New Delhi, 12 July: The revised version of “Samjahouta Express” was launched on 12 July at India International Centre, New Delhi. The author, Mr. Awais Sheikh was present for the launch. Mr. Awais Sheikh is a renowned human rights’ activist and lawyer in Pakistan. He is the President of ‘Pakistan India Peace Initiative’. He is also the president of council of India Prisoners. He had represented the Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh.
This book is t
he revised version. It was originally released in 2010 by the hands of late Prime Minister of India, Mr. I.K. Gujral. Now with two additional chapters, this book is being re-released in English. To mark this occasion, several eminent people who have been working for Indo-Pak relations were invited. A representative from Pakistan High Commission was also present.
Mr. Awais Sheikh warmly welcomed everyone. He began his talk by sharing his experiences, the challenges that he has faced and his undeterred motivation to work for peace. He spoke high about the Pakistani media and the judiciary who have always supported the cause for peace and humanity. He said that he was an advocate but it was the court who would release the prisoners. As he now lives in Sweden, he missed his home country.
To add to the enriching and inspiring experience, besides him, there were several other eminent people who have been continuously working to improve Indo-Pak relations through several means who were called as guest speakers to share their thoughts.
Veteran Indian Journalist Kuldeep Nayar talked about the need of increasing people to people relations. He said that we, both the countries, need to look forward. We need to make these borders between the two countries only as political borders, and not the borders of hearts and emotions. He argued that all misunderstandings will be vanished once our governments will become sensitized enough towards the real need of people to people communication.
Prof. Bhim Singh, who is politically associated with Panthers party but popularly known for his efforts for Pakistani prisoners in India, shared his experiences during his visit to Pakistan. He said that during his 10 day visit to Pakistan, he experienced a great sense of cultural similarity and no where did he feel that he is outsider.
Mr. Marwah from Marwah studio described how he feels so connected with Pakistan as his parents had migrated from Pakistan. He described that when he had organized a workshop on cinema, 25 students from Pakistan had participated.
Dr. Adish Agarwal, who is Chairman of All India Bar Association also shared his experiences of visiting Pakistan on invitation of the Bar Council there. He described that how he became very moved when in a market, he told a little girl that he is an Indian and the girl simply replied that you are our guest. He found it as evidence that in general, people do not talk about hatred with India.
For me, it was not just a book launch. It was an emotional experience where thoughts were floating from one heart to another.
