Indo-Pak Peace Calendar 2022: List of Participants, Winners and Runner up Students

On 23 February, Aaghaz-e-Dosti will launch the 10th Indo-Pak Peace Calendar. To join the virtual launch, fill the form here

During the launch, besides a panel discussion with eminent speakers, students whose paintings were selected will be felicitated. Here is the list of the winners, runner-up students and participants.

Selected Paintings

India

• Aadhyaa Ayodhikaa, DAV Public School, Cuttack, Odisha (India)
• Aarya Prasad Sahu – Gyan Mandir Public School, Delhi (India)
• Dhunn – Police DAV Public School, Ludhiana, Punjab (India)
• Gauri Vijay Ghanwat – Kamala Nimbkar Balbhavan, Sitara, Maharashtra (India)
• Mehakjot Kaur – BCM Arya Model Sr Sec School, Shastri Nagar, Ludhiana, Punjab (India)
• Zeba Yusuf Patel – Matoshri English Medium School, Pune, Maharashtra (India)

Pakistan

• Ayesha Iftikhar, Lahore Grammar School I – Shah Jamal, Lahore (Pakistan)
• Haniya Waseem – Ismail Academy, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Mauhib Ghulam Murtaza – The AMI School, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Rida Siddique – Jamshed Memorial School, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Subbuh Shafiq – DMC East Govt Girls Secondary School, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Umm-e-Maryam Ameen – Ismail Academy, Karachi (Pakistan)

Shortlisted Paintings

India

• Julie Hemram – PYDS Learning Academy, Dehradun, Uttarakhand (India)
• Manharleen Kaur – DAV Public School, Amritsar, Punjab (India)
• Priyani Makasare – Late Anantrao Pawar Memorial English Medium School, Pune, Maharashtra (India)
• Siddhi Prasad – Laxmi Nagar Mumbai Public School, Mumbai, Maharashtra (India)
• Simran – Police DAV Public School, Ludhiana, Punjab (India)
• Ujefa Kivande – Matoshri English Medium School, Pune, Maharashtra (India)

Pakistan

• Akhshara – Jamshed Memorial School, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Amna – DMC East Girls & Boys Elementary School No. JT-33, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Bisma Farooq – DMC East Government Quaid e Azam English Medium School Campus-I, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Fazal Ullah – Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust School, Lahore (Pakistan)
• Maliha Gul – Happy Home Secondary School, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Mysha – Happy Home Secondary School, Karachi (Pakistan)

