[Reader-list] Virtual Dialogue in Hyderabad

[Zulfiqar Shah]

  Virtual Dialogue in Hyderabad 

 
The socio-political and peace activists and writers from Hyderabad were enriched by their Indian counterparts on August 03, 2006 evening when the first telephone conference of the Virtual Dialogue was organized in the city.
    In this dialogue many activists from Varanasi, UP, India shared their experiences with their counterparts in Hyderabad, Sindh.  This program was jointly organized by South Asia Partnership – Pakistan and People’s Development Foundation in Hyderabad and Vidya Ashram in Sarnath Varanasi, UP, India. 
    Initiating the dialogue Tenzin Rigzin of Vidya Ashram briefed the participants about the social and class movements in India, particularly in the UP, and the sorrows of the divided families of sub-continent of which he himself was a victim. He informed the participants about their initiative on translating the social movement’s literature in common languages of Pakistan. He declared the virtual contact between the activists of both countries as an alternative of physical interaction & announced that the activists from Varanasi will soon organize same kind of conference with activists from Sindh. He hoped the scope of this activity will be enlarged on South Asian level.
Mr. Nand Lal, the leading figure of Anti Coca Cola Movement said that this movement was launched in 1995. They are struggling against the exploitation of multi-national companies, during which the active leaders and workers of this movement has been physically assaulted and arrested many times. He informed that the main slogan of their movement is ‘Coca Cola Must Leave India’. Replying a question, he informed that 60 percent activists and participants of the movement are women. He said that they have been baton charged and arrested many times like their male components.     Father Arnold of Kala Manch shared his experiences of cultural expression in social movements and briefed about their theater performances on the issues of religious tolerance, peace and harmony, corruption and general exploitation of common people. One street theatre group from Hyderabad Sindh announced to collaborate with Kala Manch in the upcoming days.
 Ms. Patel informed about the role of UPian women in social movements. She briefed about her organization working on women issues. She shared an idea about establishing a factory on their organization’s initiative to arrange the fair wages for women workers.       Advocate Sunil Lal briefed about their efforts on religious harmony. In this regard he told that since last 6 years many Hindu, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs are celebrating their religious occasions jointly in Varanasi.
    Peasant activist Vinod briefed about the exploitation of agriculture workers by multi national companies and shared Vidya Ashram’s initiatives on organic agriculture.
  The two poets from Varanasi recited their poetry.
    The participants from Hyderabad asked many questions from Indian friends and one of the leading young poets, Aasi Mahmood Zamini recited his Sindhi poetry on South Asian perspective.
    The participants of the dialogue from Hyderabad were prominent poets, writers, journalists and socio-political activists.  
  
 		
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