+921 Heritage Talks 2025: Post Colonial Narratives in South Asia
The topic in question for this year’s +921 Heritage Talks conference is Post Colonial Narratives in South Asia. The discussion will be framed around urbanism, modernism, decolonization and ecology, examining how the postcolonial era has shaped cities, identities in the past and the way to move forward in today’s postcolonial society.
This conference invites reflection on how these early post-independence projects—buildings, cities, institutions, and policies—have aged, evolved, or disappeared over time. What was once envisioned as a hopeful future is now part of our architectural and cultural heritage. Yet much of this heritage remains unrecognized, under threat, or poorly preserved. At the same time, the intangible legacies of post-independence—such as civic ideals, collective identity, and regional cultural expressions—also merit re-examination in a contemporary context shaped by political shifts, urban expansion, and globalization.
By interrogating the values and visions that informed post-colonial development, this session seeks to understand what we have inherited, what has endured, and what has been forgotten. How do we assess the relevance of this legacy today? Can the optimism of that period inform our future urban and cultural imaginations? And how might we conserve or reinterpret this heritage for future generations in ways that remain critical, inclusive, and locally rooted?
Join us in this student-led initiative by @pakistanchowkcc, supported by @heritagewalkkhi, for a multidisciplinary discussion featuring architects, artists, writers, researchers, bloggers, and urban planners from across South Asia! The conference is scheduled to be held from 7th July until 16th July 2025.
The conference is divided into 5 different sessions, and registration for each session is linked below.
Session 01 - Architecture, Modern Heritage and Urbanism: Spaces of Power and Identity in South Asia
Session 02 - Decolonization: Post-Independence Art and Architecture in South Asia
Session 03 - Metamorphosis Of The Past: Architectural Heritage and Communal Memory in South Asia
Session 04 - Communal Loss: The Erosion of Third Spaces in Modern South Asia