Spreading peace through art

‘Art for Peace’, an initiative organised recently at Lamakaan, explores the importance of peace between India and Pakistan

Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA) organised a programme ‘Art for Peace’ as a part of ‘Peace Now and Forever’ campaign between India and Pakistan.

The main objective of the campaign is to address the deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan and to provide platforms to enable common people and civil society to demand peace and condemn attempts at war mongering in both the countries.

The event started on July 1 and will continue until August 15 in different cities and towns of India, Pakistan and in many other countries. Through this initiative, till now more than 1,000 artists and celebrities in both India and Pakistan raised their voices for the peace through various art forms.

The programme started with the screenings of documentaries on the India and Pakistan sensitive issues like ‘Ek-One’, ‘Milne Do’, ‘The Bloody Line’, and ‘Mukund and Riaz’. The four documentaries showcased how people of both countries are thinking about war and peace.

After the screenings, the panel discussions were organised. The panelists were Dr Anand Raj Varma, Dr Mazher Hussain, Prof. Sumanta Banerjee, Sardar Nanak Singh shared their opinions on the sensitive issues of both the countries.

In the afternoon session, Telugu, Hindi and English poetry recitation sessions, an exhibition of art works on peace, text reading sessions of Saadat Hassan Monto’s ‘Titwal Ka Kutta’ were organised. The day-long event concluded with the play ‘Siyah Hashiye’ by Sutradhar Theatre Group.

Mazher Hussain, Director of Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA), said, “Many organisations in India and Pakistan are doing this campaign. This is a platform for people to express their voices on peace for both countries. Anywhere in the world, people don't encourage war.

Till now, through this initiative, more than 1,000 celebrities, artists have signed in the signature campaign and shared their opinion on the importance of peace. More than 260 organisations are working on this initiative all over the world. I hope these types of programmes will bring the peace between two countries.”

Mazher Hussain also said that they are planning to bring an app on this initiative in near future. Hyderabad-based artist Ignatius Xavier, who painted an art work for peace in the event, said, “Usually I draw my paintings without a brush.

Two years back more than 50 Pakistanis came to Chandigarh and celebrated Ramadan. In my painting, I depicted the peace symbol between India and Pakistan.”