Media advisory

Imagine a New South Asia celebrates the festival of peace

'Sarhaden ab nahi (Boundaries no more)!'

26-27 October 2007

Spring Dale School, Amritsar

What : Artists and peace activists from across the sub-continent – Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India's North-East, Kashmir and Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab – come together with a message of peace and harmony in music, dance and moving speeches.

Pakistani and Indian artists including Surraiya Khanum, Arif Lohar, Arieb Azhar and Lakhwinder Wadali will bring to life a shared cultural past with 'Ek Shaam Aman Ke Naam' on 27 October at 7:30pm with, sufi, ghazals, classical and folk music.

Zakia Jowher of ActionAid, part of the organis ing team shares the message of unity:

"Culture has always been a unifying force, a powerful language to reach out with a message of peace. Sometimes what words can't, music can."

Why: ' Imagine a New South Asia ' is a unique initiative launched earlier this year to voice people's aspiration for freedom – freedom from violence, from poverty and freedom from injustice in all forms. The year 2007 is significant as it also marks 60 years of freedom from colonial rule and 150 years of what is deemed the First War of Independence – the uprising of 1857.

Zakia Jowher says:

"We have reasons to celebrate but we also have reasons to look back and rethink if this is how we had imagined our future then. We wanted much more - a future based on trust, solidarity, peace and stability, free from the baggage of history. This is not a distant dream – together we can create a South Asia free from want, fear, hunger and despair."

"Imagine a New South Asia is a vision of hope and possibilities."

Who: The speakers and participants at the event include:

1. L C Jain, Gandhian, an eminent economist, who served as the first Indian High Commissioner to South Africa and Magsaysay award winner

2. Babu Mathew, country director of ActionAid India and a former law professor and trade union leader

3. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University

4. Arjimand Hussain Talib, leads ActionAid's work in Kashmir

5. Hindu Singh Sodha – lawyer and president, Pak Vishthapit Sangh

6. Zakia Jowher leads ActionAid's work on peace justice and human security

Artists and activists coming from North-East, Kashmir, Gujarat and other parts of India and South Asia are also available for interview.

Other Highlights include:

ü     Peace ceremony at Jalianwala Bagh: 26 Oct at 2:00 pm

ü   Cultural performance by groups from Bhutan, Kashmir, North-East, Rajasthan etc: 26 Oct at 7:00 pm

ü    Visit to the Golden temple and Wagah border: 27 October, 3:00 pm

ü    Closing ceremony at Jalianwala Bagh: 27 October,6:00 pm

For more on Imagine a New South Asia:   www.newsouthasia.org