Results Announced: 8th Indo-Pak Peace Calendar

Aaghaz-e-Dosti is glad to announce results of selected and shortlisted paintings that will be displayed in this year’s peace calendar.

8^th Peace calendar is now scheduled to be released on 11^th January 2020 (Timing 6 to 8 PM) at India International Centre (Seminar Hall II & III, Kamladevi Block), Lodi Road, New Delhi.

Like every year, this was again a very difficult year to decide best paintings among all available beautiful paintings. You would believe that expressions of students in all paintings were quite emotional and colors of love, imagination, peace were filled in those. This selection was done through a process wherein primary screening was made by group members through providing points on each painting without letting them know name, class and schools. Secondary process was done where public votes were also invited. Both results made combined and put with core team members who decided final selections. Names and class and schools are being announced here now.

Aaghaz-e-Dosti also express its sincere thanks to all the schools and their faculties who motivated students to participate in this painting submission. We are also thankful to parents and families who definitely create an environment where their children can learn things that can contribute in making them as a more responsible citizen and in creating a more peaceful society.

We would also like to inform that as we receive many paintings and we use only total 24 paintings (12 selected and 12 shortlisted) in peace calendars, Aaghaz-e-Dosti team also intends to utilize all other paintings too to provide an opportunity and visibility to expression of other students also and in the year 2020, we would bring few such innovations.

Keep participating and keep expressing your thoughts through paintings, poems, stories etc. if it can foster Indo-Pak Peace and strengthen people to people relations. Aaghaz-e-Dosti is all yours and its platform is always available for all of you to write, share, create, participate and lead for Aaghaz-e-Dosti.

All the best and see you all in our scheduled peace calendar launch.

Runner-up Paintings: India

Medha Naveen , Class 6, Sishu Griha High School, Banglaore

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Vikas Pal, Class 12, PYDS Learning Academy, Dehradoon

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Avnee Singh, Class 11, Ecole Mondiale World School,Mumbai

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Shrey Thaper, Class 7, Swami Sant Dass Public School, Pahwara, Punjab

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Sirjan K., Class 7, Swami Sant Dass Public School, Phagwara, Punjab

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Nisha Khandelwal, Class 10, Gujrat Public School, Altadara, Vadodra, Gujrat

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Runner-up Paintings- Pakistan

Mahnoor Yousuf, Class 7, The Smart School (Al-Hasan Campus),Karachi

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Fatima Imran Malik, Class 8, Lahore Grammar School, Middle Section for Girls,

Johar Town, Lahore

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Muhammad Abdullah Amin, Class 7, Lahore Grammar School, Middle Section for Boys, Johar Town, Lahore

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Syed Ali Bukhari, Class 8, Lahore Grammar School, Middle Section for Boys,

Johar Town, Lahore

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Ashkab Zaman, Class 7, Bacha Khan School, Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunwa

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Quratulain, Class 6, Bacha Khan School, Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunwa  

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Selected Paintings: INDIA

Kamaldeep Kaur, Class 11, DRV DAV Centenary Public School, Phillaur, Jalandhar- Punjab

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Anjna, Class 12, Gyan Mandir Public School, Delhi

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Ananya Agarwal, Class 12, The British School, New Delhi

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Jasleen Kaur, Class 11, Police D A V Public School, Ludhiana, Punjab

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Shefali Dash, Class 10, Sishu Griha High School

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Vikhyat Singh, Class 10, Hoerner College, Mahanagar, Lucknow

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Selected Paintings : PAKISTAN

 Areeba Akbar, Class 10, The Smart School (Al-Hasan Campus),Karachi

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Aliza Asif, Class 8, Lahore Grammar School, Middle Section for Girls, Johar Town, Lahore

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Hassan Amiruddin Ansari, Class 8, Lahore Grammar School, Middle Section for Boys, Johar Town, Lahore

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Ebaad, Class 7, Lahore Grammar School, Middle Section for Boys, Johar Town, Lahore

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Uzair, Class 6, Bacha Khan School, Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunwa

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Raja Muhammad Wajid, Class 7, Lahore Grammar School, Middle Section for Boys,Johar Town, Lahore

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Students and faculties from Indian side are invited to attend the event and to receive their certificates and token of appreciation during the program in Delhi.

