The unfulfilled creative promise and potential of Southasia through art and film

Posted on June 19, 2025 by beenasarwar

Among the insights gained during the panel discussion after the exhibition walkthrough and documentary screening was the similarity between the creative arts and good journalism: Both involve masses of research, and are rooted in being exploratory, observational, and non-judgmental, rather than agenda-driven.

Personal Political

By Beena Sarwar / Sapan News

Manmeet K. Walia introducing the (Un)Layering the future past of South Asia: Young artists’ voices‘ exhibit as part of a special event organised by the Bloomsbury Institute London last week. Photo by Beena Sarwar.

The idea of a ‘Young Southasian Artists’ exhibition struck a chord when acclaimed Lahore-based artist and educator Salima Hashmi mentioned it some years ago, after writer and curator Manmeet K. Walia from New Delhi approached her about it.

Salima Hashmi, known for her creativity and longstanding commitment to peace, democracy and human rights, is also a founder member and advisor for the Southasia Peace Action Network which nearly 90 of us launched online in March 2021. Her lifetime of hard work, struggle, and consistency stand apart from the legacy she inherited from her illustrious father, the celebrated poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

When Prof. Hashmi and Ms. Walia presented their then under-production show at the Faiz Festival in Lahore, 2024, what stood out was the creativity and courage they were showcasing.

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Sapan News qualifies for NewsMatch! Help us reach our goal by year-end

Posted on November 27, 2024 by beenasarwar

Hello everyone! We are excited that Sapan News qualified for  NewsMatch for the second year running. This is a collaborative fundraiser run by the Institute for Nonprofit News, a professional journalists’ body to which only half the media outlets that apply get accepted. The initiative supports 475 independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan newsrooms dedicated to public service like Sapan News. 

Until December 31, 2024, NewsMatch will match every dollar donated to Sapan News, up to $15,000. That means all donations made by year end will go twice as far. ‘

Donate now!

This will enable us to continue the Sapan News mission of furthering the narrative of peace, dialogue, and regionalism, to provide nonpartisan journalism with context and nuance, with voices from the community and on the ground who go into the why and how beyond the headlines.

Some Sapan News features and what we stand for
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From rural Sri Lanka, solidarity for Gaza and American students protesting for Palestine 

Posted on May 21, 2024 by beenasarwar

‘A country may believe it wins something by killing people but can anything be as valuable as human life?’

Reverberations of America’s campus protests are felt in a remote rural area in the middle of a jungle in the heart of an island nation at the cusp of Southasia and the Indian Ocean

Venerable Kokawewa Sumedha: “Nahi Verena Verani” (Hatred cannot end hatred). Photo: Ben Samarasinghe

POSTCARD FROM DUTUWEWA

By Beena Sarwar and Uditha Devapriya

Ripples of the student protests in America calling for divestment from Israel and an end to the violence on Palestine are being felt in a remote village in the heart of rural Sri Lanka.

“What gives America the right to lecture us on human rights when their police are beating up brown students protesting for innocent Palestinians?” asks Kokawewa Sumedha, known respectfully as the Thera (Buddhist monk), in a historic village called Dutuwewa, in the Anuradhapura District in Sri Lanka’s North-Central Province. 

The village is named after Sri Lanka’s hero King Dutugemunu who ruled from 161 to 137 BC. He is said to have founded the place while traveling, after his tethered horse broke loose and was found grazing here.

We’re sitting on a stone bench lining the verandah of the Thera’s residential dwelling at the premises of the Sri Purvaramaya Viharaya, Gataleva, the Buddhist temple that the Thera has served for 25 years. The oppressive heat and din of the crickets from the surrounding jungle, known for its wild elephants, are a world away from the centres of power.

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The way forward is a rainbow of blended colours

Posted on July 23, 2023 by beenasarwar

Last week, I was honoured to speak at the Community Church of Boston at Copley Square, along with Sanjay Bhagat of the Boston Study Group and Kandeel Javid of Muslims for Progressive Values. The topic was Celebrating Love, unbounded by caste, religion, or sexual orientation.

The goal was to talk about challenges faced by interfaith/inter caste couples and families and how to create inclusion across castes and religious divides.

