SHARED HISTORY-SHARED HOPES' DISCUSSION IN
CONTEXT OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN ORGANISED AT WORLD BOOK FAIR BY CROSS
BODER FRIENDSHIP INITIATIVE AAGHAZ-E-DOSTI
14 FEB, New Delhi, World Book Fair.
Aaghaz-e-Dosti,
a cross border initiative for Indo-Pak Friendship organised a session
today on inaugral day of World Book Fair, New Delhi. This session was
organised at 'Sahitya Manch' and theme was 'Shared History-Shared
Hopes'. Guest speakers include Prof. Chaman Lal, Ms. Sadia Dehlvi, Ram
Mohan Rai and Dr. Dhananjay Tripathi. Session was moderated by Ravi
Nitesh.
Program
started with few lines of Saeed Ahmed (Lahore, pakistan) recited by
Ravi Nitesh, where Saeed Ahmed named lot of writers and artists whose
works and thoughts shared by people of India and Pakistan. These people
includes Manto, Ismat, Premchand, Krishan Chander, Khushwant, Bhagat
Singh etc. 'Hamare tumhare saanjhe hain' was the name of poem. Ravi
Nitesh told that Saeed Ahmed sent this poem only yesterday with his
desire to send his message of love and peace through this.Speakers discussed their experiences and vision and narrated their feelings about these countries and their people.
Picture: (Left to Right): Ravi Nitesh, Ms. Sadia Dehlvi, Prof Chaman Lal, Ram Mohan Rai, Dr. Dhananjay Tripathi
Prof. Chaman Lal,
while speaking about relations about India and Pakistan, told that
there is an urgent need to divert the financial expenditure of arms and
this budget must be utilised in education, health and other priority
sectors. He told that how Mohd Iqbal and Premchand are celebrated
writers in these two countries and still in India many dont know about
such facts. Prof Chaman Lal told that our culture is one and we must
have freedom to meet each other. He insisted that our boundaries must be
like of US-Canada and EU nations. He told that he still imagine for a
day to come when Lahoris can come for Amritsari lassi and Amritsari can
go for Lahori kababs anytime they desire.
Social Activist Ram Mohan Rai narrated
his experience and told about Hali, a renowned poet. He felt emotional
while narrating his experience that when many years ago he went to
Pakistan on martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, he heard slogans 'Lahore me
Bhagat Singh Zinda hai, Karachi me Bhagat Singh Zinda hai, Saada Bhagat
Singh Zinda hai' (Bhagat Singh is alive in Lahore and Karachi, Our
Bhagat Singh still alive). He told that he was thinking if Bhagat Singh
was Indian or Pakistani. He also told about famous poet Altaf Hussain
'Hali'. He worked on Hali and he belong from the birth place of Hali. He
told that even hundred years ago, Hali was so progressive in his
thoughts that still he is relevant. He told that how a urdu poet of
Panipat (India) is in the books of Pakistani students and these are
examples that how our books, writers and culture are shared and must be
shared and it again gives a hope to all of us, on both sides. He
narrated lines of Hali, 'Tum agar chahte ho mulk ki khair,Na rakho kisi
se bair, na samjho kisi ko gair' . He also told about Nirmala Deshpande
who was a bridge between India and Pakistan and told 'Goli nahee Boli
chahiye' (We all need talks, not bullets).
Dr. Dhananjay Tripathi from
South Asian University told that India and Pakistan can not be
separated with each other. He insisted about the changes in history
books that took place after 1960 in both countries and he told that how
rather than objectively correct history, both countries tried to teach
politically correct history. He told that it is unfortunate that still ,
many times we could not move forward from 1947, while there is an
urgent need to recognize the facts and move ahead on the path of mutual
progress, peace and friendship. He also told that countering
fundamentalism is also very much required for both the countries. He
told that there must be an increase in exchanges of youths, students,
academicians , activists and people and government, both need to play
their role effectively.
Ms. Sadia Dehlvi
shared her experience. She told that being a person from divided
family, she herself has so many experiences. She remembered her Nani who
was in Pakistan, but how she could not meet her. She told about
difficulties in visa formalities and ques of Indians and Pakistanis in
their countries before high commissions of other country. She told a lot
about her friend and mentor Khushwant Singh. She told that how
Khushwant is a celebrated writer in India and Pakistan and even on
personal note, Khushwant Singh was so emotional. She narrated that how
he always welcomed guests from Pakistan at any time. She told that
Khushwant always said ' My Makka Madina is Pakistan'. She also narrated
that how sufism bridge the culture of India and Pakistan. Baba Farid's
words can be found in Punjabi literaure and Baba Farid is very much
connected even with Guru Granth Sahab. She told that how Nizamuddin
Auliya celebrates Basant festival and how so many sikhs still goes to
Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. She finds that culture of India and Pakistan
is very similar and here she tells that culture is probably more binding
than religion. On the note of shared hopes, she says that she is very
hopeful with present generation as present generation is rejecting
hatred. She described that India and Pakistan are two houses under one
roof and we both have to move on the path of Insaniyat (humanity),
mahabbat (love) and dosti (friendship).
Members
of Aaghaz-e-Dosti conveyed their sincere thanks to guest speakers and
to audience.Abhishek Shukla, Mukesh Raghuvanshi, Subodh Kumar, Sandeep
Mishra, Vandana and Meenu were participated from Aaghaz-e-Dosti.
Aaghaz-e-Dosti
aims to create unwavering bonds of friendship between India and
Pakistan through advocating for people to people contacts and resolving
conflicts. To move towards its objectives, Aaghaz-e-Dosti organise
various discussions and talks at various forums, Aman chaupals in
schools. Being a cross border initiative, Aaghaz-e-Dosti also
collaborate with various cross border organisations to spread message
for peace and friendship.
Sent by:
Aaghaz-e-Dosti Team
Sincerely:
