Good Human Foundation, along with Faces and Lions Club Kolkata Rays, organised a thematic panel discussion on O.P. Shah’s book ‘In Pursuit of Peace – Improving Indo-Pak Relations’ on December 2.
Shah was the keynote speaker and the panellists comprised Pradeep Gooptu, director, Calcutta Debating Circle; Oindrilla Dutt, arts and events creator; Bishembhar Newar, CEO, Chhapte Chhapte; and Nousheen Baba Khan, social activist.
Aliah University professor Ghazala Yasmeen moderated the programme at Milli Al Ameen College for Girls. Taking the discussion forward, she said: “When power of love overcomes the love of power than we have peace.”
The programme took off with an inaugural speech by Imran Zaki, president, Faces. The panellists thereafter came up with different views on how peace and relations between the two countries could be improved.
Shah, in his address, said: “PM Modi began well by requesting all his South Asia colleagues to attend his swearing-in ceremony. He continued that enthusiasm for a little while but he gave it up. He, perhaps, didn’t had advisers like Mani Shankar Aiyar, who believe that the initiative has to be through dialogues. Talks need to be continuous, uninterrupted, uninterruptable.”
Giving another perspective was Pradeep Gooptu: “Dump the history. We were the country of kings, monarchs, emperors, lords and zamindars for more than 5,000 years. We came out of this prison in 1947 by becoming a democratic country. To progress in life, we have to get out of the prison of history.”
Bishembhar Newar humorously said: “When you talk about Indo-Pak relations, it is like a beautiful girl whom one can love but cannot marry.”
A general view came out during the discussions and panellists focused on the fact that there should be more trade instead of wars and the solutions can come out only through talks and dialogue.
The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Rafay Siddiqui, president, Good Human Foundation.