A Peace Code: From Action to Theory

By: Ravi Nitesh https://countercurrents.org/2025/09/a-peace-code-from-action-to-theory/ After the Pahalgam terror attack and thereafter Operation Sindoor which aimed for a focused and precise target to terror infrastructure, relations between India and Pakistan touched a new height of tension. From the suspension of Indus Water Treaty to closure of Kartarpur Peace Corridor and the already restricted cross border travels and transportation, steps to connect were curbed. These steps taken by the Indian nation were meant to express anger and dissent to the persistence of cross-border terrorism. However, the future, as we all know, exists only in peaceful relations. No two countries with their borders touching each other should stay in long conflict with each other. For India-Pakistan in particular, where people on both sides are part of one culture, any long sustaining tension or conflict would only affect them negatively. We must also remember that treaties and policies do not completely decide the future of peace. Rather, it is people of the region who decide and demand for peace. Thus, peace supporters are required to make efforts to create an enabling culture and environment for peace. This will also, in turn, make governments feel that they have the mandate to pursue peacebuilding measures. “Peace” – for many of us, the word itself feels like a complex, slow process that is negotiated by diplomats for reaching agreements. For ordinary peace workers, the word connotes hope for the future. We all believe in it, we all advocate for it, but we do not have a clear or actionable toolkit that can guide us to use it in our own lives, in our communities, and across the divides that define our world.

This inspired me to design a kind of thumb rule which peace workers can keep in mind. I have come up with a “Peace Code” which can be an action-oriented framework to guide any individual who yearns for a more peaceful world. It draws upon my years of cross-border peacebuilding experience primarily through Aaghaz-e-Dosti, an India-Pakistan friendship initiative that I have co-founded. I have seen first-hand how simple, personal connections can dismantle the most formidable of barriers. The PEACE Code is a summarised code of these experiences, breaking down the abstract notion of peace into five interconnected, actionable principles: Practical Ethical Action-oriented Critical Thinking Empathy The first principle, P for Practical, is a deliberate rejection of theory for the sake of theory. Our world is full of brilliant academic papers on conflict resolution, but genuine peace begins with tangible steps. It is not about waiting for a world leader to sign a treaty. It’s about a student in India picking up a pen to write a letter to a student in Pakistan, or two strangers from opposing sides of a conflict meeting on a video call. These are not just symbolic gestures; they are physical, practical acts that create real, human connections and challenge the dehumanizing narratives that fuel division. Being practical also entails the need to distinguish between pursuing peacebuilding out of emotion, fantasy or romanticism, and engaging in peacebuilding with objectivity, understanding the many risks and sensitivity that it may involve. It is not to argue that idealism has no place in peacebuilding. It does. It is what can drive passion. It is what can spark imaginations. However, it has its limits. Peacebuilding work should be seen as real work where serious and mature efforts are required to be made in line with what is required at that point of time. Next, E for Ethical reminds us that the means must be as pure as the end. In the complex world of peace-building, it’s easy to justify a quick fix or a compromise that might leave some people behind. But a peace that is built on an unethical foundation—one that lacks honesty, transparency, or a commitment to justice—is a fragile peace, destined to crumble. Our framework insists that peace practitioners, whether professional or citizen, must operate with unwavering integrity, ensuring that their actions are fair, just, and transparent. For peace practitioners everywhere and particularly in India and Pakistan, there is also a need to focus upon following rules and regulations framed by governments, applying common sense to fall in any trap that compromises national security. A for Action-oriented, a principle that recognizes peace as an active verb, not a static state. Good intentions are a starting point, but they are insufficient. We must move from believing in peace to actively working for it. This means consistently showing up, whether it’s to facilitate a difficult conversation, volunteer for a community project, or simply choose empathy over anger in a debate. Action-oriented peace is the engine that transforms our dreams into reality, one deliberate choice at a time. It is to remind us that affirmative action is to be prioritised over any reaction. C for Critical Thinking, a skill that is perhaps more vital now than ever before. To truly build peace, we must be willing to question the dominant narratives, challenge our own biases, and dig into the root causes of conflict. This critical thinking must guide us to see a fact in a 360 degree view where all available narratives should be understood. Any knowledge that is available to us is situated, due to our particular identity and location, be it nationality, region, religion, caste, gender etc. Hence, our knowledge is just one set of knowledge and thus needs to be completed through knowing the knowledge that others have. Finally, the foundation of the entire framework is E for Empathy. This is the most difficult but most transformative component of the PEACE Code. Empathy is the ability to see and feel the humanity of those on the other side of a divide. It’s what happens when a student in India reads a letter from a peer in Pakistan and realizes they share the same hopes, fears, and dreams. Empathy is the bridge that connects us when everything else seems to be pushing us apart. It’s the ultimate antidote to the dehumanization that enables conflict. The PEACE Code is not a theoretical model. Drawn from the experiences and learnings of individuals working to build bridges, it is a reminder that peace is not a distant ideal, but a tangible practice that begins with you and me. My hope is that peace practitioners and everyday citizens alike will embrace this code and use it as a simple, powerful tool to transform their own lives and the world around them – one practical, ethical, action-oriented, critically thought-out, and empathetic step at a time. Ravi Nitesh is an India-based peace practitioner and social activist with over 15 years of experience in social activism. He is founder of Mission Bhartiyam, a voluntary organisation for social change. He has also co-founded cross-border friendship initiative, Aaghaz-e-Dosti. He tweets at @ravinitesh

