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Teenage Indo-Pak Peace Agents

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

By Nidhi Shendurnikar-Tere

A pair of
teenagers from
India and
Pakistan talk
about a project
that began
when they
realised the
commonalities
and resolved to
work out
differences

e believe
peace
is possible,"
say
Arsh
Arora and
Khushboo
Danish when
asked
about
India-Pakistan relations. The two
teenage students
study at St. Mark's
Senior Secondary Public
school in Delhi, India and The
City School Bhit Shah (TCSB),
Sindh, Pakistan respectively.
Having been a part of Aman ki
Asha, as their Facebook page
notes, they are pioneering collaborators for a new initiative
called the Indo-Pak Peace Project (IPP) launched in September 2014 (email: indopakpeaceproject@gmail.com). Here,
they share their vision for the
project and ideas for a peaceful future between India and
Pakistan.
How did the
Indo-Pak peace
project
commence? How did
you
connect
with each other?
Arsh
Arora
(AA): I connected with
Khushboo on the Face To
Faith online community platform. Initially, we argued more
than we chatted. It took time
to realize that this was not
serving any purpose. Someone
had to take the initiative to
stop arguing. This is when I
thought I should take the lead
in talking about promoting
peace between the two nations. Khushboo agreed and
this is how the Indo-Pak peace
project started.
Khushboo Danish (KD):
Having started our interaction
at an online community platform that had students from
across the globe, myself and
Arsh discussed issues and crisis faced by both countries. We
realised that the issues were
common, the thinking process
was like-minded. I saw it as a
great opportunity to collaborate for peace. I did not wish
to let this go as another IndoPak argument over who is superior. The project started the
moment we paid attention to
commonalities and resolved to
work out our differences.
Why only India-Pakistan
and why peace? What got
you motivated?
AA: Whenever I watched

Khushboo Danish and Arsh Arora: "We believe peace is possible"

news channels, read newspations. That is why I am in the
pers and surfed social netproject.
working websites, statements
Tell us about your prolike "Ceasefire violations are
ject activities. How do you
taking place on the border,
manage to work for peace
India cancels talks with Pakduring trying circumistan, Pakistan warns India of
stances?
a nuclear war" disturbed me.
AA: Since the project
How can two countries that
launch we have been fortunate
share much more than a borto receive support from both
der ... share religion, culture,
the schools. We are also being
festivals, values and people's
supported by peace organizaaspirations, not live and let live
tions such as One Life Alin peace? I questioned the raliance, World Peace through
tionale of connecting with the
Pilgrimages, Life Talkies and
entire world, while letting hosPeaceful Earth Foundation.
tility flourish with one's neighWell-known peace activists
bour. That is when I decided to
like Chintan Girish Modi and
work for peace.
Yogesh Ravindra Mathuria
KD: I experienced an inner
have also whole-heartedly suppassion and enthusiasm for
ported IPP. After the project
peace. Despite the division of
launch, we celebrated peace
the Indian sub-continent into
day and UN week. In Novem-

IPPP: Music for peace

India and Pakistan, look at
what we share. So much! Our
history, culture and moreover
our people! I was amazed to
learn from my grandparents
how during the partition people helped and saved each
other's lives. I realised peace is
still possible. However, much
of the young population in
both countries is engrossed in
negativity and hatred. This
negative atmosphere is an obstacle in the way of our
progress. I wanted to work
with young peace makers because I believe they can
change the fate of the two na-

ber 2014, e conducted a video

conference between school
students from both sides. We
also organized an event in remembrance of the victims of
Peshawar attack to express
our solidarity with Pakistan.
KD: We have organized activities like Pen for Peace, Art
for Peace, Music for Peace,
slogan competition in our
school. During the video conference, we had Pakistani students singing songs and Indian
students reciting poems. Our
peace events were shortlisted
in the category of 'Best Dialogue With Difference' in the

hen love becomes a stigma, all the vices are considered virtues.
Let's say no to parallel lives, no to hypocrisy. Love is not a stigma,
intolerance is!" says London-based Pakistani human rights
lawyer Rubab Mehdi Rizvi. This Valentine's Day, she wants to "reclaim love"
by remembering our folk heroes and heroines like Heer Ranjha, Sohni Mahiwal and others. A most relevant message for both India and Pakistan where
conservatives and extremists often use force or violence to prevent people
from celebrating an event that is not part of "our culture".

