Building bridges with India
Board members of Citizen Archive of Pakistan (L-R) Ali Rez Mumtaz, Swaleha Alam Shahzada, Amean J, Ahsan Najmi.–Photo Courtesy Khaula Jamil/CAP
“Students often question us if Shahrukh Khan could participate in Exchange for Change, or if Karachi also have tall buildings like they do in Mumbai,” Swaleha Alam Shahzada, Executive director of Citizen Archive of Pakistan narrated to the audience at the Launch of Exchange for Change 2012-2013, a platform that has helped broaden horizons in more than one way.
In 2010, the Citizens Archive of Pakistan [CAP], in collaboration with Routes2Roots, an Indian non-profit organisation working for peace and dialogue between Pakistan and India, introduced “Exchange for Change” (EFC), an interactive exchange between 2400 school children of Pakistan and India. The idea is to open avenues for students within Pakistan and India for dialogue and understanding of a shared history and culture.
(L-R) Participating students from Pakistan and India.–Photo Courtesy Citizen Archive of Pakistan
Explaining the project further, Shahzada informed the audience that the program has also helped the students of both countries acquire a clearer understanding of their shared history, culture and lifestyle. So, far during the projects life, a continuous exchange of letters, postcards, photographs, oral histories and a visit to Dehli and Lahore has helped dispel misinformation and encourage students to form their own opinions.
During the projects year-long life, a few analysis were made in between and after the project got completed that how interactions lead to a positive change in restructuring misconceptions and bringing about a change in perceptions and how before the project students across the borders looked at each other in a hostile manner, while after participating in EFC, 54 per cent said that their opinion about India has been positively changed.
Pakistani delegation in India.–Photo courtesy Citizen Archive of Pakistan.
Around 10 schools will participate from India and Pakistan both in this year’s round of EFC exchanging letters, photos and videos. At the end a 40-member delegation will visit India and Pakistan both.
With Ali Zafar being the chief guest at the event the media was seen going wild with clicks, pushing to get the best possible footage for themselves. Zafar shared his experience in India and how much Indians love the music of our country, our food and the beauty of our people. He further added that the future of the relationship between the two countries depends on what the young generation feels about their neighbours.
Ali Zafar at the launch of Exchange for Change 2012-2013.–Photo Courtesy Khaula Jamil/CAP.
And this perhaps is why the exchange is important, so that the youth can get to know each other, each others customs, ideas, beliefs, and biases. Initiative such as these could one day help in removing such biases and other obstacles we have created in our own paths for decades.
There should be more exchange of visits people to people,so that we can understand each other.politicians are spoiling our relation and both countries should build mutual trust and understanding.Reputed publications like,Hindu,Dawn,time of india must play active role
It would be far better if students from remote villages from both the countries get chance to enteract rather than students of high profiles schools. What is neede is enteraction between the future voters rather than enteraction between the future leaders. I would love to get comment from my Pakistani friends on my view. Regards
I am Indian and this is very good initiative from both ends.
I wish, again era go beyond 1947 and we unite.
WE will Rahul…. I don’t know what would call this new country but who cares. We have so much in common that it is burden not to unite. It is like the younger brother who separated from older brother and now want to come back home. We young ppl see Indo-Pak scenario very differently. We really hope the old horse stop dragging us in their mental mess.
I appreciate the initiative and I feel the same should be done at the levels of colleges, technical institutions etc. May soon there be no barriers at all. Amen
Very nice article. Ek baat bolta hu. Pakistan stop bothering about Kashmir inshallah everything will be peaceful between the two countries.
Without Kashmir issue resolved in Pakistan favor, Pakistanis will never be able to have any good relationship with India.
There is a beautiful solution of Kashmir issue and that is merger of both the countries. Combined Army, combined currency, combined economic stradegy and seperate rules related with relegion and social issues on state level.
are you gone mad or what ??? Why do you want to destabilze India by merging it with Pakistan.. Do’t you love India the way it is now..
This arguments has failed overt the 66 years history of India Pakistan relations, give me some new solutions to the problem.
So nice to see normal people in pakistan. our media shows only terrorists in pakistan. That’s why I read dawn.
There is enough articles in indian newspapers covering other side of pakistan. I have also seen Pakistan carrying news on other side of India. It is people like you and me do not pay attention to those. Of course the headlines and others will be dominated by Politics and sports.
Oh Ankush you accident told the truth Komal S is telling to hold it down
Not just Indian media – but the World media shows it that way. Pakistan needs to do something to improve its image around the world – e.g. let’s ignore politicians who give Hate speech just for gaining votes – to begin with?
Very much disappointed with the Indian media, they only and only write and speak in Indain favor no matter even if some very positive progress is make in Pakistan……………..
I really do not know, how many of the Pakistanis, in the delegation, realise that they are standing in front of a monument which is the symbol of Universal Religion of Bahaullah, who was persecuted and subsequently killed by Persian Muslims for his beliefs.
Correction, Bahaullah was not killed by Persian Muslim. He was imprisoned by Ottoman empire for causing confusion and anti-state activities. He died with a fever. Please see Wikipedia. Anti-Muslim attitude does not help. Please research not reserve.