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A tribute to Mohini Giri: A Stelwart of Women’s rights and Peace

Published : 25 Dec 2023

By: Ravi Nitesh

Link: https://countercurrents.org/2023/12/a-tribute-to-mohini-giri-a-stelwart-of-womens-rights-and-peace/ 

Heaven Mail, Print edition, J&K 26 Dec 2023

Mohini Giri left this world on 19 Dec 2023. Tributes poured in from all those who knew her. Large number of people from across the different paths of life expressed their condolences through coming physically and through their messages. Mohini Giri was an eighty five year old youth, who passionately worked for society till her last. She was an eminent social worker and daughter-in-law of former President of India V V Giri.

At a time when wars and conflicts have been dominating in this world, one should know that after the India-Pakistan war in 1971, Mohini started visiting hospitals to meet soldiers and their families. She observed that for widows of martyrs, there were many challenges including dignity, livelihood, shelter and support for their children. Mohini briefed these findings to Indira Gandhi and this led to the government’s support to widows of armed forces martyrs through free education of children, allotment of plots and gas agencies etc. 

Later, Mohini Giri also established the War Widows Association to extend healing touch to widows of martyrs besides what the army or government were doing for them. Stood in front of all such lines, it was she who was famous for her courageous visits to various places in protection of women’s rights during her tenure in National Women Commission as a chairperson and worked extensively to provide autonomy to commissions.

I met Mohini ji around the year 2017 and since then she has been supportive to Aaghaz-e-Dosti through her participation and her inspiring messages. She was fond of music, arts, social work, reading everything that actually makes a person an enlightened human being. When we were organising a program of peace march, it was she who offered her Guild of Service office space for Aaghaz-e-Dosti Delhi to Wagah Peace yatra inaugural program. 

When relations between India and Pakistan created a scenario of fear above South Asia, Mohini Giri, Nirmala Deshpande and Syeda Hameed along with other like minded women founded Womens’ Initiative for Peace in South Asia and led a bus full of 40 women social workers to Pakistan where it was welcomed by hundreds of women activists in Lahore holding candles in their hand. This gesture was followed by a bus full of around 64 Pakistani women activists to India led by Asma Jahangir welcomed in India by hundreds of women holding flowers in their hand. 

Mohini Giri established Maa Dham in Vrindavan for widows. She travelled there time to time from Delhi despite her age, invited them to Delhi in many programs and managed to bring some happiness in their lives. She remained active for all causes of peace building and human rights from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. She established Rahat Ghar in Jammu and Kashmir to support children who lost their parents in militancy. 

For her efforts, she was recognised by India’s third highest civilian award Padam Bhushan in 2007, but the actual recognition she received is placing herself in the hearts of thousands of people and touching numerous lives. A film by Meera Dewan was made recently titled ‘Still we rise: The Passion and Compassion of Mohini Giri’ showcased fifty years journey of Guild of Service and also showcased initiatives of Guild for widows of Kargil War martyrs and the wives and children of those who went missing during kashmir insurgency. While showing the work of Mohini Giri for widows through her Maa Dham in Vrindavan, Meera Dewan says that the film attempts to reflect positive interpretation and transformation of stereotypical terminologies into action. Mohini’s wide vision encompasses the rich contribution of every faith to the cause of universal peace.

Her last rites were done at Delhi’s Lodhi road crematorium on 21 Dec 2023. There has been the presence of many who didn’t know each other, but they all were there as they knew and were in touch with Mohini Giri.

We offer our tribute to this great social worker and her departure from this physical world would only be remembered through celebration of her ideas and her actions which shall remain in society and in the hearts of people.

Ravi Nitesh is a freelance writer and founder of Aaghaz-e-Dosti Peace Initiative. He tweets at @ravinitesh

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जब सुब्बाराव ने चंबल के कई सौ कुख्यात बागियों का हृदय परिवर्तन कर कराया था आत्मसमर्पण

Published:

https://www.jagran.com/news/national-when-subba-rao-surrendered-after-converting-several-hundred-notorious-rebels-of-chambal-jagran-special-22160451.html 

रवि नितेश। Dr. SN Subba Rao शांति और सद्भावना के सिपाही डा. एसएन सुब्बाराव का 92 वर्ष की उम्र में निधन हो गया है। उनका देह त्याग कर निकल जाना ऐसा था कि जैसे जय जगत का नारा लगाते हुए जय ब्रह्मांड के उद्देश्य के लिए निकल पड़ना। एक आध्यात्मिक मुस्कान, एक युवा ऊर्जा, अथाह विन्रमता और प्रेम उनके साथ जुड़कर जैसे सार्थक दिखते थे। जीवनभर उन्होंने एकता का प्रयास किया और उनके निर्वाण पर सबने एक होकर उन्हें विदाई दी।