Students and faculties from Pakistan side will be informed to attend the event in Pakistan as soon as schedule will be fixed for program. They will receive their certificates and token of appreciation during the program.

All students/faculties are requested to check spellings of their names and other information such as class and school. In case of any correction, please bring this to our notice as soon as possible as your certificates and all other reports, media release etc. will carry the above details.

All students/faculties from Indian side are requested to reach on time and in case of any query, kindly contact with Mr. Ravi Nitesh at 9958907799.

Delhi Calendar Launch: 11 JAN 2020, 6 PM, India International Centre

Issued by

Aaghaz-e-Dosti | aaghazedosti@gmail.com | www.aaghazedosti.wordpress.com

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Aaghaz-e-Dosti’s Annual Peace Calendar Launch: Endeavoring Towards a Peaceful Coexistence

Aaghaz-e-Dosti is an India-Pakistan peace initiative of Mission Bharatiyam (India) and The Catalyst of Peace (Pakistan). The annual launch of the Peace Calendar is a bookmark event among various other peace activities organized by the initiative.

First launched in January 2013, the Peace Calendar has entered its fifth year in 2017. It is a unique attempt that tries to remind the two neighbours with much of shared history and culture, that there is much in common that connects, than what separates them. It is a humble attempt to remind those on both sides of the fence that a calendar is not just a mere bunch of dates on a piece of paper, it can also serve as a messenger of peace, humanity and love that binds all in invisible yet strong threads.

This year, after having been launched in Lahore, Toba Tek Singh and Peshawar in Pakistan; the Peace Calendar was launched in New Delhi at India International Centre Annexe on January 14^th, 2017.

Along with the launch of the Peace Calendar, a discussion on the theme ‘Sharing of Hope for Peaceful Coexistence’ was held. The event saw the presence of eminent speakers including Dr. S.N.Subba Rao (Veteran Gandhian), Dr. Syeda Hameed (Member of the erstwhile Planning Commission and Peace Activist), Ms. Kamla Bhasin (Peace and Women’s Rights Activist) and Colonel (Retd.) Virendra Sahai Verma.

The event began with Late Colonel Mandeep Singh’s daughter, Gurmehar Kaur, recalling the memories of her father’s presence and his loving embrace, before she and her family lost him in the Kargil War of 1999. She recalled how she, at the tender age of three, could not comprehend the uncanny silence of her father on his deathbed and how for many years to come, her innocent questions were fed by her mother’s assurances that it was just a bad dream. After many years, when she witnessed on television the similar painful cries of the families, who had lost their children, brothers, fathers, husbands, their loved ones in Uri and Pathankot, all her childhood memories rushed back to her and an excruciating cry deep inside, made her understand the violence, death could bring.

With a heavy heart, as her throat choked with emotions, she made a plea for peace and asked us all to question and understand the immense futility of hatred, violence and war, wherein only the humans and the humanity is defeated.

Next, two Pakistani students Bharat Kohli and Suneel Nand, studying in the South Asian University, New Delhi, shared their experience of being in India, which they termed ‘wonderful’. Talking of the importance of platforms like the SAU, they held that such platforms offered students from different SAARC Nations not only an opportunity to avail quality education, but also taught them the importance of strengthening the neighbourly bonds of friendship, respect, acceptance and accommodation.

Next, the Peace Calendar was unveiled and launched by the guest speakers.

Dr S N Subba Rao

The four panelists, all stalwarts of the movement for peace in South Asia had very many insights they shared on the peace process and its importance. Dr. S.N. Subba Rao, a Gandhian in its best sense, was the first to share his experience and views on the theme of the event. He spoke of ‘Jai Jagat’ in the same breath as ‘Jai Bharat’ and ‘Jai Pakistan’. With the call of ‘Jai Jagat’, he tried to highlight the importance of universalism, as against parochialism and narrowness in views and boundaries.