List of Participants

India

Aafiya Naaz

Aalfiya Irfan Maniyar

Aalima Zaib Suhrawardy

Aamna Shaikh

Aarav Kaushik

Adiba Jahangir Tamboli

Aditi Divkar

Aditi Kamble

Advita Mali

Afra Shaikh

Aiza Arshid

Aksa Shaikh

Akshat

Akshit Arora

Akshita Jain

Alisha Shaikh

Amandeep Singh

Amreen Irfan Maniyar

Aniket vadmane

Anirudh

Anjali

Anjali Chavan

Ankita Chechi

Anmol Preet Singh

Ansh Madaan

Anushka Vinod Dhamal

Apeksha Yadav

Arbeena Shaikh

Aribabi Faruk Shaikh

Arman

Arshia Sharma

Arshiya Shaikh

Arya Shirke

Asmi

Atiya ustad

Ayesha Anjum

Ayush Mall

Ayushi Arora

Ayushi Sharma

Baani

Bhavie Verma

Bhavika Sood

Bhumi Chavan

Bhumi Jha

Brahamleen Kaur

Chahat

Chahat Verma

Chaitralee DSarharankar

Chetan Malik

Chetna Sahni

Chhaya Varalu

Chuninda

Dakshita

Deepa Jha

Dhara Bhandari

Dhiraj Bagga

Dhvani Syal

Dilpreet Kaur

Eshwari Ganesh Mahamulkar

Faraziya

Ganesh Kachi

Ganesh Vijay Ghanwat

Garima Seth

Gayatri Sudhir Shinde

Girija Kamble

Gurshaan Basra

Himani Tuli

Himanshi Bhasin

Himanshu Sharma

Hinal Kumawat

Hitesh Rattan

Hunar Jain

Ibrahim Shaikh

Ilma Asif Shaikh

Isha Singh

Jai Sharma

Janhavi Yadav

Jasleen Bal

Jasmeet Singh

Jaspreet Singh

Jivan

Jumman

Jyoti Rana

Kalia

Kanishka Joshi

Karan bhandari

Khalid Bashir

Khizra. T. Shaikh

Khushdeep Bawa

Khushi Bansal

Khushi Bansal

Khushi Sharma

Krish

Kritika

Kritika Gupta

Kritika Kori

Laxmi Chavan

Manisha Sandhu

Matin Rashid Maner

Medha Naveen

Meenal Kumawat

Mehakpreet Kaur

Meher Khan

Milan

Misba Javed

Misbah Mashkoor Natnoo

MOHAMMAD RAFAN BHAT

Mohd Ali Patel

Mohd Modki

Mrudula J

Mukul Kumar

Muqadas Ali

Muskan

Muskan

Mustafa Shaikh

Nandini Barki

Nandini Chauhan

Nandni kumari

Navneet Kaur

Navya Arora

Navya Maurya

Neha Devkule

Neha Retawade

Nipun Tanwar

Nirmiti Ratnakar Kshirsagar

P Dishita

Pari Tanwar

Parth Rendalkar

Pearlpreet Kaur

Prabhkirat Kaur

Prabhsimran Kaur

Prachi Rewale

Prapti

Pratiksha Jha

Pratiksha Mishra

Prince gupta

Priyansh Jain

Priyanshu Yadav

Rachna Goud

Raj Chauhan

Rajpreet

Raksha

Ramzan shaikh

Reema rawani

Riddhi Chauhan

Rifat Shaikh

Rita Chauhan

Riya Raut

Rosen Sunder

Roshan Shah

Ruchita Hemant Ghanwat

Sachneet Kaur

Saddam

Sairam Pore

Sajal Vijay Kachare

Sakshi Chavan

Sakshi Negi

Saloni Guge

Samaira Paul

Samreet Saini

Sanjeev Choudhary

Sanskruti Pacharkar

Sanskruti Pacharkar

Sarbjeet

Sarthki Waghmare

Satyam Tripathi

Saya Sanjay Salve

Shambhavi Tripathi

Sharavani tonge

Shehnaz Shaikh

Shifa Amit Tamboli

Shifali Sharma

Shikha Pandey

Shivangi Thapa

Shlok Hotthige

Shraddha Amol Pawar

Shreya Suresh Yadav

Shubham Hanumanprasad Yadav

Shubhi Shah

Shweta khade

Siddhi Satish Jagdale

Sidharth Nagesh

Sidiksha Makheeja

Sidra

Sikhman Kaur

Simranjeet Kaur

Sirjan Kaur

Sonali Jadwan

Srushti

Suhana Parveen

Sumaiya

Sunidhi Rathore

Tahura Maniyar

Tahura Shaikh

Tamanna

Tanisha Tikhe

Tanmay Prakash Anbhule

Tanmay Prakash Anbhule

Tanuja Pawar

Tanvi Kamal

Tanya

Tanya Arora

Tejal

Tuba Khan

Tvisha

Utkarsh Thite

Vaishnavi Pacharkar

Vanshika

Vanshika Chauhan

Vanshika Dhiman

Varindesh Rajpal

Vatsala Sharma

Vibha M Iyengar

Vivana Bharucha

Yasir

Zaafira Muneer

Zainab Shah

Zameer Quadri

Zara Shaikh

Zeel Anil Karne

Zikra Shaikh

Pakistan

Abdul Rashid

Ahmed Raza

Akash

Alishba Ashiq Masih

Anshara Naeem

Anshara Younus

Areeku

Awais Ahmed

Bernica

Bisma Tariq

Fabeha Khan

Javeria Waqas

Kiran

Laiba Khan

M Akbar

Madiha Gul

Maham Wazeer

Meerab

Mehak Sadiq

Muzamil

Pakeeza Fatima

Sameer Tanveer

Shiza Muhammad Ali

Syed Ali

Zuneera Sagheer

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Selected and Shortlisted Paintings for 10th Indo-Pak Peace Calendar

The Indo-Pak Peace calendar is an annual initiative of Aaghaz-e-Dosti. It brings together beautiful artistic
expressions of the youth – the leaders of tomorrow – and inspiring words of those who
have been actively engaged in nurturing a more prosperous subcontinent. The calendar
aims to work as an everyday reminder of the similarities among people across the
barbed wires– in habit, struggle, and the desire for peace.

This is our tenth calendar. Like every year, we received thought-provoking expressions
from students of several cities in India and Pakistan. And like every year, it was a
challenge to select only twelve paintings, as we firmly believe that each and every
expression is precious. However, in addition to these 12 paintings, we also shortlist 12 more paintings.

Selected Paintings:

India

• Aadhyaa Ayodhikaa, DAV Public School, Cuttack, Odisha (India)
• Aarya Prasad Sahu – Gyan Mandir Public School, Delhi (India)
• Dhunn – Police DAV Public School, Ludhiana, Punjab (India)
• Gauri Vijay Ghanwat – Kamala Nimbkar Balbhavan, Sitara, Maharashtra (India)
• Mehakjot Kaur – BCM Arya Model Sr Sec School, Shastri Nagar, Ludhiana, Punjab (India)
• Zeba Yusuf Patel – Matoshri English Medium School, Pune, Maharashtra (India)

Pakistan

• Ayesha Iftikhar, Lahore Grammar School I – Shah Jamal, Lahore (Pakistan)
• Haniya Waseem – Ismail Academy, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Mauhib Ghulam Murtaza – The AMI School, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Rida Siddique – Jamshed Memorial School, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Subbuh Shafiq – DMC East Govt Girls Secondary School, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Umm-e-Maryam Ameen – Ismail Academy, Karachi (Pakistan)

Shortlisted Paintings:

India

• Julie Hemram – PYDS Learning Academy, Dehradun, Uttarakhand (India)
• Manharleen Kaur – DAV Public School, Amritsar, Punjab (India)
• Priyani Makasare – Late Anantrao Pawar Memorial English Medium School, Pune, Maharashtra (India)
• Siddhi Prasad – Laxmi Nagar Mumbai Public School, Mumbai, Maharashtra (India)
• Simran – Police DAV Public School, Ludhiana, Punjab (India)
• Ujefa Kivande – Matoshri English Medium School, Pune, Maharashtra (India)

Pakistan

• Akhshara – Jamshed Memorial School, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Amna – DMC East Girls & Boys Elementary School No. JT-33, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Bisma Farooq – DMC East Government Quaid e Azam English Medium School Campus-I, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Fazal Ullah – Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust School, Lahore (Pakistan)
• Maliha Gul – Happy Home Secondary School, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Mysha – Happy Home Secondary School, Karachi (Pakistan)

We thank all the participating schools/institutions and students for contributing to this
initiative.

Call for Stories of Friendship, Love and Nostalgia: “Beyond the Borders” Initiative by Lighthouse South Asia

Lighthouse Storytelling’s South Asian chapter is starting it’s open call for contributions to their Indo-Pak campaign ‘Beyond the Borders’: a project aimed at promoting friendship, love and unity between the people of India and Pakistan. They wish to showcase these stories in the form of creative narratives: whether written, visual or spoken, in an effort to celebrate our connections across borders.

As an official collaborator to Lighthouse South Asia’s campaign, Aaghaz-e-Dosti invites you to contribute to this initiative through submitting your story via the form https://forms.gle/G5SN2UY2xuQru8AD9 

If you wish to contribute in a different way, apart from written submissions, we also look forward to spoken word presentations (audio or video), interview/podcast sessions, video documentary/story and other art forms centred around the same theme of unity between the two countries. If you need help in documenting your story, we are here to help! (Write to us at aaghazedosti@gmail.com)

The only area to exclude is going in depth about political, religious or other controversial topics as that is not the only side we are trying to portray, otherwise engaging and insightful discussions are welcome. 

For further questions you may contact the heads of the campaign at: sara.hassan.lighthouse@gmail.com or shravani.lighthouse@gmail.com or contact Aaghaz-e-Dosti at aaghazedosti@gmail.com

We look forward to receiving your stories!

Result of the Painting Competition for 9th Indo-Pak Peace Calendar

The Indo-Pak Peace calendar is an annual initiative of Aaghaz-e-Dosti. It brings together beautiful artistic expressions of the youth – the leaders of tomorrow – and inspiring words of those who have been actively engaged in nurturing a more prosperous subcontinent. The calendar aims to work as an everyday reminder of the similarities among people across the barbed wires– in habit, struggle, and the desire for peace.

This is our ninth calendar. Like every year, we received thought-provoking expressions from students of several cities in India and Pakistan. And like every year, it was a challenge to select only twelve paintings, as we firmly believe that each and every expression is precious. However, in addition to these 12 paintings, we also present here the 12 runner-up paintings.

WINNER PAINTINGS

INDIA:

1. Mahip Singh Saini, Swami Sant Dass Public School, Phaghwara, Punjab (India)

2. Sachneet Kaur, Swami Sant Dass Public School, Phaghwara, Punjab (India) 

3. Priyanshu Yadav,  Police DAV Public School, Ludhiana, Punjab (India)

4. Simran Saini, Police DAV Public School, Ludhiana, Punjab (India) 

 5. Arshdeep Kaur, Swami Sant Dass Public School, Phaghwara, Punjab (India)  

6. Prabhnoor Basra, DRV DAV Centenary Public School, Phillaur, Punjab (India)

PAKISTAN:

1. Ariba Fatima, Punjab Group of Colleges, Muslim Town, Lahore (Pakistan)

2. Jazil Abdullah Qazi, Lahore Grammar School, Sabzazar Branch, Lahore (Pakistan)

3. Areeba Sajid, Rawalpindi Women University, Rawalpindi (Pakistan)

4. Ayaan Nasir Malik, Lahore Grammar School, Karachi (Pakistan)

5. Noor Ijaz, Lahore Grammar School, Paragon, Lahore (Pakistan) 

6. Wajiha Anwar Ali, Rana Liaquat Governments Girls Sec. School, Ibrahmin Hyderi, Karachi (Pakistan).

SHORTLISTED PAINTINGS

INDIA:

1. Neha Maniar, Delhi Public School, Bangalore, Karnataka (India) 

2. Sirjan Kaur, Swami Sant Dass Public School, Phagwara, Punjab (India) 

3. Manan Jain, Kundan Vidya Mandir, Ludhiana, Punjab (India)

4.Subhashini, Notre Dame Academy, Patna, Bihar (India)

5. Priyanshi Jain, Delhi Public School, Ludhiana, Punjab (India)  

6.  Taranpreet Kaur, Swami Sant Dass Public School, Phagwara, Punjab (India)   

PAKISTAN:

1. Daim Samuel, Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust Higher Secondary School, Lahore (Pakistan)

2. Sadia Khan, Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust Higher Secondary School, Lahore (Pakistan) 

3. Hannia Rehman, Lahore Grammar School, Muslim Town, Lahore (Pakistan)

4. Syeda Daania Ally, Lahore Grammar School, Karachi (Pakistan)

5. Iraj Hasan, Lahore Grammar School, Karachi (Pakistan)

6. Syeda Zoha Ahmed Gardezi, Lahore Grammar School, Karachi (Pakistan)’

We thank all participating schools and students. The certificates will be sent to all participants and winners by the end of this month. Around 20th of this month, the calendar is set to be launched in a virtual event. The participants will be contacted.