राष्ट्रीय युवा परियोजना के संस्थापक और गांधी-विनोबा-जयप्रकाश की संस्कृति के वाहक सुब्बाराव को कई लोग जीवित गांधी मानते थे। अपने जीवन को देश, राष्ट्रीय एकता, धार्मिक सामाजिक सद्भावना के लिए आहूत कर देने वाले सुब्बाराव अपने अंतिम समय तक सामाजिक उद्देश्यों के लिए देश भ्रमण करते रहे। युवा शिविरों के माध्यम से उन्होंने देश के लाखों युवाओं का अहिंसा, सद्भाव, राष्ट्रीय एकता और विविधता के साथ एकात्म करवाया।

भारत छोड़ो आंदोलन के दौरान महज 13 वर्ष की आयु में दीवारों पर वंदे मातरम लिखने के कारण ब्रिटिश पुलिस द्वारा गिरफ्तार कर लिए जाने वाले सुब्बाराव आजादी के बाद भी अपने शांति-क्रांति- सद्भावना के गीतों के कारण युवाओं में खासे लोकप्रिय रहे। सुब्बाराव बहुभाषी, मृदुभाषी और मितभाषी के रूप में जाने जाते थे। वर्ष 1969 में गांधी की जन्म शताब्दी वर्ष में सुब्बाराव ने गांधी दर्शन ट्रेन चलाकर पूरे देश में एकता और सद्भावना के गांधी विचारों के लिए लोगों को संदेश दिया।

इस यात्रा में उनके साथ युवा स्वयंसेवकों का एक काफिला बन गया, रास्ते भर लोगों ने स्वागत किया और यात्रा समाप्त होने के बाद बची हुई रकम से उन्होंने गांधी आश्रम की स्थापना की। व्यक्तिगत लोभ और मोह से दूर सुब्बाराव को दुनियाभर में आदर सत्कार मिला। गांधी और विनोबा के अहिंसात्मक विचार को केवल किताबी मानने वाले लोगों को सुब्बाराव के प्रयासों से अहिंसा का मानस दर्शन समझने में सहायता तब मिली जब सुब्बाराव ने चंबल के कई सौ कुख्यात बागियों का हृदय परिवर्तन करके चंबल स्थित अपने आश्रम में आत्मसमर्पण कराया।

इस दौरान वहां जयप्रकाश नारायण समेत हजारों नागरिकों की भीड़ यह देखते हुए स्तब्ध थी कि कैसे एक के बाद एक कुख्यात बागी जिनकी पूरे इलाके में दहशत थी और जिनके सिर लाखों का इनाम था, वो चुपचाप आते और अपने हथियारों को गांधी प्रतिमा के चरणों में डालते व समर्पण कर स्वयं को प्रशासन के हवाले कर देते। बिना हथकड़ी के, स्वप्रेरित होकर, न्यायालय में बेङिाझक होकर अपना अपराध स्वीकार कर लेने वाले और फिर जेल में भी श्रम करते हुए, सवरेदय की विचारधारा पर साफ सफाई कर रहे ये डाकू हृदय परिवर्तन के प्रयासों की मिसाल बने रहे और सुब्बारावजी उनके लिए भाईजी थे। बिना किसी निजी संपत्ति के अपना सबकुछ देश को न्योछावर कर देने वाले सुब्बाराव जिससे मिलते बस उसके हो जाते।

जब कभी भाईजी से मिलना हुआ, उन्होंने खूब प्रेरित किया। हमेशा उत्साहवर्धन करते रहते। किसी भी कार्यक्रम के दौरान देशभक्ति के गीतों से वे लोगों में एक नया जोश भर देते थे। उनका यह पूरा प्रयास रहता था कि जो भी कोई उन्हें कुछ लिखता, उसका वह जवाब अवश्य देने का प्रयास करते। हाल ही में सीमांत गांधी पर उन्हें अपना एक लेख भेजा तो उन्होंने बताया कि उनकी कुछ समय की एक रोमांचक मुलाकात सीमांत गांधी से हुई थी।

डा. सुब्बाराव की एक बड़ी विशेषता यह रही कि वह कुछ भी अपना निजी नहीं मानते थे। दिल्ली के गांधी शांति प्रतिष्ठान के एक कमरे में आकर ठहरना और काम करना और फिर देश के दूसरे कोनों में चले जाना उनका जीवन रहा। इस खास कमरे में देश-विदेश से उनको मिले इतने सम्मान सजे हुए हैं कि उनका सहेजा जाना कठिन है। यात्र उनकी नियति थी। अब वह एक अनंत यात्र पर चले गए हैं। अपने पीछे कार्यो का एक भंडार छोड़कर, जो लोगों को करते रहना है।

देश के हर कोने में भाईजी ने युवा शिविर लगाए हैं। देश के लगभग हर प्रांत की भाषा उनको आती थी और साथ ही कई विदेशी भाषाएं भी जानते थे। वह जिससे मिलते, उसकी भाषा में बात करने का प्रयास करते। श्रीनगर के लालचौक पर अति तनावग्रस्त समय में भी सर्व धर्म प्रार्थना करने पहुंच जाने का साहस हो या कुमार गंधर्व जैसे प्रसिद्ध संगीतकार को ‘गांधी मल्हार’ नामक नया राग रचने की प्रेरणा देना हो या फिर देश के हर कोने से विविध वेशभूषा वाले निवासियों को एक साथ मिलकर भारत की संतान और जय जगत का उद्घोष करना हो, भाईजी हर जगह अद्वितीय रहे।

