Young Indians make peace

By Monica Chadha
BBC correspondent in Bombay

While official diplomacy between India and Pakistan moves ahead at a slow, steady pace, young people from both countries have decided to take matters into their hands.

The delegation hope they can bring about some changes

Fifteen students - seven men and eight women - from all over India have travelled to the Pakistani city of Karachi.

They are there to take part in a 12-day workshop with 15 of their Pakistani counter-parts.

The workshop involves a series of art related communication exercises that include composing music, making films and learning various dance forms.

Most of the students are between the ages of 18 and 21.

More interaction

The event has been organised by Youth Initiative for Peace (YIP), a year old organisation that has young people from both countries for members.

A member of the organisation and one of the organisers of the workshop, Shubhangi said members of the group first met in Singapore in 2002 where they realised the need for more interactions between the youth of the two nations.

"Youth Initiative for Peace was formed to promote sustainable peace in the subcontinent and we realised we need to cut through the national diplomacy, propaganda spread by our text books and see the people across the border for who they really are," said Shubhangi.

I think the world is going to see some kind of change

Lalita Ramdas
Social activist

"We thought such interactions would help build a bridge between the two countries because the new generation comes without any historic baggage."

Educationist and social activist Lalita Ramdas is accompanying the student group to Karachi and says the remarkable thing about this event is the fact that it was organised - true to its name - almost entirely on the initiative of the young members.

"I believe that it is going to be through young people meeting with each other, giving them the freedom and the autonomy in a way to take the decisions that will take us forward out of the morass in which we are stuck," said Ms Ramdas.

"I think the world is going to see some kind of change and it will be brought about by these young people, the future ambassadors of our country."

Surprisingly, the young people travelled to Karachi with hope and ideas of changing the present state of affairs between the two countries but at the same time, they are realistic about their goals.

'Striving for peace'

Nineteen year-old Sairekha Suresh Kumar says peace is a concept everyone believes in and therefore people should work towards it.

Sairekha Suresh Kumar says there is real hope

"We need to strive for peace for the upcoming generations and I think somebody has to make a start," she said.

"Maybe it could be us at our level because we are willing to go beyond diplomatic relations."

Pavitra Chalam is also one of the delegate members in Karachi and she says the sad part is some people think this exercise is a waste of time.

"I'm not going to be an idealist and say everything is going to work out," said Ms Chalam

"Each of us is here, more out of curiosity and fascination. I think it's a small step that will go a long way because if we talk to each other, interact on a regular basis, our generation could move on with no baggage, misconceptions and pre-conceived notions."

This is not the first student delegation to have gone across the border for interaction with the youth of Pakistan.

But the fact that these events happen on a quite regular basis shows the level of curiosity and willingness to learn about each other amongst the new generation of both nations.

It is a positive step towards improved relations between the two estranged neighbours.