A cross-border youth peace organisation conducts a peace workshop with students in New Delhi and Karachi through video conferencing

By Yudhvir Rana

Leaving aside hostilities and self-created fallacies by the governments of India and Pakistan, a band of peaceniks on either side are attempting to keep the younger generation of both countries engaged in understanding each other through video-conferencing.

Convener of Aaghaz-e-Dosti, an Indo-Pak friendship initiative of India-based Mission Bhartiyam and Pakistan’s The Catalyst, Ravi Nitesh told Times of India on Friday that Indian youth activists, including Amrita Middey, Devika Mittal and Madhavi Bansal, addressed a gathering of 40 Karachi- based students in the 13-15 years age group through video-conferencing.

Workshop participants in Karachi met at a school summer camp, organised by Suraiya Islam, coordinator of Aaghaz-e-Dosti’s Karachi Chapter, said AED’s Pakistan Convenor Aliya Harir.

“The idea is to counter the stereotypes and misconceptions through a meaningful interaction with youths of either country,” said Ravi Nitesh.

During the interaction, Pakistan and Indian students were curious to know about each other’s culture, said the organisers.

Participants in New Delhi talk to students in Karachi.

Amrita Middey addressing participants in New Delhi prior to the Indo-Pak youth peace video
conference.

“They asked about the different languages spoken in India, and I gave them a glimpse of the linguistic diversity in our country. I also told them that how, like Pakistan, India is also a culturally diverse and there are many languages and religions,” said Amrita Middey.

Another Indian youth activist Devika Mittal said that the Pakistani students asked several questions about certain festivals and customs of India.

“The students asked about Holi, its significance and the way it is celebrated. They also asked about the significance of ‘rangoli’,” she said, adding that one of the Pakistani students asked about particular customs in a Hindu marriage. “Such questions show that they are exposed to India through the entertainment industry,” she said.

Ravi Nitesh said that the students asked the activists about the influence and popularity of Pakistani movies and TV serials in India. They also spoke about a TV channel in India, which showed

Pakistani serials, and wanted to know its popularity among Indian viewers.

There were also questions on food, famous places in India and Taj Mahal. The students also expressed their desire to visit India. Ravi said that such initiatives helped to keep hate-mongers at bay.

— TNN/aka