अमेरिका में रहने वाले भारतीयों ने तो हर वर्ष भाईजी को कई दिनों तक चलने वाली एक कार्यशाला के लिए बुलाना शुरू कर दिया था ताकि विदेश में रहने वाले भारतीय बच्चे भारतवर्ष के मूल्यों, नैतिकता, विविधता, राष्ट्रीय एकता के विषयों को आत्मसात कर सकें। ऐसे ही बच्चों और युवाओं के एक वेबिनार के दौरान मैंने देखा था कि अंग्रेजी में सहज रहने वाले भारतीय मूल के विदेशी युवा कैसे जय जगत और भारत की संतान जैसे गीतों का गान कर रहे थे। अपने अंतिम समय तक सामाजिक चेतना हेतु सक्रिय रहने वाले सुब्बाराव आज भले ही अनंत की यात्रा पर निकल गए हों, पर एक ऊर्जा पुंज के रूप में यहां इतनी ऊष्मा बिखेर गए हैं जो हजारों लोगों को प्रेरित करती रहेगी।

(लेखक सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता हैं)

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When Indians Gathered To Offer Tribute To A Pakistani

Published : https://nayadaur.tv/2020/04/when-indians-gathered-to-offer-tribute-to-a-pakistani/ 

By: Ravi Nitesh

It is rare that Indians and Pakistanis consider someone as their own equally, but recently, Dr. Mubashir Hasan’s demise has brought this rare gesture where not only Pakistanis but even Indians too joined to offer him tribute.

Dr. Hasan was born in Panipat (Haryana, India) in 1922 and later migrated to Pakistan where he rose as an eminent political leader being a founding member of PPP and later Finance Minister in Govt. of Pakistan. He advocated peace and regional coordination and supported Indo-Pak Peace by heart.

When the people in Panipat heard the news of his demise, many who knew him became sad. Hali Panipati Trust (A local trust named upon renowned poet Altaf Hussain Hali) organized a memorial meeting to offer tribute and many joined in. Many other Indian progressive groups, individuals, and journalists wrote about him on social media and in newspapers. Pakistan India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) issued a statement as a tribute to him. It looked like Dr. Hasan made people united by hearts even after his death. This tribute and memorial meeting was widely covered by local media. 

I never met him personally, but knew him as a stalwart through many friends who met him. Dr. Syeda Hameed (Syeda aapa) – a well known activist who also authored political biography of former Pakistani PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with title ‘Born to be hanged’ – also talked about him many times when I met her. She told about how she travelled to Lahore and met him several times.

The connection of Dr. Hasan with Panipat played an important role as people in Panipat still remembered the year 1997 (50 years after partition), when a 23 member Pakistani delegation reached India including Dr. Mubashir. They were hosted in Panipat by Dr. Nirmala Deshpande and their colleagues like Dr. Syeda Hameed and Ram Mohan Rai. This visit is still afresh in minds of people in Panipat who met the delegation members that time. Efforts of Dr. Nirmala Deshpande in organising such delegation visits were commendable and she motivated many activists to spread the message of peace among common people.

During their stay in Panipat, hosts in India arranged stay of Dr. Mubashir in the same house that he had lived once but left during partition. Mr. Rai described how Dr. Mubashir remembered names of many streets in Panipat even after so many years. He used to walk in old streets early morning and sometimes even knocked doors of houses that he knew.

He met with old friends and said ‘O yaara, kitthe ho? Twada purana yaar aaya hai’ (dear friends, where are you- your old friend is here). After these utterances, he and his friends would become emotional.

He was also full of humour and would extend an on spot reply. During another visit to Panipat in year 2008 on the occasion of Hali Mela, the then Chief Minister of Haryana and the then Vice President of India Dr. Hamid Ansari were on stage. Dr. Mubashir Hasan spoke that he is proud upon being a Panipati to which the then CM Hudda replied, ‘you are Panipati only’ and Dr. Hasan immediately responded, ‘then give me citizenship of Panipat’ while everyone was cheered up.

Very few people receive such ‘across the border’ respect. I had witnessed it also when Asma Jahangir left us and we all had gathered in Delhi on the call of PIPFPD. Similarly, when Kuldeep Nayar left the world, I read how people in Pakistan poured their tribute. People like Khushwant Singh and Kuldeep Nayar also got respect of having their ashes flown on the other side of border after their death. Dr. Nirmala Deshpande’s death brought people from many countries together and even her ashes were flown to rivers in South Asian countries. These are the real gestures these people received for their identity of being human first and their vocal speaking of such, irrespective of their other identities. Many amongst such people were those who had history on the other side of border.

