The National College of Arts hosted two compelling public panels as part of the Ajam Media Collective residency for the NCA Triennale. The first was titled "To Ride or Sail? Closing Distances Between Historical Regions of Iran and Pakistan" by artist Veera Rustomji, followed by "Rethinking the Persianate from Below: Alternative Histories of Shared Culture Between West, South, & Central Asia," led by writer and anthropologist Alexander Reza Shams.
In this rich and thought provoking conversation, both Rustomji and Shams explored the deep cultural and historical connections between Iran and Pakistan. While Rustomji's talk and images discussed how her practice drew from archaeological artefacts and ancient trade networks which informed her films and drawings, Shams looked at the residency as a way to rethink relationships between Iran and Pakistan not through the lens of empires and elites, but through the lived experiences of dissidents, mystics, poets, and nomads who have long moved between these lands.
The discussion shed light on how stories from below can reshape our understanding of shared cultural heritage, ecological interdependence, and the fluid exchanges that continue to define the Persianate world.
Students and faculty took part in the discussion enthusiastically, reflecting on how such alternative histories can inspire more inclusive narratives of art, identity, and belonging.
