Hope for fisherfolk
The high-level talks between India and Pakistan being held on December 17-18, led by the chiefs of the Indian Coast Guard chief and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, will also take up the issue of early release of the fishermen in their respective jails. They meeting will also discuss enhanced cooperation in maritime search and rescue.
Most significantly, the meeting could lead an agreement about not arresting fishermen who stray up to five nautical miles on either side of the international maritime boundary line. Pakistan currently has 808 Indian boats and 348 fishermen in its custody, while India holds 118 Pakistani boats and 136 fishermen.
Navtej Johar, Nahid Siddiqui
International dance festival, Islamabad
The Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop’s tradition of showcasing various schools of dance continues with its International Dance Festival in Islamabad on Dec 15-16, 2014.
This year’s lineup included Elna Martin (Spain), Navtej Johar (India), Shahrokh Mohhkin Ghalam (France), and from Pakistan, Nahid Siddique, Nighat Chaudhry, Sheema Kermani, Shayma Saiyid, Adnan Jahangir and Wahab Shah.
Shekhar Shastri as Gulzar, Farooq Ansari as
Ghalib with director Siraj Khan. Photo:
Foundations TV
Celebrating Gulzar
The Indian and Pakistani community of greater Boston came together recently to celebrate the great poet and writer Gulzar in a musical play on his life titled Gul-o-Gulzar.
The play showcased some of Gulzar’s greatest lyrics, melodies and poetry, including the TV play Mirza Ghalib that he wrote and directed. Gul-o-Gulzar was directed by Siraj Khan, a “global citizen” working on O.P. Nayar’s authorised biography and written by screenwriter and actor Shekhar Shastri from Delhi who also played Gulzar.
Proceeds will be used to help aging, forgotten and needy musicians, singers or performing artistes in India or Pakistan.
Dilip Kumar: Birthday celebrations at Peshawar
Press Club. 2013 photo: APP
A birthday bash in Peshawar
Bollywood legend Dilip Kumar’s 92nd birthday on December 11, 2014 was celebrated with fanfare in his hometown Peshawar with a cake-cutting ceremony at Peshawar Press Club as has become a tradition. Prominent citizens and journalists participated in the event organised by the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in collaboration with Cultural Heritage Council and Peshawar Press Club.
Mohammad Yusuf Khan, later known as Dilip Kumar, was born on December 11, 1922. The provincial government has declared his house in Qissa Khwani Bazaar as cultural heritage.
Say it with flowers: Coach Shahnaz Sheikh and captain Muhammad Imran. PTI photo
Hockey and humans
Before being Indian or Pakistani “we all are human first,” comments Amarr Prakaash, a reader on the Aman ki Asha Facebook page, following Pakistan’s win against India in the hockey semi-finals.
“All due respect and applause to your win against us,” he writes, apologising for the hostile behaviour from some members of the Indian crowd that provoked the winning team to respond with rude gestures.
Terming the apology letter from Pakistan’s head coach Shahnaz Sheikh as “a classical display of your big heart,” he adds: “You guys have won twice, once by defeating us and second time by being graceful by making a statement …we are happy for your win.”