Now after 72 years of partition, we are losing the generation who had kept memories and attached with other side while evoking emotions. During these seven decades, unfortunately, many events led us towards a poisonous atmosphere where it has become seditious to love the other side. But it doesn’t mean that everything ended as still many people are advocating for unity of hearts through demolition of walls of hatred. I remember that how during our Aaghaz-e-Dosti Yatra from Delhi to Wagah, even rural women came on road and extended support for peace and Aaghaz-e-Dosti. When asked why they supported, their reply was simple: ‘Because there is nothing in war and conflicts. We need proper food and living and not bloodshed. These conflicts should end.’

I know that most of the villages in Pakistan and India demand this and they deserve it too. Our governments must look prospects of peace in these voices to pave a way for a peaceful future.

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Hope for peace through students

Published: Daily Times 17 Feb 2020 / Ravi Nitesh
https://dailytimes.com.pk/559326/hope-for-peace-through-students/ 

If we are to reach real peace in this world and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with children; and if they will grow up in their natural innocence, we won’t have to struggle; we won’t have to pass fruitless idle resolutions, but we shall go from love to love and peace to peace, until at last all the corners of the world are covered with that peace and love for which consciously or unconsciously the whole world is hungering.” – Mahatma Gandhi

As the world is observing 150th year of Mahatma Gandhi, a person who is known for his ideas of truth and non-violence without fear, there is also need to look upon prevailing situation of present world, particularly the region from where he originally belonged- the Indian sub-continent. In fact, present day sub-continent is facing a time of crisis and it demands more and more ideas of people who advocated peace. Kashmir, which was once seen as ‘Ray of Hope’ by Gandhi, has recently faced severe restrictions of curfew, internet ban, arrests and house arrests and many are still under this fear. Borders are volatile and regularly taking lives of soldiers and civilians. Political relations between Pakistan and India are in bad taste and a TRP hungry media is fuelling lot many things with it.

In this time, talking peace is surely a difficult one, that also for India-Pakistan. But we know that there are always some light and we need to search for it and as Gandhi believed, we should learn from children. Pakistani and Indian students choose to paint for peace even in this time when the whole environment is filled with hatred and violence, suppression and attacks. These paintings are part of annual program of Aaghaz-e-Dosti initiative that mostly works with school students of Pakistan and India and also bring a peace calendar every year from selected paintings of both sides.

Students who painted a piece of paper with their brush can be interpreted through their beautiful paintings where they express desire for peace. Since the last eight years, these paintings are coming regularly to become part of a calendar where six paintings from each sides form 12 calendar months and reflects an everyday peace. School students who participate and submit their paintings are seem well aware about the ‘need’ and this is added with their own imagination. Paintings can be seen with Badshahi Misque and Tajmahal, Peace boats, barbed wires with students shaking hands, planting flowers and trees on border, Soldiers together shaking hands and hugging each other, birds flying above and to contemporary one like opening of Kartarpur corridor as symbol of peaceful gesture.

We need to recognise the need of future generation. Any child in these countries actually deserve a peaceful and safer future, free from violence and hatred. India and Pakistan, being two sovereign countries and strong stakeholders in South Asian region, should take positive steps to strengthen understanding and focusing on the way forward. These two countries have rich heritage, culture, history, natural resources, and talents in their own countries and if they decide to move together, there are ample scope of moving towards excellence.

Education is the key to ensure an informed and civilized society and students get affected through their environment and learn things and make an image about each other’s country and people. But whenever, they get opportunity to think it deeply and to think naturally, they come with their idea of peacebuilding. While involving students for such actions for peace, nothing new is being given to them, instead it is like exploring their own idea, the natural instinct for peace that we all, as human being, irrespective of our individual identity, carry.

These expressions are learning for others and a ray of hope in present times when despite not being able to meet or cross boundary, there are young voices to whom all the hatred propaganda and media portrayal cannot divert from the path of peace and we need to support all such actions for peace, wherever these are happening.

The writer is the founder of Aaghaz-e-Dosti which is an Indo-Pak friendship initiative. He Tweets at @ravinitesh and can be reached at ravinitesh@gmail.com

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The Aman-Dosti Yatra: a voice for Indo-Pak peace

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Ravi Nitesh

AUGUST 22, 2018

https://dailytimes.com.pk/286925/the-aman-dosti-yatra-a-voice-for-indo-pak-peace/ 

As part of the 40-member ‘Aman-Dosti Yatra’ delegation, which travelled from Delhi to the Wagah border, I had the pleasure of visiting various schools and interacting with the students. At one particular school, we asked the students how many of them desire peace and friendship with the people of Pakistan. All of them enthusiastically replied in the affirmative. When I asked them why, they responded “insaniyat ke liyey”, and told me that despite never having met any Pakistani, they know the people on the other side of the border are also human and thus worth befriending.

Because of these children, I no longer suspect that propaganda and social media echo chambers have permanently corrupted people’s inner values. This experience has re-affirmed my belief that people are peace loving everywhere. When we stopped at another school in another town, we got the same response. We conducted more than 15 public meetings on this journey, met thousands of people, distributed more than four thousand pamphlets to spread the message of India-Pakistan peace and got wonderful responses. Our delegation included undergrad students, young professionals as well as retired bureaucrats, advocates, academics and peace activists.