Lahore and Surat met, talked, laughed and advocated a future that belongs to peace

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To cross the border and to meet a neighbor country citizen is always a difficult task when it comes between Pakistan and India; but young students of two countries are paving the way of a peaceful future and exploring the similarities and differences, learning from each other, talking, laughing, enjoying with each other and exploring bond of friendships through classroom connect programs. ICT (Information, communication, technology) is the tool of connection and video conferencing is helping them to enable and to create their peaceful future through breaking stereotypes. 

When Aaghaz-e-dosti Surat chapter’s coordinator Sagar Papneja in India and Amman Pukar’s President Asifa Sheikh in Lahore, Pakistan informed their students a day before about the scheduled classroom connect program where students would get an opportunity to talk with their peers on other side, students became very enthusiastic to participate in the session. Though their initial idea about the other side was much built through the secondary sources of media and what people say, they all were much excited to talk and they never had done this before. The idea was to let students from both nations learn about culture of each other in order to promote peace and it was organised in spirit of World Cultural Day. This was 15^th classroom connect program of Aaghaz-e-Dosti and around 40 students from both sides took part.

​The session began with students from Amman kids club Lahore gathered in Gulberg singing a song about friendship ‘Dosti aisa naata’ for their peers across border to which Indian students presented a famous bollywood song “ye dosti hum nahi todenge” (We will not break this friendship).

Safina from Lahore recited a beautiful poem and Atishi from Surat narrated a story. Students explored their subject leanings and fear as well and one Pakistani student told that she loves Maths to which Indian student expressed she was fond of English. Students Tanya, Vihaan & Keshav from Indian side spoke about their culture, festivals and traditions and Pakistani side students Urooj, Komal and Mehreen also spoke about diverse culture, festivals, traditional attires and languages of Pakistan. They talked about Ramzan, Holi, Eid, Diwali and Basant festivals.  

Himakshi from India recited “Aag jalni chahiye” a famous couplet of Dushyant Kumar. Guitar was played by Kapish to which students sang “Gulaabi Aankhein Jo Teri Dekhin” and it made the whole environment filled with much fun. The atmosphere was mesmerized when Mohsin Hashmi, one of the directors of Amman Pukar, recited a poem named “sweetheart” for students on Indian side. This was followed by Sahil from Indian side reciting his beautiful poem titled “Hamara desh ek classroom” and Sofia from Lahore singing a song in her melodious voice.

During the connect program coordinators also explored their ancestry and found that while Indian coordinator Sagar’s  forefathers lived in Layalpur (Faislabad) before partition, coincidentally Asifa’s grandparents belonged from Amritsar and Jalandhar. Another inspiring moment came when Mehreen from Pakistan mentioned about Akbar and Sheeshmehel in their town as Indian students had read about Akbar in history and they knew about the Indian Sheeshmehel.

After this, students were given time to directly interact with each other where they talked much about cricket, Bollywood, TV serials etc. Sahil (India) asked if the students from Pakistan also break glasses while playing street cricket and was glad with the affirmative answer and was introduced to Murtaza who had done it a lot of times. Karan (India) enquired about the street cricket rules and asked if they also have one tip one hand out. Sunny (Pakistan) replied that they also have similar crazy rules and questioned back to Indian students if they fly huge colored *Guddis*. All the Indian students together jumped on it if guddi means Patang (Kite) and then they all cheered and explained about Makar Sakranti and Kite flying festival. They then invited each other for the same. Rashmi asked them about their favorite actor and Komal replied with Mohseen Khan (he acts in Indian serials) and asked Indian students about their favourite actor to which Shilpa replied Fawad Khan. There were many such questions asked and answered.

After these conversations, Kapish presented vote of thanks and appreciated the energy and time by Pakistani students despite fasting for Ramzan. Both the sides waved good bye with a promise to talk again.

Coordinators and students on both sides expressed that this was a beautiful event to witness. An hour filled with emotions and cultural exchange to learn about each other, the similarities and the differences. Volunteers were overwhelmed as they got messages from students and their parents thanking for doing this and making it possible for students to experience something which they never had done before.