The title derived from an earlier discussion organised by Southasia Peace Action Network or Sapan, a global cross-border, cross-regional, cross-diasporic network that I co-founded in March 2021. See Saman Shaifq’s report Celebrating love: Beyond borders and boundaries of religion, caste, and nationality, published by Sapan News, the syndicated media service that emerged from Sapan.

I was invited to represent Sapan, as well as its local partner, the Boston South Asian Coalition. Introducing the speakers was Manisha Sharma of BSAC, also part of the Sapan network – see the lovely piece on qawwali she wrote for Sapan News.

Inter-religious or inter-caste marriage is against the social dogma around Southasia, as she noted. “In India, only 5% marriages are inter-caste or inter-religious.” Many of these couples, including gay and queer couples are subjected to tremendous social, family, and psychological pressures or lose their lives in what are called ‘honour killings’.

  • Photo - Entrance to the Community Church of Boston: A welcoming space nestled between a coffee and retail shops at Copley Square
    Entrance to the Community Church of Boston: A welcoming space tucked between shops at Copley Square: Promoting “Universal religion” Photo: Beena Sarwar
  • Setting up for the event. Sapan fiscal sponsor Encuentro-5 (e5) banner in background. Photo: Beena Sarwar
  • Community Church of Boston coordinator Dean Stevens: Celebrating love, combatting hate and bigotry. Photo: Beena Sarwar
  • Manisha introducing the speakers. Photo: Beena Sarwar
    Manisha introducing the speakers and elegantly tying.threads together. Photo: Beena Sarwar
  • Sanjay Bhagat, a founding member of Boston Study Group: the only Ambedkarite organization in the New England area
    Sanjay Bhagat, a founding member of Boston Study Group: the only Ambedkarite organization in the New England area
  • Tamana Syed: Bestselling author, poet, Public Health program coordinator. Check her bio https://linktr.ee/tasyed and book ‘Falcon and the Dove’. Photo: Beena Sarwar
  • Boston Study Group representatives presenting a bust of Dr Ambedkar to Kandil of Muslims for Progressive Values for his contributions to the cause of interfaith harmony. Photo: Beena Sarwar
  • John announcing the upcoming Community Church annual meetup, “a celebration of people’s power, the world, and their resilience”. Photo: Beena Sarwar
  • Kandeel showing Omar Aziz's book just-published book Brown Boy
    Community announcement: Omar Aziz’s book just-published book Brown Boy. Photo: Beena Sarwar
  • Journalist Sussen announcing the screening of a documentary ‘Five men of Fidel’ coming up on 26 July. Photo: Beena Sarwar

Having followed and written extensively about this issue for years, I tried to provide a broad perspective and context. Sharing below the text of my speech. Here is a link to the video, broadcast live on the Muslims for Progressive Values-Boston Facebook page.

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Sarmad Khoosat live; Celebrating love in Boston; Sapan News tribute to a harmonium soloist

Posted on July 16, 2023 by beenasarwar

Exciting update: Sarmad Khoosat will allow us to share his great feature film Zindagi Tamasha with friends donating $50 or more to the Sapan fundraiser on Sunday. I saw the film at its U.S. premiere at the Indie Meme Film Festival 2021. This is a wonderful opportunity to watch this groundbreaking, controversial feature film – limited time availability.

beenasarwar's avatarJourneys to democracy

A compilation of offerings from our Sapan network, including my latest venture Sapan News syndicated features. Together, we aim to further the narrative of regionalism, peace, and dialogue. What can you do? Read on

Visual: Aekta Kapoor/Sapan

Delighted to have acclaimed actor and director Sarmad Khoosat join us Sunday July 16 for Sapan’s first fundraiser, hosted by poet Dr Arvinder Chamak in Amritsar. Sarmad will be in conversation with the wonderful journalists Malinda Seneviratne in Colombo, Mandira Nayar in Delhi; and Lubna Jerar in Karachi.

Watch: Sarmad Khoosat LIVE|… on Facebook | … on YouTube

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Floods in Pakistan: Many eager to help held back by restrictions

Posted on August 31, 2022 by beenasarwar
Suhasini Haidar’s report in Hindustan Times, 29 Augusst 2022

“Wish both India & Pakistan had friendly relationship I would have pledged all proceeds from the sale of book for the victims of disastrous floods in Pakistan” tweeted Raminder Jit Singh (@ramindersays), a “Sikh from Jammu & Kashmir” who has recently published a book titled Immaculate Thoughts. The scale of destruction “leaves one benumbed”.

How tragic is it that people who want to help, can’t.

The catastrophic floods in Pakistan have already claimed over 1,000 human lives, over 700,000 heads of cattle and destroyed millions of acres of crops. The situation makes it all the more urgent to ease restrictions between countries of the region and allow food aid and trade to take place. 

The destruction has caused food prices to rise, to the extent that Pakistan is considering opening duty-free import and even reviving imports through the land border with India.

The previous government headed by Imran Khan had cancelled trade ties with India in protest against the Modi government’s revocation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 in August 2019. There have been only two exceptions since then: to import pharmaceutical products during the COVID-19 pandemic and to allow India to ship 50,000 tonnes of wheat as humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Modi has tweeted his condolences to Pakistan for the losses caused by the floods and expressed “hope for an early restoration of normalcy”. This “normalcy” needs to include something that hasn’t been normal for the region – good neighbourly relations. Let people of the region meet – allow visa-on-arrival or a visa-free Southasia, like the European Union, or US-Canada as envisioned by Pakistan’s founding father.

Also read Neel Kamal’s article in TOI: Many hands rising from Southasia for flood-marooned in Pakistan – includes a mention of Sapan, the Southasia Peace Action Network that aims to make this happen.

Why should politics come in the way of people helping each other?

Please see and share this petition and bring friends, family and colleagues on board.

#FloodsInPakistan #Pakistan #India #Southasia 

02 Sept: Updated post to correct the figure of cattle lost to floods, had missed a zero.

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A peace pilgrimage from Pune, political prisoners, Bhutan, Gulzar and more

Posted on August 15, 2022 by beenasarwar

The latest syndicated pieces from our Sapan News Network: A report on peace pilgrims from Pune in Pakistan, a call to free political prisoners, an oped on why Bhutan needs a peace and reconciliation movement, an analysis of the early years of Independence, and a report on the poet Gulzar’s visit to the USA. Enter your email at the Sapan website www.southasiapeace.com to get the pieces sent straight to your mail box. For now, read on:

  1. On eve of 75th independence anniversary, peace pilgrims from Pune bring message of love to Pakistan: The three crossed Wagah border on 22 July for the first peace pilgrimage from India to Pakistan in a quarter century. After a week in Karachi, Shikarpur, and Lahore each, they return to India today after celebrating Pakistan’s Independence day with Pakistani friends at Wagah border. By Priyanka SIngh and Beena Sarwar. Read more here
From Dhaka, Khushi Kabir in conversation with Yogesh Mathuria, Nitin S., and Jalandarnath Channole in Shikarpur. Photo credits: @southasiapeace on Facebook

2. The world’s ‘happiest country’ needs a peace and reconciliation process – “Bhutan’s much-touted happiness rating lies atop a bed of pain. The pain of Bhutanese refugees of Nepali origin. I know, because I am one of them,” writes Suraj Budathoki in this groundbreaking oped. Read more here.

3. “Free them all!” A call of solidarity with political prisoners in India, America, and beyond – Revolutionary poet Habib Jalib’s iconic 1962 poem Main Nahi Manta (I refuse to accept) still resonates beyond Pakistan. A report on a discussion on “Political Incarceration and Resistance in India and the USA organised by the Boston South Asian Coalition recently in conjunction with the Boston branch of the Jericho Movement. By Padma B. and Beena Sarwar. Read more here.

4. The years that were: Let lessons from the past inform the present, argues Tridivesh Singh Maini. “…f we just look back and study the 1947-1965 phase in our own region in terms of people-to-people exchanges as well as economic linkages, there is a lot to learn ” Read more here

5. A Southasian poetic giant tours North America – Siraj Khan in Boston reports on Gulzar’s visit to several North American cities, in conversation with the writer Rakhshanda Jalil, and a talented musical team rendering his poetry. Read more here.