Asserting that ‘mere absence of war is not peace’, he argued that as ‘war begins in the minds of men’, so should peace. He lamented that there were huge efforts towards fueling the war industry, as against the minimal efforts towards peace. With this, he shed light on the importance of creating more ‘peaceful minds’ and facilitating the birth of “Peace Preparation Laboratories” like Aaghaz-e-Dosti and expressed hope for its growth.

Ms Kamla Bhasin

Kamla Bhasin, a crusader of Indo-Pak peace since 1975, began by appreciating Aghaz-e-Dosti’s efforts and wished that more of such events were highlighted and aired by the media houses, who more often than not, are engaged in hate mongering, when it comes to India-Pakistan relations. Talking about the divides existing at various levels between and among individuals, she held that these are not natural; she held that nature, at the most, creates differences, which are transformed by us humans into inequality at various levels. She argued that war creates an artificial divide of “us v/s the other”, of “we v/s them”, wherein these “others” are not considered human enough and are often treated with discrimination. With this she tried to argue that labels are a social construction, as nature does not put labels, nor does it create hierarchy among and between people, and hence, pointed out that there was nothing natural about the various existing hierarchies based on gender, religion, caste, nationality etc.

She also spoke of the dangers associated with the Military-Industrial Complex that made immense money out of war, whereas, there were only limited money and efforts directed towards building peace.

Moving on, she spoke of the work of her NGO-Sangat that since its inception has worked for Human Rights, Peace and Democracy and had been engaging women from the South Asian region in interactive sessions towards building peace.

Both the panelists, Dr. S.N. Subba Rao and Kamla Bhasin, left the gathering spell bound with their respective songs, ‘Jai Jagat’ and ‘Jaana Shehar Lahore(y) Jaana’, in which the entire hall followed them with much enthusiasm.

Colonel Virendra Sahai Verma

The next speaker, Colonel (Retd.) Virendra Sahai Verma, who along with Nirmala Deshpande, a renowned social activist and Gandhian, had founded a peace initiative called, ‘India-Pakistan Soldiers Initiative for Peace’. This was after he had served in the two wars of 1965 and 1971 between India and Pakistan, wherein he witnessed the agony and loss that accompany war; it was this realization of the folly of armed combat that facilitated the culmination of ‘India-Pakistan Soldiers Initiative for Peace’.

He highlighted the necessity of understanding that though military victory would remain the major goal of the Army, sustenance of peace was a must for the long term coexistence of all.

Dr Syeda Hameed

The last, but as they say, certainly not the least, panelist of the day, Dr. Syeda Hameed, expounded the significance of the call for ‘Jai Jagat’, in the times when instead of expanding our identities; people, nations and territories were going narrow. She highlighted the need for adopting a broader point of view and expressed faith in humanity, stating – “yehi hai ibaadat, yehi hai deen-o-emaan, ki kaam aaye insaan ke insaan”.

Moving on she talked of the innocence of paintings by young minds that had not yet been affected by the venomous notions of hatred. She further enriched the discussion by sharing her own experiences of being engaged in peace building efforts between India and Pakistan for decades, and expressed hope in continuation of such efforts by many other organizations and initiatives, like Aaghaz-e-Dosti.

The school students from Gyan Mandir Public School – Tanvi and Yashasvi Singh and from Indraprastha Hindu Girls Sr Sec School – Divya Sharma and Yugantika whose paintings had been featured in the Calendar were awarded certificates. They presented their innocent and unbiased perceptions on India-Pakistan, talked about the inspiration behind their paintings and the importance of acceptance and peace. Their teachers – Ms. Anju Anand from Gyan Mandir Public School and Ms. Jigyasa Gupta from Indraprastha Hindu Girls Sr Sec School had also enlightened the gathering about the importance of peace education.

After the inspiring speeches by the guest speakers and insightful reflections by students and teachers, some people who had contributed to the Calendar initiative were also invited to share their experience and thoughts. 