Aaghaz-e-Dosti conducts such classroom connect sessions to connect school students of Pakistan and India. This was 15^th such session. For Amman Pukar, this was first such session. Asifa, President of Amman Pukar , Lahore expressed that though Amman Pukar works for promotion of peace on local level in Pakistan, this was first such session where they realized the potential efforts of peace through such video conferencing sessions. Sagar who was coordinator of Aaghaz-e-Dosti from Indian side told that considering both countries have young population, such sessions would definitely help young minds in exploring more about peace as with these sessions, students build their own opinions which are free from media bias. Founder of Aaghaz-e-Dosti, Ravi Nitesh said that we are conducting more such sessions in coming time and we are hopeful that future belongs to these young students who are advocating peace.

To contact us, email at aaghazedosti@gmail.com

Call for Poems: Aaghaz-e-Dosti & Kavishala presents Indo-Pak Poetry Collection Program

There are few things that cannot be restricted by any borders, these are emotions, dreams and hopes. We, at Aaghaz-e-Dosti, have always believed in promoting these free birds for spreading peace. We join hands with Kavishala to give you an opportunity to weave them in a beautiful poetry and we will help the peace bird take a greater flight. 

As a joint initiative of Aaghaz-e-Dosti and Kavishala, we present an “Indo-Pak Peace and Friendship” Poetry Collection that will take the form of a book with 100 poets and poems written in 5 major languages of the subcontinent. Here are few guidelines:

1. Original and Unpublished Poems
2. Language – English, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi or Sindhi (For punjabi and sindhi, please send a rough translation in Hindi/Urdu or English). 20 poems from each of the 4 languages will be selected.
3. A maximum of two submissions per person
4. Send file in word/text format and the file should have your details – name, address, contact number and a brief bio
5. You can send it at aaghazedosti@gmail.com or upload it at website of Kavishala http://kavishala.in/poetry-for-peace

Indian and Pakistani students sing songs, celebrate birthday and wish for a peaceful future: 14th IndoPak Classroom Connect

PRESS RELEASE

Surat/Karachi: Amid the turbulent political relations between the two countries, people on both sides still looked for ways to build bridges to remove enmity and to break stereotypes as a process of peacebuilding. In its line of peacebuilding through programs of peace education in schools across Pakistan and India, Aaghaz-e-Dosti organised its 14^th “Classroom to Classroom connect” program between students of Karachi city of Pakistan and Surat city of India on 5^th May 2018.   

This classroom connect program was conducted in collaboration with Akhil Hind Mahila Parishad, Bruhad Surat branch from the Indian side and L2L (Learn to Learn), a Karachi-based commercial alternative school from Pakistan side. This classroom connection program connected around 150 students. On the Indian side, students were participants of summer camp in the centre while in Pakistan, students were participants of an activity learning school. The session was coordinated by Sagar Papneja of Aaghaz-e-Dosti Surat Chapter and Adnan Kudiya, a Karachi-based educator and activist working with #MainBolunGa, a social cause from Pakistan.

Before the connection was initiated, students on the Indian side were asked for their opinion about the neighbor country and they voiced some of the stereotypes and misconceptions. When asked for the source of their knowledge, they said parents, movies, and news. The coordinators gave them an analogy that they choose their own best friends and that their parents never tell them whom to befriend so then why shouldn’t they apply it here, in this case? They should choose their own friends and even foes by analyzing, talking to them and then deciding. They agreed.

The session began with national anthems of both the nations. It was followed by a discussion on summer vacations. The students interacted for an hour and asked questions about favorite food, movie actors, songs, school vacations, and much more only to realize that on both the sides everything was same.

During the session, students of both sides revealed their likes and dislikes and found that both sides loved many things similar. An Indian student asked to Pakistani students ‘Who is your favorite hero?’. Pakistani students replied ‘Fawad Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Salman Khan’. Then Indian student wondered ‘Fawad Khan! Tiger Shroff! they all are our favorites as well’. Another Indian student named Jhanvi asked ‘Karachi me kya famous hai?’ for which she got reply from a Pakistani student ‘Karachi ko city of lights kehte hain’ to which all Indian students became happy and eager to know more.

Then both sides together found that they both love faluda dessert, Afridi, Dhoni and Virat so much. In the lighter mode, both sides of students expressed how they hate school uniforms.

In a surprise move, when Pakistani sides of students got to know about the birthday of a student on Indian side, they wished and sang a birthday song for the Indian student that made the whole environment very emotional. During the concluding time of the session, students of both sides requested to extend the session for more time and also sang “swag se karenge sabka swagat” and “bahubali” song for each other. By the end of the session, the kids befriended each other and realized that across border the culture is same. They were no-more enemies rather friends with some positive future ahead. Their glowing faces with this first ever experience were expressing their happiness after meeting their peers.

Aaghaz-e-Dosti, a collaborative peace initiative of two voluntary organisations – Mission Bhartiyam (India) & Hum Sab Aik Hain (Pakistan), believes that students are future of these countries and have all the potential to build new bridges of peace and reconciliation that would pave the way for future.

Issued by

Aaghaz-e-Dosti

https://aaghazedosti.wordpress.com

 

Aaghaz-e-Dosti launches the 6th IndoPak Peace Calendar in India

Indo-Pak Peace Calendar 2018; Photo by Abhishek Shukla

New Delhi: Amid disappearance of its Convener in Pakistan since Dec 2, Aaghaz-e-Dosti continued its efforts on peace building and launched the 6th Indo-Pak Peace Calendar. Members of this young team are highly hopeful that Raza will return soon. Members informed that as a peace education group, our activities are not against anyone and therefore we think that we must keep working for our activities.

