It's been long since our immoral politicians, generals and religious bigots, have cheated us. Lets make a new beginning with new friends...let's get over our pre-conceived notions and convictions and write a new chapter in the history of Indo-Pak relations.
This community is dedicated to the tears shed silently on both sides of the border due to 60 years of hostility between India and Pakistan, for one reason or another.
Ambassador of Indo-Pak Peace
NirmalaDeshpande (1929-2008)
India-Pakistan Friendship Club expresses sadness and regret over death of Nirmala Deshpande. We will always remember her efforts and contributions for peace between India and Pakistan. Read her short biography or read one of her last interviews to know more about her.
With the start of the 2008, we bring you the new year gift; the first issue of IPFC Magazine. The magazine can be read online here or can be downloaded here(PDF format, 590 KB).
The 30-page magazine contains articles and features of common interest of Indians and Pakistanis. It also has a special section about the IPFC, its objectives and history.
Nothing is more important today than a better coordination among the South Asian countries and a durable peace between India and Pakistan. There are many people who are working overnights to achieve this. One of these ‘Soldiers of Peace’, Nirmala Deshpande, renowned parliamentarian and activist, was in Malegaon recently on a mission to promote peace and harmony. She shared her experiences and peace plans in detail.
In spite of the fact that we share so much with each other, India and Pakistan have always been at loggerheads. Unlike the siblings who grow up to love and help each other through troubling times, we’re the estranged half-siblings who gloat at each stumble the other one takes. What we fail to realise is that each of these stumbles hurts the oneself as much as the other one. A weak or unhappy Pakistan is always going to be a problem for India and vice versa.
Forced marriages, honour killings and the hugely publicised case of the gang rape of Mukhtar Mai have held Pakistan up as an international example of the impact of religious fundamentalism on women’s rights. This has certainly become evident from the number of reports that have been churned out by international human-rights organisations over the past several years on women’s rights in Pakistan. Interestingly, this emphasis also fits seamlessly into the rhetoric of the ‘war on terror’.
I read with interest some of the contributions on this site. Being of Pakistani Muslim background, I can understand some of the resentment I note in the language in a few comments of articles. I have struggled with contradictory emotions myself in the past until a voice from deep inside came up with the answer; "Ask what you can do for humanity not what humanity can do for you" (I am sure Kennedy won't mind!). I understand that there may be (mostly perceived I might add) grievances on both sides of the border, but the cause is by no means unilaterally instigated.
Baba Bulleh Shah (1680-1758) was the great humanist, philosopher, rebel, internationalist, teacher and Sufi poet of all times. Baba ji was the disciple of Enayat Shah Lahori, who himself was a great Sufi of his time. Baba ji was born in a noble and aristocratic Saye’ad family but, as a result of Enayat’s teachings, he left the life of nobility and luxury and led quite simple and humble life. Baba ji was a great poet and use to sing his poetry in the streets of his city Kasur.
I read this interesting, albeit a little contentious, piece by Ravinder Kaur that examined the impact of partition on settling the communal question. The article states:
"The sixtieth anniversary of the independence of Pakistan and India on 14-15 August 2007 has prompted official celebration in both countries, as well as an ocean of commemorative coverage in the world’s media. The terrible violence that accompanied the birthpangs of the two states from the ashes of empire is an inevitable theme in much commentary. What is being less addressed amid the profusion of human stories - and what this article considers - is whether the problems of communal division in the sub-continent were or are best addressed by the partition of territory."
I am pleased to find this club hidden away in the labyrinths of the internet. I would like to share a translation of a poem "Kaun Dushman Hai" by Ali Sardar Jafri - someone had sent it to me some time back. Unfortunately, the name of the translator was not sent with the text. I would be grateful if a reader would like to clarify this.
Some of my closest friends and colleagues are from Pakistan. Which is hardly surprising in a multicultural melting pot like Dubai where you get to meet and work with some of the best and brightest people from around the world.
We Indians and Pakistanis share a unique, emotional relationship that is not easy to understand for the rest of the world. There are hundreds of thousands of families who have their loved ones on both sides of the divide.
Nirmala Deshpande (1929-2008)
In spite of the fact that we share so much with each other, India and Pakistan have always been at loggerheads. Unlike the siblings who grow up to love and help each other through troubling times, we’re the estranged half-siblings who gloat at each stumble the other one takes. What we fail to realise is that each of these stumbles hurts the oneself as much as the other one. A weak or unhappy Pakistan is always going to be a problem for India and vice versa.
Forced marriages, honour killings and the hugely publicised case of the gang rape of Mukhtar Mai have held Pakistan up as an international example of the impact of religious fundamentalism on women’s rights. This has certainly become evident from the number of reports that have been churned out by international human-rights organisations over the past several years on women’s rights in Pakistan. Interestingly, this emphasis also fits seamlessly into the rhetoric of the ‘war on terror’.
I read with interest some of the contributions on this site. Being of Pakistani Muslim background, I can understand some of the resentment I note in the language in a few comments of articles. I have struggled with contradictory emotions myself in the past until a voice from deep inside came up with the answer; "Ask what you can do for humanity not what humanity can do for you" (I am sure Kennedy won't mind!). I understand that there may be (mostly perceived I might add) grievances on both sides of the border, but the cause is by no means unilaterally instigated.
Baba Bulleh Shah (1680-1758) was the great humanist, philosopher, rebel, internationalist, teacher and Sufi poet of all times. Baba ji was the disciple of Enayat Shah Lahori, who himself was a great Sufi of his time. Baba ji was born in a noble and aristocratic Saye’ad family but, as a result of Enayat’s teachings, he left the life of nobility and luxury and led quite simple and humble life. Baba ji was a great poet and use to sing his poetry in the streets of his city Kasur.
I read this interesting, albeit a little contentious, piece by Ravinder Kaur that examined the impact of partition on settling the communal question. The article states:
I am pleased to find this club hidden away in the labyrinths of the internet. I would like to share a translation of a poem "Kaun Dushman Hai" by Ali Sardar Jafri - someone had sent it to me some time back. Unfortunately, the name of the translator was not sent with the text. I would be grateful if a reader would like to clarify this.
