Message of Peace from Land of Gandhi to Land of Bacha Khan: 5th IndoPak Classroom Connect

In the fifth Indo-Pak Classroom connect, students of Gujarat and KPK interacted through video conferencing. Aaghaz-e-Dosti through these sessions that connects an Indian and a Pakistani Classroom through video conferencing and facilitates a platform for students to explore life and culture across the border, to dispel stereotypes and strengthen people to people contact and their desire for peace.

On 26 January 2017, Aaghaz-e-Dosti conducted its fifth Indo-Pak Classroom connect involved children of Vicharata Samuday Samarthan Manch (VSSM), an organisation based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat (India) to children. These children hailed from different tribes and nomadic groups of Gujarat. In the connect, they were connected to students of Bacha Khan School of Nauthia, Peshawar – KPK (Pakistan).

This session happened on 26th January which is the Republic Day of India and sought to highlight the values of our country, our constitution which teaches peace, harmony, fraternity and the larger goals of humanity.

This session was moderated by Maulikraj Shrimali of VSSM and by Faheem Ullah of Bacha Khan School. In the session, the students explored both similarities and uniqueness.  Pakistani students talked about the love for Indian Movies and songs in Pakistan. They asked questions around the Gujarati culture. Simiarly Indian students asked questions about Pakistan, it’s food and festivals.

In the session, the students also sang their respective national anthems and both stood and paid respect to each other’s national anthem, highlighting the fact that love for one’s country does not and should not mean hating another. We can co-exist in peace and with respect for each other.

There were media persons present on the Indian side and one of them asked the Pakistani students if they believe that Indians and Pakistanis are friends. A Pakistani student said, “We are not friends, we are a family.”

After the session, on both sides, the students shared their experience and learning.

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