Indo-Pak Peace Calendar was launched in India International Centre, New Delhi on 13th January by voluntary youth initiative Aaghaz-e-Dosti that works on fostering people to people relations between India and Pakistan. This calendar is a collection of selected paintings of Pakistani and Indian school students along with messages from 12 renowned persons from both countries who favor Indo-Pak Peace. This year, peace calendar carries messages of Prof M S Swaminathan (Father of Green Revolution), Kamla Bhasin (Feminist and Peace Activist), Kapil Kak (Retd Air Vice Marshal), Rahul Jalali (Former President-Press Club of India), Nirupama Subramanian (Sr. Journalist and has been posted in Pakistan for few years) and Amardeep Singh (Author-Lost Heritage-Sikh Legacy in Pakistan) from India and of Dr. Mubarak Ali (Pakistani historian), Imtiaz Alam (Secretary General SAFMA), Anam Zakaria (Activist and author), Dr Anita M Weiss (Academician) and Farooq Tariq (Activist and spokesperson of Awami workers party) and Lt. Gen (retd) Mohd M. Alam.

Aaghaz-e-Dosti aims to create unwavering bonds of peace and friendship between India and Pakistan and seeks to become the medium to discover and recognise the misrepresented reality on the other side of the border. It is focused on citizen diplomacy and works primarily through peace education aimed at familiarising the people about the ‘other‘, countering stereotypes, homogenised and negative image of the other, educating them about the issues of conflict, the existence of diverse views and developing critical thinking and developing confidence in dialogue and peace building for conflict resolution.

This was the sixth year of the initiative and peace calendar. In earlier years, these calendars have been launched in several cities of India and Pakistan. A panel discussion on the topic ‘Sharing of Hopes for a Peaceful Co-existence’ was also organised by India International Centre and Aaghaz-e-Dosti jointly where speakers like Kapil Kak, O P Shah, Rahul Jalali, Jyoti Malhotra and Prof Jagmohan Singh participated and spoke upon various issues.

Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Kapil Kak

While speaking on the occasion, Retd Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak talked about the importance of peace building, specially through such people’s initiative. He quoted Faiz Ahmad Faiz to explain diplomatic engagements between India and Pakistan- “Dil se toh har mamlaa hal karne chale, saamne aaye toh har baat badal gayi”. Highlighting the efforts of Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh governments, he called the 2003-2007 phase as the ‘golden period in the India Pakistan dialogue process’, post which he said we suffered from a ‘famine of dialogue’. Referring to Narendra Modi’s 2015 visit to Pak as a ‘leap of faith’ and quoted Elliot alongside- “only those who risk going far can know how far one can go”. He stated the importance of *connectivity*- need of engaging people across the LoC, media, public engagements for building opinions on the need for peace. He also told that we all need to have patience- most critical virtue, for any resolution as it takes time. Voices from both sides must speak for peace.

Rahul Jalali

Senior journalist and former President of Press Club of India, Rahul Jalali said that there are much need to work on peace building these days to counter hatred and violence at every level. He also insisted that media groups may play a positive role in peacebuilding effectively. He appreciated Aaghaz-e-Dosti’s for peace in today’s disturbed times when there’s a dearth of those taking on or for peace between the two neighbors. Highlighting the role of social media in shaping public opinion he told that need of the hour is to present facts and not focus on myth building and hate mongering. He advocated to continue dialogue as the world desires peace between the two neighbors.

O P Shah

O.P. Shah who is founder of think tank Centre for Peace and Progress talked about the necessity of people coming forward and take a centre stage to decide policies of their own and demanding peace, harmony and development. Expressing hope for a much better things in future, he congratulated Aaghaz-e-Dosti peace building efforts. He talked of existence of ‘crisis of confidence’ between and among the neighbors.  He also emphasized that unless well meaning people work hard together and with honesty to create a climate of trust and confidence, we won’t get much. He highlighted the importance of a continuous dialogue and he quoted Mani Shankar Iyer’s line- “there’s a need of uninterrupted and uninterruptible dialogue with Pakistan”. He also advocated the need of positive, constructive and meaningful role of media and need of leadership like that of Gandhi.

Prof Jagmohan Singh

While speaking on the occasion, Prof Jagmohan Singh who is activist and author and nephew of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, talked about Bhagat Singh and Pakistan. He told about the place where Bhagat Singh was studied and hanged as it is in Pakistan. He told about his experiences on how Bhagat Singh still lives in so many hearts of Pakistanis and Indians and can be a connecting medium for peacebuilding. He distinguished between two layers of politics, emphasized on the role the lower level consisting of civil society and students engaged in peace can play. He told that there are two types of mindsets- fixed and growth and that Aaghaz-e-Dosti represents the later, with it’s efforts in trying to build the bridge it is building including the students at school level especially’

Jyoti Malhotra

Senior journalist and columnist Jyoti Malhotra emphasized that these paintings made by students are actually something we need to learn and understand about what these students, who are future generation of these countries, desire for. Lamenting the unnatural state of affairs between India-pakistan, she stated ‘it isn’t our responsibility to decide whether Pak is good or bad, what is needed instead is to hope for a more normalized relations with our neighbor, which given our geography cannot be ignored.  She referred to Aaghaz-e-Dosti’s engagements with school children across the borders as the ‘story of the future’, wherein technology has to be leveraged in the interest of the two countries.

