Aman Chaupal
To most of us, who desire and support Indo-Pak friendship or realise the power of peace, friendship between the two nations matter. If it doesn’t matter, it should because these many years of hatred have given us nothing to boast about. Hatred has robbed our economy, robbed our hearts of love and humanity and has meant loss of innocent lives on both sides.
It is time to realise the power and more importantly, the need for peace. But peace not just to save our ever-depleting economies but to realise the simple truth that the barbed wires could not stop people from sharing. We share a history, culture, language, our values. We share the desire for a peaceful and prosperous life and sadly, we also share the misconception that there is hatred on the other side of the border. We share mistrust and suspicion.
Through Aaghaz-e-Dosti (lit. start of friendship), we support, collaborate and organize initiatives to enhance people to people communication to disrupt these flows of misconceptions. Aaghaz-e-Dosti is an initiative of India-based Mission Bhartiyam and Pakistan-based The Catalyst – TC.
When we talk about communication, we love stories and experiences. As our traditional way of views sharing, we know about ‘Chaupal’ where people assemble to share views. We are going to revive this in the form of Aman Chaupal. In this chaupal, someone from or someone who has been to the other side of the border will address views and curiosities. The session will be informal and interactive. It will be based entirely on the questions. The guests will be from diverse backgrounds – media, sports, artists, writers, poets, activists, bureaucrats or any common person.
Through Aman Chaupal, we hope to present the side of our neighbor which we often do not get to know about.
Venue: Any college/school/workplace/organization
Time: 45-60 minutes for Aman Chaupal
To organise Aman Chaupal, send us an email at aaghazedosti@gmail.com
Till now, we have conducted 19 Aman Chaupal sessions in schools and colleges in India and Pakistan.
Third Aman Chaupal with Senior Journalist from Pakistan Raza Rumi at Indraprastha School, New Delhi
Fourth Aman Chaupal with Journalist-Activist from Pakistan Kiran Nazish at Rainbow School, New Delhi
Seventh Aman Chaupal at Delhi University Social Centre Co-ed School, New Delhi
Eleventh Aman Chaupal with Indian Delegates at the Indus Group of Colleges, Islamabad
Fourteenth Aman Chaupal with Pakistani Art Activist Shoaib Iqbal in ALS, Delhi
Aaghaz-e-Dosti 
Leave a comment
Comments 0