Indians and Pakistanis in various parts of North America, including Toronto, Washington DC, and San Francisco celebrated the anniversaries of their Independence Day together, pledging to work for peace between the two countries.

Fourteen organisations in the greater Washington, DC area brought the South Asian diaspora together to appeal for peace on the occasion of the Independence Days of India and Pakistan, South Asian neighbors whose governments have been in conflict for decades.

At a celebration held in the University of Maryland, College Park, men and women of all ages and from various communities, reviewed the ongoing peace efforts in the subcontinent, and stayed to share stories, poetry and songs on the theme of peace and friendship, at a celebration held in the University of Maryland, College Park. Those assembled also signed a petition calling upon both governments to relax restrictions on travel between the countries.
Following greetings from all of the participating organisations, video footage from this summer's peace march in which Sandeep Pandey and 75 others marched from Delhi to Multan calling for peaceful relations between Pakistan and India was screened.

Dr. A.H. Nayyar, Professor of Physics from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad who had participated in the march, gave the keynote address describing the people's peace process that has been unfolding both in India and Pakistan. Security, he emphasized, must not be limited to border security but security in all respects, throughout the countries. Ending hostility and reducing military expenditures would make possible comprehensive improvements in health, education and livelihood opportunities as well as more sensible management of natural resources, such as river basins that the two countries share. He examined reasons for the failure of no-war pacts between India and Pakistan and sought increased freedom to travel between the nations.

Umesh Agnihotri, an Indian writer, read out his story Lakeer, about immigrant families from either side of the border settled in the US, whose children find no difference in regard to language, culture, food, and other values between the two families, and wonder why there was a dividing line between them. Zafar Iqbal recited Yusuf Rahat's poem Shanti that beautifully described the virtues of peaceful coexistence.

The programme was arranged under the leadership of Dr Mohan Bhagat, a senior professor at the University of Maryland and actively supported by a number of Indo-Pakistan community workers that include Dr Pervez Uppal, Dr Priya Ranjan, Dr Sirish Agarwal, Dr Zafar Iqbal, Shrikumar Poddar, Kaleem Kawaja, Rohit Tripathi, Sandeep Gupta and Vineeta Gupta.

The organisations that participated in the joint celebration of Independence day included: Association for India's Development (AID), American Federation of Muslims from India (AFMI), Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA), Asha for Education (DC), Hyderabad Association, Association of Indian Muslims of America (AIM), Aligarh Alumni Association of Washington, Non Resident Indians for Secular & Harmonious India (NRI-SAHI), Pakistan Association of Greater Washington, Policy Institute for Religion and State (PIFRAS), Sadbhav Mission, Young India, and The Organization for Universal Communal Harmony (TOUCH), and the DC Collective.

In Toronto, the Canadians of Indian and Pakistani origin has come together with an idea to promote peace and cooperation at a joint celebration of India and Pakistan Independence Day here on Friday August 12, 2005, asking the governments to focus on peace and development and not on bombs.

This is the first year that Indo Pak Canadians celebrated the I Day together. Independence Day reception was organized by SARC CANADA and Asian Canadian Support Centre that was attended by over 300 South Asians and also visibly presents the local dignitaries on this occasion.

Zubair Choudhry, chairman of SARC Canada, said, “India and Pakistan need to build bridges of understanding and cooperation not bombs. 58 years has been wasted in dispute and wars between two nations that slowed the process of progress and prosperity in the South Asian region.” In 1999, as the brewing hostility took India and Pakistan to the brink of another conflict, it was another specter of the traumatic post independence history of this subcontinent.

South Asians here have come long trying to break the shackle of the past to come together for mutual co existence for successful establishment in Canada. But in their cherished dream of better life, they are not immune to the troubling events back home. They have optimized past struggles to now a position of a vibrant community recognized for its valuable contributions. Its growing pluralism has helped strengthen its base and its enhanced participation as means to greater representation for better prosperity.

“Here we are trying to move forwarded, we can not change our history but we can surely shape the future of India and Pakistan by promoting peace, open borders, and free trade between two neighbors, Zubair added”

Building SARC Canada through 1999 has been a process with extended communication at different level including the SARRC head quarters. In this unique undertaking we have had the privilege of invaluable advice of Mr. K.K Bhargava, Ex Secretary General of SAARC, and Mr. Naeemul Hassan, then Secretary General for his own encouragement independent of SAARC’s charter. These distinguished diplomats settled in Canada, SARC CANADA will continue to seek their guidance along with other participants who have founded this organization and others now joined in carry forward this mission.

It’s a rare and unique initiative to bring Indian and Pakistani Canadians together,” said Rocky Sood, a member of the Asian Canadian Support Centre e (ACSC).

”Carrying the peace motive further, SARC CANADA and ACSC jointly organizing Indo Pak Peace Award ceremony that will be held on October 7, 2005 in Toronto, said Syed Ashar Warsi, President of ACSC”.

Melissa Baghat and Salma Attaullahjan were the M.C. at the reception. The Right Honorable Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada; Hon Stephen Harper, MP, Official Opposition leader; The Honorable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario; His Worship Mayor David Miller of City of Toronto and many other federal, provincial and municipal politicians sent their greetings on this auspicious occasion of Independence. Armand P. La Barge, Chief of York Regional Police was the guest speaker. Canada, India and Pakistan’s national anthems were sung by Dilshan Panjwani and Naomi Zaman. Councillor Khalid Usman, Councillor Peter Li Preti, Parm Gill and other leaders also addressed the reception.

Miss Canada Pakistan and Miss India Canada were also present to welcome the guests at this occasion. At the end chief of police and other dignitaries cut the delicious cake for Indo Pak 58th Independence Day anniversary.

We will establish the initial focus group that would be working on promoting exchange of intellectuals and activists between India, Pakistan and Canada. SARC CANADA will take up a series of activities, starting with screening of the documentary "South Asia looking into the future" for its members and the public.

According to Zubair Choudhry, the joint Independence Day celebration was a tough decision because it is highly controversial. “Indo Pak community has been very supportive. Even otherwise, one has to make a beginning somewhere.”

For further information contact, Rocky Sood, Tel. 905-677-7302 or at info@sarc-canada.com * www.sarc-canada.com

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