Abhilasha Sachan representing Project Khel, Lucknow, shed light on the role children could play and the meaningful contribution they could make in propagating the message of peace. She shared her experience of conducting workshops with children, who she considered were brimming with beautiful and innovative ideas. She tried to outline the importance of honing and channelizing these bright young minds towards the goal of attaining peace.

A teacher and peace activist from Chandigarh, Ms. Astinder Kaur, shared that she has a ‘family’ in every province of Pakistan since the time she decided to open her home and heart to this initiative. She asserted that without having gone to Pakistan ever, her bond with this neighbor had been such that she became ‘khala’ of hundreds of children from there.  She expressed hope in the young minds of today, who she wished would build a better tomorrow, with a new direction and shape.

All the panelists, the speakers, some from among the audience present in the event shared their views and experiences of visiting and of being received and embraced with open arms and hearts, in Pakistan. Some recalled and cherished the small yet friendly gestures from ‘bhutta’ sellers, from ‘dhaba’ owners in Pakistan, who refused to charge them for food, for they treated them as their friends, neighbors and guests from India.

These instances are not mere stories, but are much more; they exemplify an innocuous bond of friendship, humanity and love that binds the people now separated in geography, but still one at heart, knowingly or unknowingly.

The fifth Peace Calendar Launch, New Delhi, saw a plethora of views and experiences being shared. A genuine hope for a better and a peaceful tomorrow was expressed, that could and would be shaped only by continuous efforts via uninterrupted dialogue and interactions between those on either side of the fence. The event, on the whole, highlighted the significance of understanding that peace is the only alternative, a shot worth taking and an investment; and the patience and support of all the people present reiterated that however easy it may be to hate and create differences, to love and come together as one is more human.

The official coverage partner for Delhi Launch Event was Zephyr: The Film and Photography Society of College of Vocational Studies (CVS).

Report by: Sanjana Arya (Delhi team member, Aaghaz-e-Dosti)

View Photos from the Event: Facebook Album 1 – Photos by Zephyr, Facebook Album 2 – Photos by Abhishek Shukla, Sanjana Arya, Flickr

5th Indo-Pak Peace Calendar launched in India

New Delhi: On 14^th January, Aaghaz-e-Dosti, a joint Indo-Pak Friendship initiative, launched its 5^th Indo-Pak Peace Calendar in Delhi. This Indo Pak peace calendar features selected paintings (6 paintings from India and 6 from Pakistan) from schools students (Grade 8 to 12) of India and Pakistan .These Paintings depict an innocent and apolitical horizon of peace. Alongside the paintings, peace calendar includes messages from peace activists and renowned intellectuals. This year, Peace calendar includes messages of Dr. Salima Hashmi, Dr I A Rehman, Prof. Mubashir Hassan, Khadim Hussain, Lt. General (Retd) Muhammad Masood Aslam from Pakistan and Dr Shashi Tharoor, Col (retd) Virender Sahai, Major General (retd) Ashok Mehta, Dr Syeda Hameed, Dr. Kavita Sharma and Sudheendra Kulkarni from India.

The launch was followed by a discussion on ‘Sharing of Hopes’ with eminent speakers including Col. (Retd) Virendra Sahai Verma, Dr. S. N. Subba Rao, Dr. Syeda Hameed and Kamla Bhasin.

Dr S N Subba Rao talked about the importance of Jai Jagat or universalism in the present world which is torn by parochialism and boundaries of hatred on the basis of national identity. He said that much money is wasted on hatred than on peace. He regarded peace initiatives like Aaghaz-e-Dosti as peace preparation laboratory and talked about it’s importance.

Kamla Basin talked about how war creates artificial divides, boundaries, construction of we v/s them, us v/s the other wherein the other is not considered to be a full human being and is degraded. She said that nature never created any boundaries. All labeling is socially constructed. She shares her experiences of visting Pakistan and meeting with people of Pakistan.

