‘Agaz-e-Dosti’, a voluntary non political initiative of Indo-Pak friendship launched its 5th Indo-Pak peace calendar in Dehradun on Sunday.
The peace calendar features selected paintings (six each from India and Pakistan) drawn by the school students of both the countries. Alongside the paintings, the calendar includes messages from peace activists and renowned intellectuals like Dr Salima Hashmi, Dr I A Rehman, Ishtiaq Ahmed, lt General Muhammad Masood Aslam (retd) from Pakistan and Dr Shashi Tharoor, Col Virender Sahai (retd), Major General Ashok Mehta (retd) and Dr Syeda Hameed from India.
The organisers held a special screening of Toba Tek Singh (Directed by Ketan Mehta), a movie directed by 12 personalities of India and Pakistan.
A panel discussion on ‘Sharing of hopes for peaceful co-existence’ was also organised on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor Dheerendra Sharma, who also works on nuclear disarmament, said that the nuclear race in South Asia must be stopped and nuclear disarmament should be a priority for countries of the world, especially India and Pakistan.
Noted economist and educationist G K Swamy, said, “Education in India and Pakistan should be more inclusive and more connected as we share our history and our future as well. Children are the tomorrow’s leaders and such activities that promote peace and humanity among them are definitely for welfare of human being and real objective of education.’’
Anthropologist lokesh Ohri said that history and heritage of both countries are closely connected with each other. “With the hundreds of years of togetherness, these are only 70 years when we are so disconnected that we started making stereotypes for each other. A better connection of history can build a peaceful future together,’’ he said.
‘Aaghaz-e-Dosti’ is organising launching programmes of the peace calendar in different cities of India and Pakistan.