They should set up video-conferencing facilities to have this people to people contact since both Governments are strict about Visas.
I think we should stop making allegations and counter allegations against each other . Forget the governments let us, the ordinary people of Pakistan , India and Bangladesh work for everlasting peace in the region. We just shouldn’t have friendly relations instead we should have close brotherly relations.
LONG LIVE PAKISTAN , INDIA AND BANGLADESH.
sorry to burst your bubble but “everlasting peace” can never be achieved unless it’s on Government level
Fine but please return to Pakistan before your visa expires and do not get lost in India
Yea we Really Need to Join Hands for Peace , and btw Arpit , our books do-not publish hate towards Indians or any other country
This is not an accusation from Indians. Journalists have written in Dawn quoting the lines written in the school textbooks.
Yes . I believe you ……….
Ask Dr.Farukh Saleem
Ask NFP of Dawn.
Make the south Asian region as The strongest place of the world. This is 21 century. Do not shoulder thoughts and biased thinking of old leadership of 20 century on new generation of 21 century.
Wake up youngsters..
wth
we need more such initiatives.. and more importantly a change in text books in Pakistan.. where there is hate against hindus, jews and India.. You won’t find such hate material in Indian textbooks… Children are like soft clay.. the kind of education you give them that is how they will mold.. If such information are filtered out early, it will become easier for them to understand the other.. otherwise misconceptions will continue to cloud positive change..
Don’t believe everything you see on TV. There is no hate against Jews or anybody in our text books. Yes, there are references to wars against India which should be normal. I am a progressive and secular Muslim who happened to have read the same text books you are referencing. Please do you investigation and then post.
Articles were written by Dawn journalists quoting the material written in the text books to the effect that Hindu Banias are cunning, Hindus can never be friends of Muslims etc.
You should find the articles in the archives of Dawn…..”Hate content in Punjab, Sindh school curricula” by Mansoor Malik dated 3 Sept 2012….that’s a very recent article.
The Dawn article link
http://dawn.com/2012/09/03/hate-content-in-punjab-sindh-school-curricula/
Respect all religions…under the aegis of secularism.
That would be not a token gesture but one which will bedrock a friendship.
Excellent thought.
Let us add to this the respect for all humans, respect for diversity and respect for differences of opinions.
Pakistanis should stay positive and continue with positive gestures even if the Indians do not whole heartedly step forward!
I appreciate your view and I extend my hand for your friendship but this feels like deja’vu and I am afraid I will be stabbed again. We’ve been hurt too many times and its not easy
You re basically stating that you are the good guys and we Pakistanis are the bad guys. So your argument is deranged to begin with.There are fringe elements in all societies. How is the fault of a common Pakistan if some miscreants decides to take matter in their own hands. And what about burning and killing of 56 Pakistanis in Samjhota Express. When do you see our Govt making your Govt hostage to the conclusion of Samjhota Express? There are good and bad people in everywhere. Identify the good ones and make fences.
You mean build fences to isolate the good ones…..Make yourself clear
Militants are not coming from india to kill innocent citizens in their neighbourhood, its vice versa.. and there are enough miscreants in our neighbourhood to be noticed by their common citizen.. I don’t think they are doing enough to protest them or even stop them, instead i see hoards of them lining up in packs to listen to these hate mongerers, culprits and master minds behind such attacks on india… they are still breathing in open air, instead of being behind bars….don’t tell me that you don’t believe they are behind the attacks on us when the whole world thinks differently….. how do you expect us to trust you then… be in our shoes and you will see what we talkin bot..
I don’t understand why every other person around here rant on the one samjhota episode, the culprits of which are behind bars now.. can you say the same about the ones who are roaming freely in india’s neighbourhood…. what bot those tons of attack on our soil… why don’t you question them… ordinary citizens across the border are wise enough too and they know who to blame, however i feel they fear for their life as we do, but someone needs to take a stand, and that too from their own.. its for their own good… their country… and its well being.. and till that time comes i don’t see any trust being shown from the indian side of the border… and nobody should expect that as well.
I am with you. There are good people and bad people on both sides.
Let’s the good people join hands. Rest will fall in line.
I don’t think India will step back if Pakistan shows seriousness for peace.
How do you demonstrate that you are serious on this?
All relations should be based on equality.
Keep it up. That is the only path to a cordial and civilized relation between the two countries.
i whole heartedly agree with your sentiments. i was pleasantly surprised that ordinary pakistani and indian people took so much on to further understanding and friendship between these two cousins. cannot emphasise enough the necessity of engaging in interaction, dialogue etc to maintain the momentum created by this program.i only wish to add please keep the politicians and the religious demigods out of this endeavour-all the best wishes for it success.thanking you
fantastic idea….may this take a much larger shape and encompass a lac students from each, across not just the haves’ kind of schools but also from have not schools and from across geographies of both nations. That will surely show the diversity of each to neighbours and build positive regard for the differences and similarities and shared cultures etc.
great idea,
but pls give us the directors of 26/11 first
Richie
Mumbaikar