Devika Mittal, Convener of Aaghaz-e-Dosti in India told that the importance of the calendar is that it is a collection of shared dreams and hopes for friendship which we will be reminded of every day. This calendar is one of our peace education activities in schools and colleges. The purpose of these activities is to enable the future leaders to forge the path to a better world by engaging them with aspects of critical thinking, civic engagement and dialogue as solution. She told that this year again Aaghaz-e-Dosti received many paintings from many schools of Pakistan and India. In these six years, Aaghaz-e-Dosti has been received paintings from school students from almost all states and provinces of India and Pakistan.

Madhulika V Narsimhan, Aaghaz-e-Dosti member during her moderation talked about important points raised by speakers and also about various other activities of the initiative during last six years.

Many eminent persons like educationist C. Raja Mohan, Supreme court advocate Ram Mohan Rai, Secretary General of South Asian Fraternity Satyapal, Activist Khurshid Reshi, NYP Coordinator Sanjay Rai, Youth activist Mushtaq ul Haq, Akhtar Hussain, Mubashir Malik, Suresh Yadav, Abhishek, Sanjana, Madhuri and others were present. Photography was done by Zephyr, a photography society of Delhi University students.

Talking more about Aaghaz-e-Dosti, Ravi Nitesh informed that Aaghaz-e-Dosti has given peace trainings to more than 6000 students and youngsters through 20 Aman Chaupals (peace session) across India and Pakistan and also uses video conferencing to connect classrooms of India and Pakistan in sessions called Indo-Pak Classroom Connect that facilitates interaction between students of India and Pakistan. Aaghaz-e-Dosti conducts regular Exchange of letters and cards between students of India and Pakistan and has recently exhibited these letters at the renowned Faiz Ghar (house of Faiz Ahmed Faiz) in Lahore.

Many students participated in the launch ceremony. They described and talked about their vision/thought guiding their art works. The teachers of the participating school also shared their experience.

On the disappearance of its Pakistan’s convener Raza Khan, Aaghaz-e-Dosti stands on its earlier statement that the whereabouts of Raza are still unknown but all members are highly hopeful that Raza will be back soon and will start working again. Group has not criticized Government of Pakistan or its agencies and instead maintains that being a voluntary peace group, we respect constitution, democratic values of both countries and our activities are not against any government or ideology. Emphasising its stand, group states that it doesn’t attach itself with any ideology except ideology of peace and harmony that is need of this world. Aaghaz-e-Dosti is not a funded project of any organization and never receives any governmental or foreign support for its activities. Group states that their members are mostly engaged in peacebuilding through their participation in peace education activities among school students in India and Pakistan.

In previous years for its peace calendars, Aaghaz-e-Dosti received messages/ participation from Dr S N Subbarao, Kamla Bhasin, Dr Syeda Hameed, Col Virender Sahai , Major General Ashok K Mehta , Dr Shashi Tharoor , Vishwajyoti Ghosh, Pankaj Chaturvedi, Dr Dhananjay Tripathi, Ram Mohan Rai, Dr Meenakshi Chhabra, Dr D S Rana, Javed Naqvi, Deepak Malviya, Dr Chaman Lal, Late Sh Pankaj Singh, Air Vice Marshall (Retd) Kapil Kak, Sudheendra Kulkarni, Dr Kavita Sharma, Kuldip Nayar ,  Shailja Kejriwal , Tara Gandhi, Admiral Ramdas,  Satyapal, Syed Salman Chishty, Ram Puniyani, Shirish Agarwal, Dr Pritam Rohilla, Pramod Sharma, Lalita Ramdas, Sadia Dehlvi, Manik Samajhdar, Deepak Malviya from India and  Dr. Pervez Hoodhboy, Raza Rumi,Beena Sarwar, Sheema Kermani, Dr Ayesha Siddiqa, Aamir Nawaz, Rahil Yasin, Awais Sheikh, Dr. Salima Hashmi, Lt. Gen Muhammad Masood Alam,  Dr I A Rehman, Khadim Hussain, Karamat Ali, B M Kutty, Anwar Jafri, Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad, Saeed Ahmed Rid, Nisar Ahmad Chaudhary, Dr Zahid Sahab Ahmed, Dr Farzana Bari, Asma jahangir, Dr Mubashir Hasan from Pakistan.

The calendar is scheduled for launch in Pakistan on 27th January in Lahore.