When the big moment finally arrived and 60 or 70 people walked up to the border gates, everyone began chanting “Hind-Pak dosti Zindabad!”It was an emotional moment, and some of us had tears in our eyes

Over two decades ago, some brave and thoughtful Indian and Pakistani activists – including human rights activists and writer Kuldip Nayyar — began a new tradition. They decided to go to the Wagah-Attari border at midnight on August 14-15 to celebrate Jashn-e-Azadi by lighting candles and praying for peace between Pakistan and India. At this point, Pakistan and India had already fought three major wars. These activists believed that they would be met with resistance, but their convictions remained strong. However, they ended up receiving a great deal of support from people. It seems that the populations living on both sides of the border have learnt that war can offer them nothing but more loss.

With time, the support enjoyed by this group increased, and crowds began gathering at Wagah in larger numbers to pray for peace and join hands for the dream of a shared future with peaceful co-existence. Today, many of this group’s earliest torch bearers are deceased. Others are old and feeble but their spirit remains young and their hopes remain alive. They believe that young people are the real stakeholders in Indo-Pak peace and hope that this legacy should be carried with responsibility.

It was this very spirit which led to the formation of the Aman-Dosti Yatra. Ram Mohan Rai, a close associate of Late Dr Nirmala Deshpande (who has been a social activist) proposed that instead of directly reaching Wagah, a group make a journey of it and conduct various meetings along the way. This particular yatra received a great response from everyone. At its conclusion, it joined activists in Amritsar who were ready to hold the twenty-third Hind-Pak Dosti Mela. They organise this event every year.

When the big moment finally arrived and 60 or 70 people walked up to the border gates, everyone began chanting “Hind-Pak dosti Zindabad!”It was an emotional moment, and some of us had tears in our eyes. A few media persons wanted to interview us, but we did not really care much for giving interviews at that point. We saw some BSF jawans from the Indian side taking pictures and smiling. Not surprisingly, their eyes were full of hope. After all, they and their counterparts are considered the first line of defence for both countries and hence they are the first victims of the conflict. We remembered Bulleh Shah through his poems. A few people were dancing, while others silently looked on towards the Pakistani side.

The writer is founder of Aaghaz-e-Dosti, and Indo-Pak friendship initiative

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Dialogue a must to prevent escalations along volatile India-Pakistan border

Published at: South Asia Monitor 

https://southasiamonitor.org/news/dialogue-a-must-to-prevent-escalations-along-volatile-india-pakistan-border/sl/27514  
http://www.indiandefencereview.com/dialogue-a-must-to-prevent-escalations-along-volatile-india-pakistan-border/ 

Despite an agreed ceasefire agreement, with SoPs, engagement at the political and diplomatic levels through dialogue is necessary to avoid any further escalation of violence along the border, writes Ravi Nitesh for South Asia Monitor

The Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan and India re-affirmed their commitment last month to follow the 2003 Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) ‘in letter and in spirit.’

This was a much desired outcome because there has been a manifold increase in ceasefire violations (CFVs) over the past few years. This ceasefire commitment came in the month of Ramzan, like in 2003, when Pakistan had announced a ceasefire across the Line of Control (LoC). India accepted that offer and both implemented the ceasefire along the International Border (IB) and LoC, even extending it till Siachen under the statesmanship of then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This time, however, violations were observed barely after 3-4 days of the commitment and incidents reported on both sides, in which people lost their lives.

Incidents of CFVs have dramatically increased along the LoC, with Indian claims of 860 incidents in 2017 and 908 incidents in the first five months of 2018, while Pakistan claims 1813 incidents in 2017 and 1321 incidents in 2018.

India reported 152 incidents in 2015, which increased in 2016 to 228 incidents of ceasefire violations. These incidents had come down to almost nil after the 2003 ceasefire was declared.

After 2014, CFV incidents have jumped and, particularly after the surgical strikes of 2016, increased to a point where not only soldiers of both sides, but civilians have faced the ruthless competition of guns and mortars. Civilians, as young as an eight month old child, have lost their lives.

According to reports available in India, around 12 civilians were killed in 2017 and 79 were injured. In 2012, four civilians died and, in 2013, no civilians were killed in CFVs.

Houses, schools have been damaged, crops destroyed and many villagers moved to makeshift camps. The Indian government is building bunkers for people living along the border and raising compensation amounts, but there can be no alternative to ensuring a stable and peaceful border.

It has been reported that 2018 is the first time heavy artillery has been used across the front lines, causing heavy damage on both sides.

As per the report of the Jammu & Kashmir government, there are 590 villages with a population of around 530,000 situated between 0 and five km from IB / LoC in five border districts of Jammu. Among these, 448 villages are considered as ‘vulnerable’ to CFVs.

Worried with the rising tide of incidents, people in border villages and civil society initiatives have appealed for peace. In March 2018, Aaghaz-e-Dosti, an India-Pakistan Friendship Initiative, issued an appeal to the governments on both sides to restore peace along the border. This appeal was endorsed by civil society leaders, academicians and retired officers and diplomats of both sides.  

