International Peace Talk- Message of peace for India and Pakistan

Respected all media representatives, political and religious thinkers, philosophers, and social activists of India and Pakistani diaspora: On Saturday, Oct 1, 2016, Our Global Village Charitable Foundation held Peace Talk initiative with the joint support of progressive organizations of Canada, lead by individuals with Indian and Pakistani Heritage.

We extend our sincere appreciation for Sukhi Bath and the entire team of Punjab Bhawan, formerly known as Studioseven Surrey for offering unprecedented support to initiate this peace talk between regions and religions, hosted by the sincere partnership of thinkers, intellectuals and social activists with Indian and Pakistani roots. This might be the first international peace talk that took place jointly to send message of peace and harmony when media of both nations as well as of the globe are talking about war between these two countries.

Our foundation thank all attendees, speakers and Punjab Bhawan team members but more so to Kavinder Chaand with the help of whom this event was hosted with much ease, care and hospitality; to Mohan Gill who took care of the entire stage affairs with his intensive wealth of public speaking experience, stage conducts and exemplary command of Punjabi language and to Prof. Gurbhajan Singh Gill for his gracious attendance and sharing of his deep wisdom of "punjabiatt".

We have a long and proud list of brightest and kindest personalities of Vancouver lower-mainland to thank for, for sharing their thoughtful views in the forum and they are:

Mohan Gill- opened the program with Gulzar’s nazam “ਆਂਖੋਂ ਕੋ ਵੀਜ਼ਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਲਗਤਾ / aakhon ko visa nain lagta”.

Meera Gill – Welcomed all attendees and guests on behalf of Our Global Village Charitable Foundation.

Sukhi Bath- Welcomed audience to Punjab Bhawan and offered ongoing support to Our Global Village. Furthermore he promised facility of Punjab Bhawan to all thoughtful activities unbiased to cast, creed, religion or region.

Jarnail Singh Sekha - A world-renowned novelist shared his message of unity and asked politicians to be mindful for the wellbeing of common people. “ਜੰਗ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਸਮੱਸਿਆ ਦਾ ਇਲਾਜ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੀ / jung kiss wi samasea da ilag nahien hundi”.

Mohammad Rafiq- President of Urdu Association of Pakistan- “Sadain sanjhian lorhan ne, sanjhain lorhre ne” his message of peace was loud and clear to be united, respectful and promote dialogue to resolve matters.

Harbhajan S Gill- President of Komagata Maru Heritage Foundation said during 1914 at the ship “ਇਕੋ ਥਾਲੀ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਰੋਟੀ ਖਾਦੀ ਅਸੀਂ / Niko thali chon roti khadi assien” “ਦਿਲ ਤਾਂ ਉਹ ਹੀ ਨੇ / dil taan oh hi ne”, and from the platform of Our Global village he not only sends message to Pakistan and India but to the whole globe.

Jai Birdi- Leading member of Ambedkar Association- “ਸਾਡੀ ਕਲਚਰ ਸਾਂਝੀ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਅਲੱਗ ਹੋ ਹੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਕਦੇਤੇ, ਲੜਾਈ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਚਾਹਵਾਂ ਗਏ /sadi cultural sandhi hai taan alag ho hi nahien sakde te, larhai wi nahien chahwan ge” Consent is manufactured in democracy to build them up for war is his worry and said that we should involve local politicians to send message of peace.

Vinay Sharma-President of Times of Canada- “ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਭ ਉੱਚੀਆਂ ਸੁੱਚੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਅਜ਼ੀਮ ਸਖ਼ਸ਼ੀਅਤਾਂ ਇਥੇ ਹਾਜ਼ਿਰ ਨੇ ਔਰ ਜਿਹੜੀ ਗੱਲ ਬਾਤ ਇਥੋਂ ਨਿੱਕਲੇਗੀ ਉਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਦੂਰ ਤੱਕ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ / shehar dian sabb uchian suchian te azeem sakhiata ethe hazir ne aur jihrhe gall bath ethon nikli ge oh bohat door takk jawe gi, his message will be to free our minds to live in a free state.

