The Fourth Biennial Convention of the Association for the Study of Persianate Societies on "Persianate Societies and the Subcontinent" was held in Lahore from February 26 to March 1, 2009.

It was co-sponsored by Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), the Faculty of Oriental Learning of University of the Punjab, Lahore, the American Institute of Iranian Studies, and the Written Heritage (Miras Maktoob) Research Center, Tehran.

The inaugural session began at 4:00 PM in the Senate Hall, Allama Iqbal Campus, University of the Punjab. President Saïd Amir Arjomand presided over the session and Professor Mujahid Kamran, University of the Punjab Vice-Chancellor, was the chief guest. After welcoming addresses by Professor Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Learning, Dr. Habib Borjian, ASPS Secretary-Treasurer, Dr. Erica Ehrenberg, Executive Director of the American Institute of Iranian Studies, Vice-Chancellor Mujahid Kamran, and Professor Rasul Bakhsh Rais of the Lahore University of Management Sciences, Arjomand delivered the presidential address on the Evolution of the Persianate Polity and its Transmission to India.

The participants and invited guests were then treated to a wonderful Mahfil-e `Arefana Kalam, consisting of a magnificent evening of music and poetry. It was followed by a sumptuous dinner.

The nineteen regular sessions of the convention were held at the Lahore University of Management Sciences.

The convention art exhibition featured the art of Maryam Salour who came from Tehran. The book exhibit displayed titles from the Oxford University Press and the Written Heritage (Miras Maktoob). The convention banquet was offered by LUMS on Saturday, February 28, followed by a truly unforgettable performance of Qawwali.

Despite the unforeseen political unrest in Lahore, the convention was a huge success. The attendance was unusually high, with the largest group of participants from Iran, followed by those from the United States, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Germany, Afghanistan, Russia, Great Britain, Georgia and Armenia. It is regrettable that the four colleagues from India could not attend.

ASPS wishes to thank our hosts, especially Professors Muhammad Saleem Mazhar and Rasul Bakhsh Rais.