Lahore, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) has announced the acquisition of the Lutfullah Khan Sound Archive, a significant repository of literary, cultural, musical, and intellectual heritage from Pakistan and beyond. This collection, known for its comprehensive coverage of the region’s artistic and historical landscape, includes oral recitations and conversations with over 800 poets, writers, and intellectuals, as well as a wide variety of music recordings. The archive will be placed in the Gad and Birgit Rausing Library at LUMS.
According to Lahore University of Management Sciences, the acquisition reflects the university’s commitment to preserving and advancing the cultural and literary legacy of Pakistan and the broader South Asia region. The archive is named after Mr. Lutfullah Khan, a prominent collector and archivist, who received the Pride of Performance award in 2012 for his efforts in cultural preservation. The collection spans tens of thousands of hours of recordings, ranging from classical to folk music.
The archive’s potential for enhancing interdisciplinary scholarship and community engagement is immense. It will support a wide range of academic disciplines at LUMS, including history, sociology, religion, and musicology. Over the coming months, the university plans to catalog, digitize, and make the archive accessible to a broader audience, facilitating educational programming, public exhibitions, and collaborative research projects.
Dr. Ali Cheema, Vice Chancellor of LUMS, emphasized the collection’s role in enriching the educational environment and preserving a crucial element of regional heritage. The initiative also aims to strengthen the bond between the university and the city of Karachi, from where many LUMS students and alumni originate.
This project is supported by notable contributions from the Gurmani family and academic leadership within the university, underscoring the collaborative effort required to manage and expand the archive for future educational use.