In “A New Hope: Pakistan’s Past & Future,” Dr. Yaqoob Khan Bangash delivers an insightful TEDx talk at Aitchison College, exploring the intricate tapestry of Pakistan’s history and its potential for a vibrant future. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the country’s roots, highlighting both its challenges and its rich cultural heritage. Dr. Bangash reflects on pivotal moments in Pakistan’s past that have shaped its identity, while also advocating for a hopeful vision that embraces unity, innovation, and progressive governance.
By engaging the youth, he calls for a collective responsibility to learn from historical lessons and to actively participate in shaping the nation’s narrative. Dr. Bangash stresses that the youth hold the key to unlocking Pakistan’s potential, urging them to harness their creativity and drive to foster a brighter, more inclusive future. This captivating talk inspires listeners to reimagine Pakistan through the lens of hope, resilience, and collective action, encouraging a proactive approach to national development.
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Author Video Description
Can history give us hope? In this profound and unexpectedly humorous talk, historian Dr. Yaqoob Khan Bangash draws on personal stories, partition narratives, and philosophical insights—from Saint Augustine to German Marxists—to explore how Pakistan was born from hope, and how reclaiming that spirit is essential to the country’s future. Arguing that hope is both personal and collective, anchored in utopian vision yet grounded in realism, Dr. Bangash challenges us to reimagine our national ideals not as relics of the past, but as living goals worth striving for together. Dr. Yaqoob Khan Bangash is a renowned historian specializing in Modern South Asia, with a particular focus on Pakistan’s constitutional and political development. A Fulbright Fellow at Harvard University’s Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Dr. Bangash is also the founding director of the Centre for Governance and Policy at ITU Lahore. His scholarship explores the legacy of partition, state formation in Pakistan, and the role of religion and identity in postcolonial governance. A Rhodes Scholar and frequent commentator on South Asian affairs, Dr. Bangash bridges academic rigor with public engagement, using history as a lens to better understand contemporary challenges in Pakistan and beyond. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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Video “A New Hope: Pakistan’s Past & Future | Dr. Yaqoob Khan Bangash | TEDxAitchison College Youth” was uploaded on 06/11/2025 to Youtube Channel TEDx Talks