For more information, contact us at aaghazedosti@gmail.com

Photos in the blog are by Abhishek Shukla and Volunteers of Zephyr: The Film and Photography Society of CVS

 

On Global Dignity Day, Indian and Pakistani students bond over similarities, learn to celebrate difference

The 12th Indo-Pak Classroom Connect of Aaghaz-e-Dosti had connected students of Beaconhouse School System, Middle-I Gulshan branch, Karachi (Pakistan) and Gujarat Public School, Vadodara, Gujarat (India). The virtual interaction happened on the occasion of Global Dignity Day.

Ms Amber Sajid, teacher co-ordinator from Beaconhouse School (Karachi) stated that they chose this event for Global Dignity Day as the day is about instilling love and respect for everyone, irrespective of any difference. It is the day which seeks to build consciousness about one’s identity as a human above all other identities. They wanted to use this day to bridge the gap between Indians and Pakistanis by dispelling stereotypes, making the students aware that Indians and Pakistanis have many similarities and to also learn to respect any difference which is there. It is important that students learn to respect and celebrate difference, diversity. 

The discussion was focused around culture. Since it was the week of Diwali, a major festival in India, students from Pakistan asked about it. They inquired about the story behind Diwali, it’s importance and how it is celebrated. Ms Abhilasha Agarwal, head of Gujarat Public School, shared that the students were very curious to know about Diwali. They wanted to know how do we greet each other on Diwali. 

The discussion as also around other Indian festivals, dance forms and customs. The students from Gujarat told them at length about the Gujarati culture and several other cultures of India. Some of the students had worn traditional attires representing the different cultures in India. They also showed them a plate with different types of snacks from India. Some students had also presented Garba and Mohini Attam dance form of India. 

A Pakistani student expressed her interest to know about rangoli which she had seen in Indian series. The Indian students, in turn, asked about Sindh, its food and culture. 

The schools plan to have several such sessions. They find these sessions helpful to inculcate pride in their their own culture as well as respect for other cultures. 

This report has been made by Devika Mittal and Raza Khan. To contact us, email at aaghazedosti@gmail.com

Surat, Gujarat India meets Lahore, Pakistan: Second IndoPak Open Mic

Pakistanis and Indians got a chance to come together virtually as the Aaghaz-e-Dosti organised the 2^nd virtual cross-border open mic with Aaghaz-e-dosti Surat, Gujrat team and Aaghaz-e-dosti team Lahore. Open mic was held at Lowkey Lokai, a space that brings together people & community to dialogue and debate issues that are critical for building a peaceful society.

The basic objective of the open mic was an interactive session among Pakistanis and Indians through which art, music and culture could be promoted. Both sides have a notion about the people of other side as strangers and others. Aaghaz-e-dosti has an aim to abolish this ‘otherness’.

Kevin West and Ahsan Aslam from Qaid the band of Lahore initiated the event by singing an Indian song Qurban Hua and Saiyyoun Nee by Junoon Band. Qaid band had outstanding vocals and voice.

The event got pace with a dance performance by Hammad rasheeed, a choreographer and a Kathak dancer also teach at LGS. Hammad has performed more than 100 times in India and Pakistan during the span of last 3 years. He has also choreographed for Pakistan Television, Ajoka Theatre and many other organizations. Hammad did Kathak dance on Raag Bhagraiwaan and Khamaj by Shafqat Ali. This performance fascinated the setting.

As event got rhythm, performances from both the sides were presented turn-by-turn. Mark Xavier, engineering student sang sufi song. Following the Sufi music Joshua Dilawar, a social activist and student of journalism sang Gulabi Ankhain and Taaray Zameen Per. Mohsin, a student of Gender Studies Department, Punjab University did mimickery and both sides were echoing with laughers.

Saddam Hussain from Lahore came up with amazing flute and caught everyone’s attention. Mobeen Ahmad, student of Philosophy from Lahore was another person with flute gave his best.

Zeeshan Sarwar, ended the show by singing a song of peace. Fayyaz, a chemical engineer and member of Aaghaz-e-dosti delivered a poem of his own demanding for peace, humanity and harmony.

Participants appreciated the campaign and this Open Mic event. They were very keen to be invited in such upcoming events of Aaghaz-e-Dosti to promote Peace and tolerance. Participants emphasize that both Governments should replace this conflict and tussle with Peace and harmony. Visa process should be easier, so that people may visit across the border easily one of the participants said that.

The Aaghaz-e-Dosti, a joint initiative of Mission Bhartiyam (India) and Hum Sab Aik Hain (Pakistan), aims to eradicate mutual hatred and suspicion to create unwavering bonds of peace and friendship. They believe that miscommunication and lack of communication has helped sustain the conflict. To meet objective, the Aaghaz-e-Dosti has taken several initiatives ranging from interactive sessions in schools to public demonstrations, from art-based initiatives to writing articles and issuing statements to disseminate the misrepresented voice across the border.

Hum Sab Aik Hain represents Aaghaz-e-Dosti Pakistan; an organization formed by a group of young people based in Lahore. The objective of this organization is to promote peace and harmony among the masses by highlighting, advocating and organizing towards discourses and movements to bring about socio-political and the economic changes required for a peaceful society.