Colonel Virendra Sahai Verma addresses the popular notions and stereotypes associated with army. He said that in times of crises, army is sent to help other countries, including the ones regarded as opponents. He talked about examples wherein army personnel have treated the prisoners of war in a non-brutal way. He said that the army is not only to defend the country but should also facilitate the reduction of conflict and its escalation into war. Military victory is important but sustenance of peace is importance for long run, for the benefits of the two countries.

Dr. Syeda Hameed talked about how our identities are increasingly becoming narrow instead of broadening. She reiterated the importance of jai jagat, universalism and humanity. She recalled instances from her initiative of taking a bus of women peace activists to Pakistan (and vice versa) and the problems that were posed to them by people of their own country. She said that interaction is important and it should always be continued.

This year, Aaghaz-e-Dosti had received thought-provoking expressions from students of several cities in India (Bulandshahr, Cuttack, Dehradun, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Surat and Vadodara) and Pakistan (Balochistan, Karachi, Lahore, Rahim Yar Khan, Swabi and Toba Tek Singh). Students from Delhi whose painting was selected or was runner-up had come and talked about the vision behind their painting.

This is 5^th year of calendar launch and this year it started its journey from Lahore (1^st Jan), Toba Tek Singh (8th Jan), Peshawar (10th Jan) and now scheduled in Delhi on 14^th January, in Karachi on 28^th January and in Chandigarh on 14^th Feb.

Aaghaz-e-Dosti is also planning to launch this calendar in Dehradun, Panipat, Mumbai and Kolkata and also across borders of South Asia, in Kyrgyzstan and United States of America. People from all walks of life are expected to participate and eminent speakers will share their thoughts and experiences.

5th Indo-Pak Peace Calendar launched in Toba Tek Singh

Toba Tek Singh: On January 8, Aaghaz-e-Dosti, a joint Indo-Pak Friendship initiative, launched its 5^th Indo-Pak Peace Calendar in Toba Tek Singh in collaboration with Youth for Human Rights Pakistan. The launch preceded a discussion on Indo-Pak peace with eminent speakers including Professor Dr. Muhammad Saleem (GC University Faisalabad), Hafiz Abdul Hai (Religious leader), Ms. Zara Shah (Human Rights Activist), Abdul Khaliq Sannam (Poet and Author), Irfan Gill and Khurrum Fiaz (social activists), Muhammad Asif Nadeem (journalist) and Umair Ahmad (Coordinator of Aaghaz-e-Dosti and Chairperson Youth for Human Rights Pakistan). The program was moderated by Gulzar Ahmad and Adil Fraz.

Every year, Aaghaz-e-Dosti, launches an Indo-Pak peace calendar in India and Pakistan. This calendar includes selected paintings of students from India and Pakistan and is launched followed by a seminar ‘Sharing of Hopes for a peaceful and friendly co-existence’. This calendar also includes messages from renowned personalities working on the peace from both the countries. 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.

The launch in Gojra Bar Association saw a large numbers of people gathering. People from all walks of life had participated. Sammia Sanam student from Govt. Girls High School, Gojra Toba Tek Singh whose painting was selected for inclusion in the peace calendar had come and were felicitated. The distinguished guests spoke on different issues concerning Indo-Pak peace.

Dr. Muhammad Saleem emphasized that an Indo-Pak friendship initiative like Aaghaz-e-Dosti is extremely needed in these times for peaceful co-existence in the globe. Such initiatives play great key role in enhancing cultural, traditional, and trade values in the region and will help full to eliminate the environment of hatred.

Mr. Hafiz Abdul Hai stressed that religious scholars play crucial role in promoting peace by delivering actual religious messages. All religions preach peace, love, and harmony. He also shared about renowned Sufi saints of sub-continent for betterment of mankind.

Ms. Zara Shah said that both countries visa policy for good exchanges visits, health, trade, and promotions of tourism should be revised for easy access. Abdul Khaliq Sanam expressed that people of both countries suffer from extremism and terrorism and could mutually stand against their elimination.

