‘Let’s Exchange Peace on New Year”
The India-Pakistan youth friendship body Aaghaz-e-Dosti has planned an exchange of Christmas and New Year greeting cards between Indian and Pakistani schools under the title ‘Let’s Exchange Peace on New Year”.
Convener of the organization Devika Mittal told TOI that both India and Pakistan shared festivities of Diwali, Eid, Christmas, and other events. “Such exchanges of cards between students will create strong bonds of understanding and harmony among the future generations of both countries” she said adding that the same would also help break the barriers between two nations and pave way for peaceful existence.
Earlier Mumbai-based Ecole Mondiale World School had sent greeting cards for the Diwali festival to Air Foundation School System, a school in Umerkot in Sindh, Pakistan, she said. The school had sent about 30 cards to Pakistan exchanging Diwali greetings and also sharing their hope for peaceful and friendly relations between the two countries.
Greeting cards from India reach Pakistan
“Indian students’ messages saying ‘My dear friends, In love and unity, we will spread the light of Diwali in our homes and neighbourhood etc. were widely appreciated by Pakistan students who also wished their Indian friends with best wishes ” said Convener, Pakistan chapter of Aaghaz-e-Dosti Aliya Harir.
She said that when they shared the idea of sending greeting cards students they were thrilled and saw this as an opportunity to not just share the joy of a festival, but also strengthen communal harmony between two nations and across borders.
“We don’t have to be Hindus or Muslims to celebrate festivals. We only need to find commonalities between practices and principles of diverse communities and celebrate synchronicity,” said Aliya.
Devika was of view that their effort would lay the groundwork for building pillars of peace and friendship between India and Pakistan.
“Acceptance, tolerance and celebrating oneness is the only way we can pave the way for a better and brighter future” she said.
Photos: courtesy Aaghaz-e-Dosti
