Aman ki Asha now builds a literary bridge A few days ago, when the lead guitarist of the Pakistani band, Strings, suddenly started strumming the melody of Saare Jahaan Se Achha at a performance in Kolkata, the entire audience got goosebumps. This and many more such hauntingly beautiful experiences during the ongoing Aman ki Asha initiative launched by the Times of India and the Jang group in Pakistan, have revealed that, despite all the issues - the pain, the anger, the historic insanity - when it is people to people, there are strong emotional bonds in play.

The Aman ki Asha initiative, launched on the first of this year, has received overwhelming audience from the public across the nation. The initiative brought together musicians from both sides to play and sing together, showing how music and poetry can break all boundaries and touch an inner space in people, a space that yearns for harmony rather than conflict. Now comes the Aman Ki Asha Literary Festival. Flagging it off on Friday evening, two stalwart journalists and writers from both sides of the border, M J Akbar, who wrote 'India: The Siege Within' among other acclaimed books, and Zahid Hussain, author of 'Frontline Pakistan' will embark on a stimulating discussion on whether the writing that comes out of both India and Pakistan has stoked mistrust and hostility between neighbours. Titled "Reality vs Rhetoric", the 6.30pm discussion at Delhi's India Habitat Centre promises to be a thought-provoking reality check.

In Mumbai, on Monday, popular writer-columnist Chetan Bhagat and the exciting young author Mohammed Hanif, best known for his satirical "A Case of Exploding Mangoes", will be in conversation and will also read from their works at Horniman Circle Garden from 7.30pm. Former bureau chief at BBC, Hanif returned to Karachi in 2008.

Bringing some humour and lots of delight to stage will be the February 2 performance by Zia Mohyeddin, the 1933-born thespian famed for his imposing voice. At the same show at Mumbai's Sophia Bhabha Hall, Hindi play Lakeerein --- a collage of stories written by Gulzar and directed by National School of Drama alumnus Salim Arif --- will also be staged.

Lucknow's Lalit Kala Academy Auditorium will be the venue on Wednesday, February 3, for Feroz Abbas Khan's successful play, Tumhari Amrita, a moving exploration of a complex relationship, a series of letters, read by veterans Shabana Azmi and Farooque Shaikh. Zia Mohyeddin will also perform the same evening.

On February 5, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, who has made films Love Aj Kal, and Jab We Met, will be in conversation with Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid, best known for Moth Smoke, which looks at urban Pakistan's sex, drugs and class conflicts and The Reluctant Fundamentalist, which made it to the Booker shortlist. This will be at Delhi's India Habitat Centre.

The series of cultural exchanges will culminate in what promises to be a memorable evening in Mumbai's Bandra Fort on February 7. Gulzar will read his poetry and Intizar Husain will read from his short stories. Despite a host of glitches, including getting visas and coordinating dates between some of the greatest artistes and minds from both sides, the response has been overwhelming. For, as Gulzar wrote, in his emotional tribute to Pakistani ghazal singer Mehdi Hasan, penned for Aman ki Asha, "Aankhon ko visa nahin lagta..."


Friday, January 29, 2010

Another Pakistan We're in Pakistan at mid-summer 2011 - "the country that could kill the world," in a native line that lingers. Or maybe the new normal. Think of Pakistan, we're told by P .....more

When diplomacy, failed, music bridged the gap 'Yaaron yeh hi dosti hai': Celebrating 20 years of Junoon's cross-border music

By Shashi Tharoor

As the German poet Heinrich Heine so memorably put i .....more

Why we need peace between India and Pakistan Dec 18: Pray for Peace Day

Want to participate in a 'Prayers for Peace Between India and Pakistan Day'? Read on

By Swati Sharan

Their hostilit .....more

Bring Dr Chishty home - alive An elderly, bed-ridden man sentenced to life imprisonment in an 'enemy' country for a murder he didn't commit awaits the signature on his clemency petition

.....more

WITNESS: the pain of divided families A schoolboy is moved by the sight of brothers and sisters separated by a man-made border and a fast-flowing river, too loud to let them talk to each other. All they can d .....more

Erasing psychological borders Ilmana Fasih
Panchee nadiya aur pawan ke jhonke, koi sarhad inhen na roke;
Sarhad to insanon ke liye hai, socho tumne aur meine kya paya insaan ho ke
(Birds, riv .....more