Indian social thinkers and activists speak with peaceniks in Pakistan. Virtually.

SAP-PK Sindh office has designed series of dialogues with the renowned social and peace figures around the globe to discus about the social issue and its link with the globalization in the region. This would joint venture of Peoples Development Foundation and SAP-PK Sindh Office. In this regard on August 3, 2006 at 5 pm at SAP-PK Sindh Office a Virtual telephonic Dialogue of the renowned social and peace activist Mr Tanzin Rigzin of the India .He is the Founder of the Vdhya Asrahm at Banaras and also Budhaa monk   This telephonic daily is an innovative activity to seeking exchanging of ideas and thought of the highest famous figure in different walks of society. Dialogue was attended by the more than 60 participants comprised on Intellectuals, writers, poets, Social and peace activists, representatives of the civil society organizations.

Before the starting of dialogue Aslam Khwaja peace activists belong with the people’s Development Foundation introduced Tanzin and his efforts in Pak-India peace process and social movements in India through using knowledge base technology. He belongs with the Varanasi India which area effected by the religious victims between different ethnic groups.  

This daily was aimed to giving an opportunity to understand the ideas and thought and views of each other for decreasing suspects among the both peoples of India and Pakistan and also it aimed to sharing the experiences taken in India by social movements. On the other hand at India more than 7 social activists and members of the Vdhya Ashram also presented. Tanzin briefed about his efforts that peace building process is also warming in India and people are very anxious to meet with each other though establishment trying to create more hindrances in the peace process and we are informing peoples through dissemination of awareness through journal and other publication and cultural tools.  We are gathering the peoples rich in knowledge about the different issues and subjects and than organize such type of events and awareness campaigns. He stressed that in Peace process this type of activities can make easier to reach at each other.  He highlighted the social movements in India specifically anti Coco cola movement in Banaras that due to influence of the company existence of the indigenous people adversely effecting and livelihoods are obliterating. We are gathering the women and vulnerable communities for raising voice against the company for its leaving from the area. Inn this regard many people are tortured by government in demo processions also. I also kept behind the jail for l several  times.

Tanzin further explored his views against a questioned thrown by a peace activist that VISA process is very delaying between Pakistan and India but we mobilizing people to make it easy through enforcing on governments. He viewed that it would be from both sides and it should be at institutional level because institution have power to dialogue with the policy makers and key planers. He added further I his talk that both countries have cultural resemblance and it is needed to arrange the exchanging visits on different social and cultural groups to share ideas and practices in social development and movements which will help in combating the modern challenges of development poverty and globalization.  He also valued the sprit of Pakistani organization in WSF fro hating the globalization and multinational companies and people killing polices of different influential institutions over on the developing and poor countries. WSF is also a big opportunity to gather all oppressed people to raise their voice with collective power.

At the other said Nand Lal leader of the anti Coco Cola Movement in Banras briefed that in 95 Coco Cola Company purchased land and installed its plant and it got start from 2000, daily it is fetching excessive water 5.5million ml water for consumption with the illegal sources. Due to that the local peoples are suffering from the scarcity of water and peoples of the vicinities are facings difficulty of water for drinking and food consumptions and the wastage water   is goes to the agricultural fields and producing the piousness in crop production. In this connection to finds the facts an Inquiry was setup by government and it declared that water is very hazardous to the health of the peoples and agricultural land and will effects the productivity.  People are aggressive to company and demanding through demo processions to stops the company at the area and demanding to leave of Coco Cola Company from Whole of India. He said that such type of companies are capturing the local resources which are in the origin heritance of the indigenous peoples we are intensify the social movements against the company with the slogan Coco cola Bhagao  Gaoon Bachao. 

Women activist belonged with the women organization also shared that women are I very miserable condition, violence against women is one of major problems among them .we are trying to sensitize them and men about the Gender awareness and their basic rights and equal status of the both. We are also striving to mobilize and engage them in anti Coco cola movement because women manage the water in houses for domestic, dirking and food cooking consummation. We are also raising voice against the displacing  peasants women from the lands   Now many women are involved in these efforts we will got success. An other member of SamjawadI Jang preshad organization also spoke on the peace movement b/w Pakistan and India in particular which is very essential for South Asia peace matters.  Other speaker from India also sung the songs of prominent poet of South Asia. From the Hyderabad Poets also told poetry in Sindhi. Questions were raised from both sides on the various social issues and peace process and participants from both side stressed for speedy steps in peace building process between both countries,to make Visa system  easier , frequent visits of the peace and social activists by the Governments of both countries for exchanging pf ideas , practices in social sector  for making this region more prosperous.

Tanzin ensured that in next time he will arrange such type of the dialogue activity on the social and peace issues of South Asia.

At the last provincial Coordinator of SAP-PK Sindh Office thanked the Indian activists including Tanzin and all others for their precious dialogue with each other and   hoped that this process will prove fruitful to in make better understanding of the global and local issues by the dialogue with legends of the Society.

Though this is small step but will be helpful in creating social activism in resulting of sharing of practices and experience and ideas of the famous legends across the globe.  

Report by Javed Soz. Javed soz is human rights and Social activits working in Sindh to promote human and peasants Rights he may be contacted at javedsozhalai@yahoo.com