Conference Themes :

• Global Relevance of Culture : Development for Peace

• Understanding the Interrelationship of Cultures in South Asia

• Respecting the Otherness of Others.

• Inter-Cultural dialogue for strengthening civilizational links in South Asia.

IN ADDITION TO THE FOUR THEMATIC SESSIONS, THERE WILL BE SESSIONS DEVOTED TO READINGS OF POETRY AND FICTION.

Sharing their vast knowledge and delving deep into the common cultural roots of the SAARC countries, the participants will probe   the horizons of the distant grey beginnings of human civilization,  unfolded through folk literature and folk songs.

Reflecting on their first-hand personal and historical experiences, participating writers will question the motives of violence as well as examine the diverse ways in which men and women view violence, and provide inputs on what constitutes violence. Is it the continuation of our tribal mindset ? Or of feudal mindset ? Or, has mankind invented more sophisticated deadly weapons only to destroy and kill whosoever thinks, feels, acts differently ? 

Participants will discuss the role of writers in this strife-torn world, and the impact of writings on politics, conflict situations and conflict resolution society and the urgent need for evolving viable, long-lasting methods of reconciliation, mainly through cultural connectivity.

The original idea of SAARC was concerned only with matters of the ‘head’, focusing mainly on opening up trade and business with each other. Our Foundation has added the luminous dimension of ‘heart’ to the idea which was not going far anyway. After adding matters of heart : the deciphering of civilisational and cultural links between these countries, relations are improving to eliminate human suffering, and respecting the otherness of others is gradually emerging as both the overview and undercurrent of bilateral and multilateral relations with a view to ultimately unfolding the process of truth and reconciliation, peaceful coexistence and mutual tolerance.

The entire SAARC Cultural Initiative is the brainchild and painstaking efforts and whole-hearted commitment of Ms. AJEET COUR, the Founder President of this MOVEMENT FOR CULTURAL CONNECTIVITY FOR PEACE.

Her contribution towards peace in the region has resulted in being selected among a thousand peace activists from all over the globe, for a COLLECTIVE NOBLE PEACE PRIZE.

Participants in the Conference include : Mr. Intizar Hussain, one of the most important fiction writers of the region, Mr. Hamid Mir, eminent journalist with Geo TV, Dr. Asif Farroukhi, Ms. Kishwar Naheed, Dr. Akhtar Hussain Akhtar, Dr. Shaista Nuzhat, Nisar Ahmad Choudhury, Prof. Anwar Ahmad from Pakistan; besides almost forty scholars, writers and academicians.

Mr. Mofidul Haq, Syed Shamsul Haq, Prof. Shafi Ahmed, Mr. Nirmalendu Goon, and several young scholars from Bangladesh;

Ms. Geetha D’Silva and Dr. Seneviratne from Sri Lanka; both eminent policy makers,

Ms. Sheeba Shah, Mr. Dwarika Shrestha, Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh, Dr. Abhi N. Subedi, Mr. Tejeswor Babu Gonga, Ms. Benju Sharma, Dambar Bir Thapa from Nepal; representing all the major languages of Nepal,

Mr. Tshewang Gyalpo, Head, Division for Culture, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, from Bhutan and

Mr. Ali Shareef, eminent writer and journalist from Maldives. 

From Afghanistan, the Ambassador who is an eminent poet, H.E. Mr. Masood Khalili will participate, and other representatives from Afghanistan as well, who will share aspects of civilisational commonalities and read their poems.

Beside the vast-galaxy of writers, poets and intellectuals from Countries of SAARC, eminent writers from India will also be participating in the Conference. Some of the important  Indian participants include Mr. Khushwant Singh, Dr. Kapila Vatsayayan, Mr. Lalit Mansingh, Dr. Namwar Singh, Gulzar, Dr. Ashok Vajpeyi, Mr. Vasant Sathe, Mr. Jayakumar, Prof. Indira Goswami, Keki Daruwala, Krishan Baldev Vaid, Manohar Shyam Joshi, and several eminent scholars, writers and poets.

Writers and delegates will  pen their creative impressions at the end of the three Conference which will then be collated, edited and printed in the form of an Anthology. This will then be widely disseminated through the Foundation and its vibrant and dynamic National Centres in all the SAARC countries.