As you all know, August 14th and 15th represent the Independence days of Pakistan and India, respectively. In many ways, it is the remembrance day of the South Asian independence movements and their powerful resistance against imperialism and colonialism, which crafted the independence of Pakistan and India in 1947. Alongside, it is a day that still brings painful memories of violence, killings, and the devastation of partition, ghosts of which still haunt the communal politics of South Asia.
Pakistan India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy (India and Pakistan Chapters jointly) hosted a South Asian celebration of independence and freedom, “Guftagu Aazadi ki: Chale Chalo Ke Woh Manzil Abhi Nahi Aayee,” starting August 14th night and carrying on until the early hours of August 15th, 2020. This celebration of the idea of freedom and resistance against all forms of neo-colonialism was marked by music, poetry, dance, art, sharing, analysis, and above al,l love melting away the borders. PIPFPD is proud to have organised this beautiful night.
Live streaming wasn’t possible on Facebook due to technical glitches. We are sharing the video of the programme in two parts. Please watch and share widely !
PART 1
Programme Schedule
- Welcome and intro to the program- M Tahseen (PIPFPD, Pakistan) & Vijayan MJ (PIPFPD, India)
- Opening performance: Curated and anchored by Shankar Mahanand (Relaa, Yalgaar, Dynamic Action groups to perform)
- Opening remarks – I.A. Rehman and Tapan Bose (5 mnts each)
- South Asian solidarity – Sri Lanka, Nepal & Bangladesh
- Anchor: Kamla Bhasin
- Sri Lanka – Speaker: Dr. Nimalka Fernando & Singer: Hemanthi Ranasinghe
- Nepal – Speaker: Mona Sherpa, Singer: Anuj Pradhan & Poet: Pranika Koyu
- Bangladesh – Speaker: Khushi Kabir & Singer: Dr. Nashid Kamal
- Voices of Love and Peace
- Anchors: Nighat Said Khan & Anis Haroon
- Salima Hashmi, reciting Faiz’s Poem “Ye Daagh Daagh Ujala”
- Anwar Solangi, performance, Bhittai’s Kafi
- Artist Narayana Bhattathiri – painting for freedom (video done for the prog)
PART 2
- Anchors: M Tahseen & Vijayan MJ
- Ammar Jan (Conversations: the Right to Freedom)
- Justice Rocks (Sofie, Vedanth and Bindhu) – curated songs of freedom
- Anjum Qureshi (Punjabi Poetry)
- When former colonies turn colonisers: Suppression of Peoples’ Aspirations (Nagalim, Balochistan, Jammu-Kashmir & Khyber Pakhtunkhawa)
- Kuknalim (Naga sharing and songs on freedom) – Ningreichon Tungshang & artists
- J&K – Speaker: Ather Zia & Artist/Singer: Mu’Azzam Bhat
- Khyber Pakhtunkhawa – Speaker: Sarfraz Khan
- Guldasta – Curation by Dr. Syeda Hameed
- Rene Singh (Punjabi)
- Ruth Zothanpuii (Mizo Choir)
- Priya Kanungo (Odiya)
- Anchor: Nighat Said Khan & Anis Haroon
- Tum Bhi Bilkul Hum Jaise Nikle – Bushra Khaliq (Fahmida Riaz’s poetry)
- Anchor: Zafar Bakht
- Sheema Kirmani (dance for peace)
- Shaharyar Ahmad
- Conclusion & Vote of Thanks
For information and to join Pakistan India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD), write to us at :-
Pakistan chapter – pipfpd.pak@gmail.com
India Chapter – pipfpd.india@gmail.com