Goddess of the Indus: A Historical Novel

What did the spiritual and social landscape of South Asia look like before the rise of the traditions that would come to shape the subcontinent for millennia? How did changing ideas about faith, power, and gender transform the lives of its people?

Join us for the launch of “Goddess of the Indus,” a captivating historical novel by Dr. Kamran Ahmad. Set in the Indus region some 3,200 years ago, the novel imagines a world at a time of profound cultural and social change, as indigenous communities grapple with new beliefs, shifting power structures, and evolving social hierarchies. Through richly drawn characters and compelling storytelling, the book explores the tensions between continuity and change, tradition and innovation, and resistance and adaptation.

The novel explores a range of thought-provoking themes, including the relationship between religion and spirituality, the pre-Aryan goddess traditions of South Asia, changing gender dynamics, the region’s ancient cultures and histories, and the emergence of social hierarchies whose influence continues to shape the subcontinent today.

Join us for an engaging conversation with the author as we explore the intersections of history, mythology, archaeology and fiction, and reflect on how stories of the distant past can illuminate enduring questions about identity, culture, and society.

About the Author:

Dr. Kamran Ahmad holds a Ph.D. in South Asian Spirituality from California. Beyond academia, he spent decades immersed in diverse spiritual groups, learning their practices and worldviews. This experience enables him to distinguish indigenous lived spirituality from formal spiritual and religious traditions. His writing is also informed by over thirty years of work as a Clinical Psychologist with the International Civil Service, across different cultures on five continents. He is the author of several books on gender, psychology and spirituality.

About the Panelists:

• Dr. Kamran Ahmad
  (Clinical Psychologist, Author of “Goddess of The Indus”)
• Dr. Fouzia Saeed
  (Author, Social Activist, Gender Expert, Former Director General of PNCA)
• Dr. Khadim Hussain
  (Author, Professor, Linguist, Provincial Culture Secretary of Awami National Party)
• Munawar Hassan
  (Development Practitioner and Cultural Activist — Moderator)

This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.

The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
Click here for Google Maps Location