Umair Ahmad spoke briefly about Aaghaz-e-Dosti, its initiatives, and its outreach. Heads of both states should hold international convention on the cessation of war to avoid danger to human lives and devastation at large scale, he added. Umair Ahmad also stressed the need of friendship relations with India and all the neighbors. He said that the inter-religious and inter-faith harmony was the need of the hour for which world leaders should come forward. He also said terrorism could not be defeated by bullet.

The calendar was launched in Lahore on January 1. This calendar is also scheduled to be launched in several other cities like Peshawar and Karachi in Pakistan and Delhi, Chandigarh, Kolkata and Panipat in India.

View more photos from the launch

Press Release issued by

Umair Ahmad

Co-ordinator – Toba Tek Singh

In case of any more details required, you may email at aaghazedosti@gmail.com or yhrpak@gmail.com

On New Year, the 5th Indo-Pak Peace Calendar launched in Lahore

Lahore, 1 Jan 2017

The was the first day of the year 2017 well started by voicing for peace from Lahore where people from all walks of life gathered together and echoed peace at the launch ceremony of Aaghaz-e-Dosti peace calendar.

At a time when once again, India and Pakistan seems distant with each other on talks, school students from both sides came forward to express their desire to foster peace and friendship. These paintings have deep expressions of what a student thinks. Most of these paintings have expressions of flying beyond borders and meeting each other, shaking hands that shows how strongly young minds from both sides think about peace.

Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed addresses on the futility of Conflict

Indo-Pak Peace Calendar was launched in Lahore today by Aaghaz-e-Dosti, a joint Indo-Pak Friendship initiative that runs dozens of chapters in India and Pakistan through network of youths that also, who work for peace building voluntary. A discussion on ‘Sharing of Hopes’ was also organized where various visions and suggestions for peace building was discussed with guest speakers Prof Ishtiaq Ahmed (Political Scientist), Dr Salima Hashmi (Artist, Educationist; Daughter of legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz) and Imtiaz Alam (Secretary General – SAFMA). Discussion was moderated by popular poet and RJ Afzal Saahir.

This was 5^th peace calendar of Aaghaz-e-Dosti and it got tremendous participation. From Pakistan, AeD received paintings from Balochistan, Karachi, Lahore, Rahim Yar Khan and Toba Tek Singh district. From India, AeD received paintings from Anupshehr (UP), Cuttack (Orissa), Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Delhi, Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir), Kolkata (West Bengal), Lucknow (UP), Mumbai (Maharashtra), Surat (Gujarat) and Vadodara (Gujarat). This year, Aaghaz-e-Dosti received messages from Dr. Salima Hashmi (Pakistani Artist, Educationalist and daughter of legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz), Lt Gen (Retired) Muhammad Masood Aslam, I.A. Rahman (Recipient of Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding), Khadim Hussain (Director of Baacha Khan Trust Educational Foundation, Pakistan), Sudheendra Kulkarni (Chairperson of Observer Research Foundation, Mumbai), Dr. Syeda Hameed (former member of the Planning Commission of India and a Padma Shree laureate), Capt (Retd) Virendra Sahai Verma (Co-founder of India Pakistan Soldiers’ Initiative for Peace from India), Maj Gen (Retd) Ashok K Mehta (Former Major General of the Indian Army and Defense Analyst), Dr. Kavita A. Sharma is the President of South Asian University, Dr. Shashi Tharoor (Member of Parliament (MP) in Lok Sabha and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, India), Dr. Mubashir Hassan (Former Finance Minister in the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Government) and Dr. Saeed Ahmed Rid (Assistant Professor, National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan).

Dr. Salima Hashmi cuts the Indo-Pak cake

A young student who was among audience said that he would like to participate in coming year as he wish to contribute for peace. While asking if he know how other side of border is, he said that though he never went India, he knows that people there are same and he thinks that there should be more easiness in meeting of people from both sides.

As, Aaghaz-e-Dosti also connects classroom of India and Pakistan and provide an opportunity to students from both sides to interact via video conferencing, one student of Lahore who had been part of one such session of Aaghaz-e-Dosti was also present and shared her experience. She recalled that how beautiful it was when students from both sides sang songs together. She said that she had invited all students of Indian side to come Pakistan on Eid and that that she also got invited by many students from that side. ‘We sincerely wish and desire to visit and talk each other’, she said.