Subscribe to Sapan News Network by entering your email at http://www.southasiapeace.com to stay up to date with Sapan offerings.

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Let’s teach our kids about peace before someone else teaches them to hate

Posted on April 8, 2022 by beenasarwar

Sharing a piece I wrote with Rahul Mukherji in Kolkatta pegged on April 6 – #WhiteCard International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. A Sapan syndicated feature.

Southasia Peace Action Network's avatarSouthasia Peace Action Network

By Rahul Mukherji and Beena Sarwar

April 7, 2022, Sapan News Service: On 6 April 2022, an 11-year-old boy in Islamabad and 8-year-old in Kolkata raised White Cards to each other, in support of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

In doing so, Arman in Pakistan and Riaan in India were not just making a gesture of peace and friendship towards each other, but for their countries, and the world.

Tweet by Aman ki Asha (@amankiasha_1) on 6 Apr 2022.

The heartwarming little video shared on social media was one among millions of #WhiteCard photos and videos being posted that day as symbolic gestures calling for peace through sports around the globe. Participants included world champions, Olympic champions, sportspersons and fans.

In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly createda historical link to the first modern Olympic Gamesof 1896 by declaring 6…

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Sapan Logo competition: Submit your logos for a good cause and win a cash prize!

Posted on March 11, 2022 by beenasarwar

Hello designers out there – here’s a chance to contribute to a great cause AND win recognition plus prize money. As Sapan, the South Asia Peace Action Network turns one (yes, already!) we’re looking to re-vamp our logo. So we launched a logo competition. Deadline: 25 March 2022. See details in the shared post.

We love the logo that a volunteer created on short notice – not a designer but a law student then. Note: This isn’t a commercial proposition but one of our youngest volunteers wanted to add a cash prize incentive and pledged a contribution. Others followed so we have a little money in our kitty for the winner. p.s. More contributions welcome.

#logo #designers #competition

Southasia Peace Action Network's avatarSouthasia Peace Action Network

Deadline for submissions: March 25, 2022

Announcing a design contest to create a novel, catchy logo for Southasia Peace Action Network (Sapan).

The competition winner will receive a certificate and will be listed on Sapan’s website and social media platforms. There is also a nominal cash prize, amount to be disclosed later as pledges are coming in.

We will use the logo on our website, social media marketing, and other purposes.

Designers are free to choose any fonts, color combinations, and symbol options. The logo must include a symbolic component that is recognizable without the name “Southasia Peace Action Network” next to it.

Sapan vision: See Founding Charter

Contest timeline

  • March 9-25:Submit entries by email to southasiapeaceactionnetwork@gmail.com
  • March 25:The logo is up on social media for voting
  • Based on the points from the social media vote and jury, the final winner will be announced by March 31, marking…

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Singing and inspiration in dark times: Art and resistance in South Asia

Posted on February 4, 2022 by beenasarwar

Inspiring, uplifting and thought-provoking event, part of Sapan’s series themed Imagine: Neighbours in Peace, held on the last Sunday of every month. Coming up: Love, activism, Southasia solidarities with Saif Samejo, Parvathy Baul, and others… Watch out for updates at http://www.southasiapeace.com

Southasia Peace Action Network's avatarSouthasia Peace Action Network

NOTE: This feature report produced by Sapan News Service is free for publication with credit to Sapan, www.southasiapeace.com. Editors may trim content to their own needs.

By Sushmita Preetha and Priyanka Singh

Feb 3, 2022: “In dark times, will there also be singing? Yes, there will be singing, about the dark times”

Iconic German playwright Bertolt Brecht’s words continue to echo and remain relevant, particularly in South Asia, as underscored by prominent artists at Resisting Together: Art and the Artist in South Asia, an online gathering across time zones.

Dozens of participants at the online session enthusiastically endorsed Sapan’s call for a visa-free South Asia, a demand enshrined in the regional coalition’s Founding Charter jointly presented at the meeting by the activist couple Lalita Ramdas and former chief of Indian Navy Admiral L. Ramdas, both founder members of Sapan.

Lalita Ramdas and Admiral L. Ramdas: Taking forward Bapu’s…

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