In response to a question in the Lok Sabha on April 3, 2018, India’s Minister of State in the Home Ministry said that a study group was formed under the chairmanship of the Special Secretary (internal security) to examine problems faced by the border population. This group had visited border villages in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri districts and recommended the construction of 14,460 bunkers (13,029 individual and 1,431 community bunkers), compensation as per NDRF norms and formation of two new border battalions for J&K police. In a separate estimate by the J&K government, 210,000 families were affected and 193 houses damaged between 2012 and 2014.

With the current commitment, both sides need to effectively operationalize the existing systems of hotlines, flag meetings and weekly dialogue between the DGMOs. The progress by both sides in recent days has the potential to pave the way to build trust and secure more agreements gradually.

Despite an agreed ceasefire agreement, with SoPs, engagement at the political and diplomatic levels through dialogue is necessary to avoid any further escalation of violence along the border. In the absence of these, both armies would continue to respond to each other in their own ways. Improved relations between India and Pakistan are necessary for a peaceful border and this can directly benefit victims of conflicts, which include soldiers and the border population of both sides.

(The author is Founder. Aaghaz-e-Dosti, an Indo-Pak Friendship Initiative. He can be contacted at ravinitesh@gmail.com)

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Remembering Asma Jahangir

Ravi Nitesh 

http://risingkashmir.com/news/remembering-asma-jahangir 

http://epaper.risingkashmir.com/EPaper.aspx?M1_ppiU765mhUi4ShuotfdYw_ep_ep 

Asma Jahangir, a name that I had heard many times since my college days. Mostly from people who were keen in society and politics and sometimes from media. I knew about her that she is a human rights activist.

I did not know and even never imagined that eventually, I would become a person who will closely see her life as an ideal life and will consider as one among the best leaders that I have ever known.

Being fond of people who think and work for society through their ideals for justice, peace and development, I always tried to know about such persons, to learn from their lives. In my childhood, I didn’t get much such opportunities due to lack of books, unavailability of internet and other issues; but as a regular reader of newspapers, I got inspiration from many such persons time to time, without even meeting them personally.

Now, as with the time, from college days to now, I became involved with many issues where gradually I started working and learning on the line of my heroes. India-Pakistan Peace is one of the most important issue I find and hence I, along with some like-minded friends give our best possible to this cause.

Being a human rights supporter, I often consider human rights activists as torch bearers for people like me. When I heard the news about death of my hero Asma Jahangir, it was such a shock. I didn’t felt that I never met her; instead it was like someone from my own family has passed away, someone whom I knew very well.

Asma’s funeral prayer, as it has been talked about, has also broken the boundaries as it not only brought together so many people from different walks of life, from different regions and religions and sects, but also brought about women participation, with women leading funeral prayer along with men.

Even her death has become a symbol of diversity, unity and equality that the world talk about. Memorial meetings are being organised at many places in Pakistan, India and abroad.

Secretary General of United Nations also expressed his condolences officially, but most importantly, there are common people who are in grief, whose lives were touched and even protected by this fearless leader.

In one such memorial meeting organised by friends of Asma in New Delhi, senior activists of Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy shared their experiences about her.

While I was standing behind, among the crowd and was listening thoroughly their experiences and thoughts, a youth voice expressed her thoughts about how Asma was not all time serious, and was in fact full of humor, presence of mind, down to earth and involving.

When this young lady, during her trip with her asked her if she ever wanted to become advocate and what if she would not. Asma had replied that she had once a plan of opening a beauty salon instead and they all laughed together.

Young lawyers and advocacy campaigners often met her and found her that she never discriminated them in anyway and gave value to their thoughts. I met a young lawyer from India who considered her as her hero. During these days, I also read tweets of people who talked that they will nourish their child to become like her.

During the memorial meeting, activist and author Syeda Hameed said how despite having multiple entry visa, Asma has expressed her once that situation between India and Pakistan need to be improved in such a way that there should be ‘Khuli Sarhad (Open Borders)’.

Kamla Bhasin, a renowned feminist and activist, expressed how during her stay with Asma, she whispered a self-created satire song ‘Wahan Bush hai, yahan Mush hai’ (Bush is there and Mush(rraf) is here)’. Rightly talked by activist Shabnam Hashmi that as Asma is not with us physically, but her values will be with us.

Asma was known for many of her actions in protection of human rights including the Lawyers march against the military rule in Pakistan. She often termed that even if democracy may have its own failure but it is always better to have democracy. Few in Pakistan even labelled her to be “Anti-Pakistan.”

I read that during one of her sessions in Mumbai, someone asked her about extremism in Pakistan and said that extremism in India is a reaction to that; to which Asma replied, don’t learn from our weaknesses.

Her fearless thoughts are her true identity. She never cared if few in Pakistan termed her as Anti-Pakistan for all human rights works and stands against military rule and extremism.

On the other hand, few termed her even anti-India for her voice against human rights violations in Kashmir. Hence, for those who often search political ways, one sided stand; Asma was an enemy.

For those who looks and advocates equality, peace, justice, fraternity, secularism and democracy; Asma was a hero. There are millions of people across world, who believe in these values and hence close to her thoughts.

In her message to Aaghaz-e-Dosti for 2015 Peace Calendar (Aaghaz-e-Dosti publish an annual peace calendar with 12 paintings on Indo-Pak Peace by school students of both sides, along with 12 messages of peace from eminent people of both sides), Asma sent us the message: Peace between India and Pakistan is crucial for promoting peace and prosperity for the region.