Cross border V-Day video special

web television show by IndiaPost Live media will produce a special video for Valentine's Day,
featuring messages from Pakistanis and Indians to each other. Those wanting to participate
can send their 30-45second video message to producer Subha Roy at the email address
sroy.news@gmail.com.

Cricket World Cup: Together against terrorism

akistani civil society activists who have been agitating for action against terrorism in the country have
given a call for solidarity on the cricket field for this
cause. A Facebook Event page hash-tagged "Together
Against Terrorism CWC15" states: "We may be opponents
on the Cricket Pitch but we are together against Terrorism. We are together for regional harmony and for a prosperous future for both countries and for our children."
The event organisers invite people all over the world
wherever they may be to "wear black arm bands to the Pakistan India Worldcup match in Adelaide and its screenings on 15th February 2015 to remember the school children of the Army Public School in #Peshawar who we lost to terrorism on 16th December 2014." Indian and Pakistani
cricket fans and peace lovers have responded positively to the suggestion online, with over 1.2 k
'likes' online within a day of the event being created.

Nagpur MUN: Calling Pakistani students

egistrations for the first Nagpur city Model United Nations
(MUN) are now open. Nagpur MUN invites college as well as
high school level participants to join the conference on May 3031, 2015, billed as "An Indo-Pak Youth Peace Conference".
The MUN venue is the Yeshwantrao Chavan College of Engineering, Nagpur and the event will feature three UN committees: General
Assembly, World Health Organisation, and Human Rights Council. "We
at Nagpur International Model United Nations believe that now the
time has come for peace to prevail. This can only be achieved if the youth of both the nations stand
together united. We also believe that any Line of Control between us cannot divide the latent bond
of cultures and traditions that both the nations inherit," say the organisers, who are particularly
reaching out to Pakistani participants. Website: http://amankiasha.nagpurmun.org

THE FIRST STEP

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

Feedback, contributions, photos, letters:

Email: amankiasha@janggroup.com.pk
Fax: +92-21-3241-8343
Post: aman ki asha c/o The News,
I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi

India Pakistan Peace Project: students participate in a video conference

Pakistani students Rabia, Nadia and Hakeema: with their "change

maker" comments
can contribute to the project.
This is the change that I wish
to see.
KD: We are in the process
of connecting with peace activists, youth groups and
NGOs from both sides. We
want to bring India and Pakistan closer and anyone who
shares this aspiration is
warmly welcome to be a part
of IPP.
What difficulties did you

encounter while working on

the project? Is peace
achievable in the near future?
AA: I was advised by many
to stall this project as it could
be dangerous for me. I was
questioned about favouring
Pakistan. My only response
was that nothing can ever be
gained by reinforcing negativity. I am hopeful about peace. I
have faith that the youth of
both countries will make it
easier to achieve peace.
KD: Many times, I have
been surrounded by negative
and discouraging comments.
There have also been concerns
of safety due to political issues
and constant tensions between the two nations. But
that has not stopped me from
my work in IPP.
How does your family,
school and community view
your role as peace makers?
AA: My family is proud of

my role as a change maker.

When I discuss positive aspects of Indo-Pak relations
with them, they beam with
hope. In school, my classmates call me the 'Indo-Pak
Peace Agent'. The support
from school teachers and the
principal throughout has been
invaluable. It is something that
other schools can emulate.
KD: I am overwhelmed
with the support I received
from my family, my father and
school. My school mates have
been extremely cooperative in
project events. Their supportive reflections and continued
enthusiasm is a major force
behind the project's endeavours.
Your message to peace
builders in India and Pakistan
AA: Let's dream of a world
where there is no destruction,
no loss of lives and no bloodshed. Let there be prosperity
in South Asia. This is possible
only through India-Pakistan
peace and cooperation.
KD: Do not be scared. Be
strong. We have to counter
challenges and achieve milestones together. We are together in the long cherished
dream of harnessing the talent,
intellect, spirit and dedication
of the people of India and Pakistan for a peaceful South Asia.
The writer recently submitted a
PhD Thesis in Political
Science at the Maharaja
Sayajirao University of Baroda.
She is a Peace-Building Fellow
with The Red Elephant
Foundation. Email:
mailtonidhi12@gmail.com

A little bit of India at KLF

B R I E F S

Reclaim love

Peace One Day competition.

