The English Literary Society (ELS) at the Department of English, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), organized a seminar titled “All Animals Are Equal, But Some Are More Equal Than Others,” featuring Mr. Rashid Mehmood as the guest speaker.
Mr. Rashid Mehmood, one of the senior-most faculty members of the Department of English, opened the session by highlighting the significance of the topic and introducing George Orwell’s Animal Farm as a powerful work of political and social commentary. He discussed the symbolic use of animal characters, explaining how Orwell used them to depict human behavior and societal hierarchies.
He also elaborated on the “Seven Commandments” in the novel and how their distortion reflected the corruption of ideals. Referring to the central idea, he cited the well-known phrase, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” emphasizing its relevance to the work’s message.
The seminar drew wide participation from students of the Department of English as well as other faculties. The interactive question-and-answer session allowed students to engage with the speaker, who responded with insightful explanations that deepened understanding of the novel’s context and themes.
At the conclusion, Ali, President of the English Literary Society, thanked Mr. Rashid Mehmood for his valuable talk and contribution to the academic learning environment. The seminar was appreciated as an engaging and thought-provoking discussion on one of literature’s most enduring political allegories.
