Indo-Pak Peace Calendar launched in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, February 14: On Valentine day, the 3rd Indo-Pak Peace Calendar was released and discussion on ‘Sharing of hopes for mutual coexistence’ was jointly organized at People’s Convention Centre, Chandigarh by Yuvsatta, Peace Club of Dev Samaj College of Education and  Aaghaz-e-Dosti, a joint Indo-Pak initiative of India-based Mission Bhartiyam and Pakistan-based The Catalyst – TC.

Giving information about the initiative Pramod Sharma, Coordinator, Yuvsatta shared that from last three years, this calendar is being launched in both India and Pakistan. It includes selected paintings of students from India and Pakistan and also messages from renowned personalities working on peace on both sides of border. The importance of the calendar is that it is a collection of shared dreams and hopes for friendship which we will be reminded of everyday. And this calendar has already been launched in Delhi, Nashik, Panipat in India and Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad in Pakistan. 

Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included former Union Cabinet Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, Prof. Ronki Ram & Prof. Manjit Singh from Panjab University, Dr. Jyoti Khanna, Principal, Dev Samaj College of Education, Deepak Dhiman, State Head-north, Dainik Bhasker, Avtar Singh Pal  of People’s Convention Centre​, Sr. Advocate Manjit Singh Khera, HS Talwar-​a social activist and core members of Aaghaz-e-Dosti – Devika Mittal (convener of Aaghaz-e-Dosti India), Madhulika Narasimhan and Madhuri Mittal. 

Devika Mittal, Convener(India) of Aaghaz-e-Dosti said that this year’s Indo-Pak Peace Calendar carries messages from well known peace activists like Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, Shaila Kejriwal, Admiral Ram Das, Prof. Chaman Lal and Mr. Manik Samajdar from India. From Pakistan, we got messages from Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, Ms. Reema Abbasi, Ms. Sheema Kermani, Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad, Mr. B.M. Kutty, Mr. Karamat Ali and Mr. Aamir Nawaz. Explaining further she stressed that continuous disruption of Indo-Pak talks will not lead us to peace. We need to work to end this conflict, not to sustain it. We don’t want war with Pakistan not because we love Pakistan but because we love India. Talking about peace is not an easy thing. Talking about war is easy and of course, profitable! 

Addressing the gathering on the occasion Pawan Kumar Bansal said that the two nuclear armed neighbors have no other choice than to be good friends for the sake of peaceful coexistence. But the military and civilian leaderships on both sides must bring significant changes in their thinking and approach to achieve that end.

Sharing his concerns Avtar Singh Pal expressed that ‘imagine a prosperous subcontinent freed from the fear of war and nuclear apocalypse, on its way to joining the First World. It is a vision worth fighting for and high time a worthy people rid themselves of their painful legacy of colonialism’.

Prof. Ronki Ram from Panjab University added that an average Indian and a Pakistani have the same secret desire to cross the border, at least once. They want to see what people eat, how they talk, how they look and how they think on the “other” side. And if it is to be believed what those lucky people who have visited says, they will be highly ‘disappointed’ because it is just the same there. We share a common history, a common language, a common culture and even a common desire. This desire is found in the talks of average Indians and Pakistanis. And it’s high time to build these relations further leading towards sustainable peace in whole of south-Asia.

In the end, Dr. Jyoti Khanna while presenting a vote of thanks shared that in such ongoing disputes women are worst sufferers and improvement in Indo-Pak relations will certainly bring betterment in lives of women, especially those living in border areas.

Press Release issued by

Yuvsatta and Aaghaz-e-Dosti

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