The Pahari-Pothwari Literature Project

Nabeela Ahmed

New writings created in the rarely-seen Pahari-Pothwari language and English.

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An evening that featured new writing in the Pahari-Pothwari language and English from children and adults across Bradford.

A Bradford 2025 Artist-Led Award project.

Nabeela Ahmed is a writer, multilingual poet and spoken word artist. She ran The Pahari-Pothwari Literature Project to gather new writings in the language, working with adults across Bradford and two Bradford secondary schools: Carlton Bolling and St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College.

According to the 2021 census, 25.5% of Bradford is of Pakistani heritage. Nearly 70% of those are Kashmiri/Pothwari and speak the invisible Pahari-Pothwari. Written literature in Pahari-Pothwari is rarely seen in Bradford and elsewhere – through this project, two anthologies of new writing in Pahari-Pothwari have been produced, with translations in English.

Nabeela’s project culminated in a showcase event with spoken performances and anthologies available for purchase.