Mr. Imtiaz Alam felicitate Principal of Ghauri Wisdom High School

Raza Khan, who coordinates activities of Aaghaz-e-Dosti in Lahore says that with the ground team of Aaghaz-e-Dosti has spread through more than 15 chapters in India and Pakistan and 3 international chapters, mostly led by young women peace activists. Along with many other ground activities that includes Aman Chaupals, Peace Workshops, Discussions, Letters and Greeting card exchange, Classroom to Classroom connect and others, Aaghaz-e-Dosti is continuously working towards peace building on people to people level and has provided peace education to more than 6000 students till now through these alternative ways of peace education. For its efforts, Aaghaz-e-Dosti has been recognized by various awards. He informed that Peace calendar will be launched in Peshawar and Toba Tek Singh on 8 January and in Delhi on 14^th January and Chandigarh on 30^th January. The Calendar is also scheduled to be launched in Kolkata, Panipat (India), Karachi (Pakistan), in USA and Kyrgyz Republic.

View Photos of the Launch Event

Indo-Pak Calendar launch in New Delhi

Date: 21st December 2013

Time: 2 to 5 PM

Venue: India International Centre, New Delhi

Despite similarities in several respects, the Indo-Pak relations have always been fluctuating. 2013 also saw several ruptures but despite these fluctuations, the bond that connects and shall always connect the people of the two countries has not gone. Every year, we, a people’s initiative, Aaghaz-e-Dosti (lit. Start of friendship), celebrate this bond with our “Calendar for Peace and Love”.

An initiative of India-based Mission Bhartiyam and Pakistan-based The Catalyst – TC and Centre for Youth Development Activities, Aaghaz-e-Dosti, aims to create unwavering bonds of peace and friendship between India and Pakistan. The bonds that will survive the vagaries of troubles times. But these bonds will not be artificial ones, they rest on the belief and claim that people of India and Pakistan not only share the same language, culture, values and challenges but also the desire for peace and friendship. It rests on the belief that if there are people on both sides of the border who cannot and do not want to forget the past and do not want others to forget it, there are also people who want to forget the past and not just move on but move along to create a new chapter in history…of friendship and brotherhood.

And so, every year, Aaghaz-e-Dosti launches “Calendar for Peace and Love” that would remind us every day about these people. This is the second year of launch. The calendar with the paintings of an innocent and apolitical mind will remind us that mindsets have been constructed. The six paintings narrate the desire as well as need to bridge the gap for a happy and prosperous future. Together with the beautiful dreams of the young and innocent, the Calendar also has messages from people who have been actively working to nurture these dreams. This calendar is a collection of these shared dreams of peace and friendship. It serves as a hope shared by people who are just like us, in habit and struggle. With the turn of the pages to start a new month, the hope shall be renewed.

The Calendar will be launched along with a discussion or “Sharing of hopes for a peaceful and friendly co-existence” in both India(New Delhi) and Pakistan (Islamabad). 

In the launch in New Delhi, our guest speakers include Sh. Pankaj Singh (Eminent Hindi Poet, He has extensively written on art, literature, cinema and international politics. His poems have been translated into Urdu, Bengali, English, Japanese, French, Russian and Polish.He is a member of SAARC Writers and Literature), Sonya Fatah (A Pakistani filmmaker and Journalist. She is a columnist with Times of India), Jawed Naqvi (Correspondent of Dawn Newspaper (Pakistan) in Delhi) and Dr. D.S. Rana  (Chairperson of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. Sir Ganga Ram Hospital was originally established in Lahore in 1921). There will also be two students from Pakistan studying in India to share their views and experiences.

The discussion is open to anyone. Launch will be organized at Islamabad also and the proposed date for Islamabad launch is 24 December 2013.

We invite your presence as we share our hopes and desire to create a new history of peace and friendship. 

For any more information/query contact:

Ravi Nitesh 9958907799