muslim and Hindu communities.

Speaking on the occasion, author Vijesh Kumar described it as a work based on lived experience. He said he had witnessed the issues and events depicted in the novel over the course of four decades.

The Last Bench launched at Szabist University

He said the idea of writing the novel had stemmed from an experience in his childhood when he was slapped in his first class at school. The incident, he said, became an early encounter with the hatred and discrimination that he later explored in the novel.

Writer and scholar Saddaf Thalho said art played an important role in addressing social, economic and other issues confronting society. It is the responsibility of writers to raise important questions, she said, adding that writers who had done so throughout history had often been targeted for challenging established norms.

She said the novel raised questions that were frequently ignored or not even recognised as issues, particularly forced and coerced conversions involving Hindu girls.

Writer Nasir Soomro said, “Bigotry remains a major issue both between Hindus and Muslims and within communities.” He also regretted the hostility between the people of Pakistan and India based on religion, saying the two sides share traditions, languages, cuisines and other aspects of a common cultural heritage but still there is hatred.

PWA President Riaz Shahid Dayo said hatred based on caste and religion was man-made rather than something taught by religion. Such hatred, he said, had been inculcated by people and particularly benefited certain classes that had historically benefitted from maintaining social divisions. He described the novel as a courageous attempt by the writer.

Dr Riaz Ahmed Sheikh, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Szabist, said class conflict was also central to the issues discussed in the novel and that the problem could not be viewed solely through the lens of religion. Social inequality cannot be ended without ending class-based discrimination, he added.

Moreover, caste-based discrimination and other forms of hatred, Dr Sheikh said, were layered and deeply inculcated in society and would not disappear easily. Ending them would require sustained struggle and greater efforts.

Activist Anita Pinjani spoke at length about forced conversions, particularly in Ghotki, and questioned the weakness of the state’s writ in preventing such incidents. She also questioned whether the state itself was part of the circumstances that allowed the practice to continue, and why those responsible were not being held accountable.

The speakers also criticised the lack of legislation in this regard.

Mr Kumar said the absence of legislation on forced conversions was deplorable. He said Hindu politicians and legislative representatives had failed to address the issue adequately. They had time and energy for other matters but had not pursued legislation on forced conversions, he said, and called for laws to address the issue.

Writer Faheem Noonari also spoke during the event, which was moderated by researcher Amin Joyo.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2026