We remain unshaken during
trying circumstances. Our
faith in the project and its aims
only strengthens with support
from those who encourage us.
What are your plans to
involve more students and
young people from India
and Pakistan in the project?
AA: We have an impressive
presence on social media
(Facebook and Twitter). The
Face to Faith online community enables us to connect
with students from across the
globe. To get more people involved, we aim to network
with more schools in both
countries and raise awareness
about the project through increased on ground activities.
We are also looking forward to
an exchange visit between students of St. Mark's and TCSB
in the near future to deepen
existing bonds of friendship.
KD: Credit for the project's
initial success lies totally with
our schools and our teachers
... Geeta Rajan and Danish
Jatoi. They have led us with
immense faith. I also wish to
commend the students who
enthusiastically participated in
our activities. This shows that
educational institutions in
both countries have potential
to promote peace. We plan to
build and shape student teams
from our schools as well as
other schools in India and Pakistan. The idea is to take peace
to local communities through
education.
Do you visualize the project as part of a larger
peace effort?
AA: Definitely. Apart from
our respective schools, we
have received support letters
from many peace organizations. Eventually, I see IPP
scaling up to take the shape of
a larger peace movement. I
feel delighted when students
come to me and ask how they

Pakistani students: sharing views on FM radio

The annual Karachil Literature Festival provides an opportunity for Pakistanis and Indians to interact
he literary festivals that have
started being organised in different cities of India
and Pakistan over the last
few years provide a precious
opportunity for people of either country to meet and interact.
Several prominent Indians
participated in this year's annual Karachi Literature Festival, which featured keynote
speeches by the eminent Indian writer Nayantara Sahgal
and the Pakistani poet Zehra
Nigah at the inaugural session on Feb 6, 2015.
Books by Indian authors
launched at KLF included
Nayantara Sahgal's latest offering, 'The Political Imagination' and Ritu Menon's biography of Sahgal, 'Out of
Line - A Personal and Political Biography of Nayantara
Sahgal'.
Reshma Barshikar, an Indian travel writer also
launched her novel, 'Fading
into Red' at KLF, but was late
for her own session due to
delays caused by having to
report to the police, as Indian
visitors to Pakistan are required to do (and vice versa).
Indians who participated
in KLF included filmmaker
Meenu Gaur, co-director of
the critically acclaimed Pakistani film Zinda Bhaag, and
actor Sanjay Iyer.
In her keynote speech,
Nayantara Sahgal, whose
mother Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was Jawaharlal Nehru's
sister, termed her uncle
Nehru as "a male feminist"

Ritu Menon, Nayantara Sahgal, V.K. Karthika, Reshma Krishnan: Indian writers and publishers at KLF
who had encouraged and inspired her. Sahgal said that
her family's political background inspired her first
book, 'Prison and Chocolate
Cake' (1954). Interestingly,
one of her characters called
himself a "Hindu Muslim" and
termed his language "Hindi
Urdu".

Sahgal recalled that Urdu

was not included in the initial
list of 13 languages being
classified as India's official
languages soon after independence. When the list was
presented before the then
Prime Minister Nehru, he
asked why Urdu was not in
the list. On being told that it

was nobody's mother tongue,

he replied that it was his
mother tongue. Urdu was
duly added to the list.
A discussion on 'Working
with the Printed Word' featured Indian publishers Ritu
Menon, V. K. Karthika along
with Ameena Saiyid of OUP,
Afzaal Ahmad of Sange Meel

Publications and French publisher Marc Parent. Asked

why she focused on publishing books by women, Menon
responded that women form
half the world's population.
At a session on 'The English Language Literatures of
South Asia' with H. M. Naqvi
from Pakistan, Ritu Menon
from India and Sadaf Saaz
Siddiqui from Bangladesh,
panellists agreed on the need
for more interchange of the
printed word among the
three countries.
At another session, Fahmida Riaz spoke about her
experience as a feminist poet
who had to flee to Delhi during the Zia regime.
Prominent Sindhi writer
Amar Jalil who received a
standing ovation at his session read excerpts from his
story 'Oh, My God', witty reflections on present politics
through imaginary conversations with God.
He said he was born an Indian. "When young, I was told
that the country is like a
mother. I saw my Mother
change from India to Pakistan".
aka

A peace initiative whose time has come...

Destination Peace: A commitment by the Jang Group, Geo and The Times of India Group to
create an enabling environment that brings the people of Pakistan and India closer together,
contributing to genuine and durable peace with honour between our countries.