Mumbai Karachi Friendship Forum’s Gandhi-Edhi campaign for peace


Mumbai Karachi Friendship Forum’s Gandhi-Edhi campaign for peace
Mahatama Gandhi and Abdul Sattar Edhi

The campaign urges PMs of India and Pakistan to resume bilateral dialogue immediately; ensure success of SAARC Summit in Islamabad in Nov 2016

Over a dozen peace-promoting organisations in Mumbai on Aug 13 organized a spirited pre-Independence Day peace meeting under the banner of the Gandhi-Edhi Campaign urging the prime ministers of India and Pakistan to immediately resume bilateral dialogue and create a conducive atmosphere necessary for the success of the forthcoming SAARC summit in Islamabad in November 2016.

Speaking at the occasion, Sudheendra Kulkarni, chairman, Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Mumbai said that Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif have the greatest responsibility in ensuring the success of SAARC. “If Indo-Pak relations remain frosty, and if bilateral talks do not resume, there is every danger of the SAARC Summit ending in a fiasco. The entire South Asian region will be a big loser in that eventuality.”

Describing South Asia as the most populous but least socio-economically integrated region in the world, Kulkarni said the people of SAARC countries should put pressure on their respective governments to take concrete steps to promote regional cooperation. “We share a rich and common civilizational past. We also share a common future, which we must collectively make bright for all,” he said.

Kulkarni also said, “Pakistan must adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and religious extremism, without making any distinction between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ terrorists. There should be no more redrawing of national boundaries in South Asia.”

Participants took a pledge to promote the noble traditions of Mahatma Gandhi, Abdul Sattar Edhi (Pakistan’s legendary humanitarian who passed away last month) and other great personalities who symbolized service of humanity as the best form of worship of God.

Addressing the meeting via video link from Karachi, Faisal Edhi, who is continuing his late father’s philanthropic work, said that both India and Pakistan should unitedly fight against poverty, unemployment, disease and socio-economic backwardness. He called for a drastic reduction in the military spending of India and Pakistan, and diverting the saved resources for improving the living conditions of the poor and the needy.

Jatin Desai, a longtime activist in the campaign for India-Pakistan peace, described his meeting with Abdul Sattar Edhi in Karachi some years ago, and his selfless service of the poor and the needy without any discrimination on the grounds of religion, race or nationality.

Feroze Mithiborwala, representing the Muslim Intellectuals’ Forum, appealed for a group of peace activists to visit Kashmir, listen to the voices of ordinary Kashmiris, and contribute to normalcy in the state.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Dr Zeenat Shaukat Ali, Nadita Bhavnani, M.A. Khalild, Dhaval Desai, Jyoti Badekar and Varsha Vidya Vilas.

The event was organised by the public policy think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Mumbai, which has been engaged in varied activities aimed at contributing to peaceful, friendly and good-neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan.

Their latest initiative is the establishment of the Mumbai Karachi Friendship Forum, which seeks to revive the rich shared history between the two gateway cities of India and Pakistan. There exists much scope, also a pressing need, to strengthen the common cultural lineage, social bonds and potential business cooperation between the two cities.

The Mumbai Karachi Friendship Forum’s has started the Gandhi-Edhi Campaign that seeks to spread the message, ‘Serve Humanity – Promote Indo-Pak Peace’.

 Contact: Dhaval Desai; [email protected]; +92-99878-99301

— press release




One thought on “Mumbai Karachi Friendship Forum’s Gandhi-Edhi campaign for peace

  1. Mr.Vishram G Naik

    This is FYI
    I am in the process of developing and institutionalizing upon self published amateur,
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    As the canvass of the thought is all inclusive it will require worldwide discussions and consensus to have most likely a set of solutions/preferences.

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    The thoughts are intended to be mapped into Politics,religion,arts,commerce,cosmos on a global scale thus for all this it will require the platform
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    The thoughts have been presented at a amateur level and as title of the book informs it is a call for help.

    It is also calling for a add on human constitution which in its anthem specifies we are located on the thirld planet fromthe Sun about 30000 light years from the center of the Milky-way galaxy.We need this as by know in the future we will be moving out into the cosmos.

    A add on incentive for Women,Doctors.Teachers,Soldiers.

    The formation of Global/Glocal cities.

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    It will petition religion to incorporate in a subsidiary book the knowledge of science under the category of Changing Knowledge.

    Contradiction is the vehicle chosen to articulate this view of life.

    I am also thinking of presenting these thoughts say in the form of pamphlets in regional languages as also a Invitation to develop upon interlinked thoughts on Knowledge(Primarily scientific) & Human Identity

    As there will mostly likely a set of solutions/preferences I request your good self to carry this message and support the initiative.I am based in Mumbai,India.

    Warm Regards

    Mr.Vishram G Naik
    Mumbai,India
    cell:+91 9619551618
    email:[email protected]

    Reply

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