THAAP Conference 2025 Concludes, Celebrates Jogi’s Spiritual and Cultural Legacy

By Dr Ansab Ali
LAHORE (Pakistan): The second and concluding day of the THAAP Conference 2025, themed “Jogi Uttar Paharon Aya,” featured insightful paper presentations and a vibrant THAAP Circle discussion that brought together leading academics, researchers, historians, ethnographers, and architects to explore continuity, contestation, and cultural memory across Sapta-Sindhu.

Organized by THAAP in collaboration with Punjab Khoj Garh and Lyallpur Young Historians Club (LYHC), this year’s conference delved into themes of history, mysticism, cultural expression, and human connectivity symbolized by the figure of the Jogi.

The day opened with an inaugural session chaired by Dr. Hassan Shah, former Vice Chancellor of GCU Lahore. Three scholarly papers were presented: Iqbal Qaiser’s “Jogi Uttar Paharon Aya” revisited the symbolic descent of the Jogi in South Asian spiritual and cultural traditions; Dr. Kanwal Khalid explored the role of Jogis in pre-medieval India; while Indian researcher Rajiv McMullen, joining via video link, examined Nath Yogis as bridges between ascetic philosophy and artistic expression.

The second session, chaired by Dr. Mahboob Hussain, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Punjab University, offered diverse perspectives on spirituality and socio-cultural transformation. Raza Naeem, in his paper “Jo Kashi Tan Tajay Kabira, Ramay Kon Hanora,” traced the social and material origins of the Bhakti movement. Dr. Chaman Hussain, in “Mystics and Mavericks,” discussed the Jogis’ role as rebels against social and linguistic hierarchies in Punjab, while Dr. Muhammad Kashif Ali, in “Jogian Da Tilla: History, Memory, and Heritage of the Site,” explored the cultural memory and spiritual heritage linked to Punjab’s sacred landscapes.

The final paper session, chaired by Dr. Fareeha Zafar, Professor at GIDS, LSE, highlighted intersections of spirituality, archaeology, and material culture. Architects Muhammad Areeb Khan and Faiza Aleem Khan presented their study on the buried architecture of Harappa, suggesting that the Harappan civilization extended beyond the Indus region. Najia Sarwar and Muhammad Ali Naeem, in “Woven Spirituality: Tracing Yogic Practices in Harappan Textiles,” examined Ajrak patterns as enduring symbols of ancient spiritual motifs. Dr. Tohid Ahmad Chattha of GCU Faisalabad, in “Jogis, Panj Pir, and Nau Gaziya Pir,” unfolded the devotional and mythic connections within Punjab’s Sufi traditions, drawing strong appreciation from the audience.

The day culminated with the THAAP Circle, hosted by Prof. Sajida H. Vandal, where participants engaged in a lively roundtable discussion on the conference theme, generating fresh perspectives for future cultural inquiry. Prof. Dr. Rauf-i-Azam, Vice Chancellor of GCU Faisalabad, attended the closing session as Chief Guest and lauded THAAP’s role in preserving and reinterpreting South Asia’s cultural heritage.

In his closing remarks, Prof. Pervaiz Vandal, host of the conference, reaffirmed THAAP’s mission of fostering interdisciplinary understanding. Reflecting on the conference’s success, he remarked, “Every year, THAAP explores a new theme that reconnects us with our roots while inspiring dialogue between the past and the present. ‘Jogi Uttar Paharon Aya’ reminds us that the journey of the Jogi is, in essence, the human quest for unity, creativity, and truth — values that continue to shape our shared heritage.”

The conference concluded on a soulful note with a mesmerizing Heer recitation by Khadim Hussain Warsi, leaving the audience deeply moved by the poetic spirit of Punjab.