It could and will also lead to a solution of the Kashmir dispute so that Kashmiris of both sides of Line of Control can live with dignity.’

 Twitter@ravinitesh 

ravinitesh@gmail.com

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A connected future of an un-separated past

http://risingkashmir.com/news/a-connected-future-of-an-un-separated-past 

Published at September 21, 2017 01:04 AM 

For India and Pakistan, movement across border is more restricted than any other South Asian border 

Ravi Nitesh

ravinitesh@gmail.com    

International Peace Day is being organised in many parts of the world. A UN day which promises, encourage and promote actions and ideas of peace-building, this day carries a significant importance in present world where crisis to mankind is available on every step.

Particularly in South Asia, where despite the severe issues of hunger, malnutrition, poor healthcare systems; conflicts and hatred among different identities are rising with each day.

India and Pakistan are two countries who are spending much of their GDP (between 02 to 04 percent) only in defence expenditure that also against each other on the name of protection from each other.

Ceasefire violations, migration, killing of people are like every day story of this region. Kashmir, despite being in core subject of dispute between the two nations, could not be resolved yet and still facing the burns.

Despite all this, it seems that still opportunities have not been lost. Students who comprise majority of population in this region still have their pious and love filled heart and their participation in peace-building activities reflects that change will come. 

To commemorate 70 years of Independence, Pakistan and India organized many events across their geographical span.

During a meeting with Prof Meenakshi Chhabra, who teaches at Lesley University, USA and researching on partition since last many years, observed how Independence and Partition both came together and both affected lives in the subcontinent, but it is only festival of ‘Independence’ that is talked in public space, whereas partition remained the talk only within closed social and intellectual spheres.

This is despite the fact partition still exists as undercurrent in minds on both sides.

Talking partition neither means challenging it nor justifying it, instead bringing the trauma, narratives, perceptions and views out from hearts and to let it flow with the main-current as this may also help in ensuring the future efforts of peace-building, whether socially or politically.

After partition, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, a renowned poet of Pakistan, who is one of the most loved and renowned poet of subcontinent stated ‘Ye Daag Daag Ujala, Ye shab gazeeda seher, vo intezar tha jiska, ye vo seher toh nahi’, as he denied the presence of bloodshed.

His poetry was all about courage to make efforts for humanity, fraternity, equality. Now, after 70 years, when Faiz is not among us physically and left back earlier in the year 1984, his house known as ‘Faiz Ghar’ still carries his presence through living the essence of Faiz’s thoughts where people work regularly to promote arts and culture.

But this year, along with many other activities, Faiz Ghar found a new set of documents and then a different sitting of new audience. These documents were letters written by Indian children to Pakistani children (during letter and card exchange program of Aaghaz-e-Dosti, an Indo-Pak Friendship Initiative) and hence, to recite these letters, Pakistani students gathered.

Few letters were written by Indian students to Pakistan’s students in Lahore after Gulshan-e-Iqbal incident in Lahore and expressed their solidarity. In return, students from Pakistan sent cards and then they received back another set of letters.

This was an exchange where despite visa and other restrictions, thoughts of children crossed the boundary. When Faiz Ghar agreed to display these letters, state’s preparation was running in both countries to celebrate independence.

Children on both sides, who actually are responsible future citizens, future administrators and politicians of these nations, are the same even in their mindsets, as their minds are aligned with their hearts that speak love.

When they paint in peace calendars of Aaghaz-e-Dosti, they paint with meeting hands across borders, birds above borders, lightning border with candles, even cutting of barbed wires and sowing flowers on the border lines.

Their letters written to each other are not only their personal documents, but probably a vision document of future and can be surely converted in realization of hatred free and violence free subcontinent if such exchanges of ideas remains continue.

In his remarks, Dr I A Rehman expressed the ‘Hope’ with such beautiful exchanges.

Borders may remain strict and probably may become stricter too sometimes, but people on both sides cannot be actually made separated despite many restrictions upon physical movements.

Right of free movement on earth should have been a natural right to mankind for the very fact that they born on this earth, but with the development, civilization and modernization, groups and governments restricted it, often as administrative tools.

For India and Pakistan, movement across border is more restricted than any other South Asian border.

Applying visa itself is difficult as there is no tourist visa exists. Even after applying the visa, if someone receives the permission to cross border, it seems achieving the impossible and person expresses his/her gratitude towards the issuer.

Hundreds of applications may have under consideration at any time, but many get rejected on regular basis including of religious pilgrims whose faiths have connections on other side of border.

These years are years of technology that provides us unlimited opportunities to explore history as well as building concrete steps towards a connected future.

Technological innovations are equipped to enhance understanding about anything one desire to explore and it is definitely a great opportunity for peace builders to explore such innovations for an enhanced understanding about peace through educating people, specially students about diversity and non-violence.

These young students are certainly rays of light that contributing in cleaning of old dirt and in re-shaping the future of subcontinent that were never separated.

 Author is founder of Aaghaz-e-Dosti, an Indo-Pak Friendship Initiative. Twitter@ravinitesh  

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