Prof. Gurbhajan Singh Gill- Well renowned Punjabi poet, thinker and cultural welfare “ਅੱਜ ਦੀ weaponry ਮਾਨਵਤਾ ਦਾ ਘਾਣ ਕਰ ਦੇਵੇਗੀ, sectors ਵਿੱਚ ਲੁੱਟਣ ਦੀਆਂ, ਕੁੱਟਣ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਕੀਮਾਂ ਨੇ / ajj di weaponry mandate da ghaan kr dew go”, Segments wich luttan, te kuttan dian schema ne”, war is the result of silence of masses believing in peace. Black list any organization that promotes division and community shall stay in continue dialogue to resolve varying thought processes.

Shahzad Nazir Khan- Committee of Progressive Pakistani Canadians, “ ਮੌਸਮ ਤੋ ਕਈ ਬਦਲੇ ਹੈਂ ਮੁਕੱਦਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਦਲਾ, ਵੈਸੇ ਹੀ ਸ਼ਿਕਸਤਾ , ਮੇਰਾ ਘਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਾਦਲਾ, /mausam ton kai badle hain, mukadar nhien badla, weysa hi hai shikasta, mera ghar nahien badla”, voice of peace must start from Punjab as historically it is Punjab on both sides of the border that has suffered unlike the remaining parts of the both countries. Getting to know one another is the solution for peace.

Jatinder Lasara- Poet of peace and harmony, well-known social activist, representing Our Global Village, MyFm radio- division within hearts must be erased to raise peace and harmony from home, nation and globe was Jatinder’s message, “ਨਫਰਤ ਦੇ ਰੰਗਾਂ ਚੋਂ ਕੀ ਲੱਭ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ, ਬੰਬਾਂ ਤੇ ਜੰਗਾਂ ਚੋਂ ਕੀ ਲੱਭ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ /nafrat de rangan chon ki lab rahan hai, bomban te janga cho ki lgg rehan hain”

Bakhshinder Singh -Theater, movie artist asked journalists to be more responsible in their reporting and to contribute towards the efforts of making peace and harmony.

Tarik Kiani- Sohni thirty Pakistan- Intekhab of peace is the ultimate solution for prosperity in both nations of Pakistan and India ਹਮਾਰੇ ਸਾਥ ਸਭ ਦੇ ਬੜਾ ਜ਼ੁਲਮ ਯਿਹ ਹੂਆ ਕੇ ਹਮਾਰਾ ਅਦਬ ਬਟ ਗਿਆ, ਮੁਹੱਬਤ ਕਾ ਪੈਗਾਮ ਲੋਗੋਂ ਤੱਕ ਪੁਹੰਚੇ, ਮੇਰੀ ਦੁਆ ਹੈ ਕੇ ਯਿਹ ਜੰਗ ਨਾ ਹੋ, ਤਬਾਹੀ ਨਾ ਹੋ /hamare sath sabb se barha zulam houa ke hamara adab batt geya muhabat ka paigam logo takk pohche, meri dua hai, ke yeh jang na ho, tabahi na ho”.

Harpreet Singh –Respected Journalist, TV host, said that we accuse Indian and Pakistani politician for their wrong doing but when they come to Canada we don’t ask them question but become part to the corrupt regime by catering to their needs of publicity and financial support. Furthermore, looking around the audience and sensing the absence of otherwise active media, he said, “ਅੱਜ ਮੀਡੀਆ ਦੇਖ ਲਵੋ, ਕਿਥੇ ਹੈ ਮੀਡੀਆ?/ ajj media dekh lawo, kithe hai media? “where is the media which talks about peace that tells that we need to be united? I am sorry to say, we also have our own interest, somebody gives us something we run overthere, jithe lorh hai othe assien naien pohanchde, make us accountable, because you don’t make us accountable, we take you for granted, ਸਾਨੂੰ ਪਤਾ ਕੇ ਜੋ ਮਰਜ਼ੀ ਕਰ ਲਈਏ, ਕਿਸੀ ਨੀ ਪੁੱਛਣਾ sanu pata ke jo marzi kar layie, kisi ne puchna” .

Amrik Plahi- compassionate poet and thinker- “ਅਮਨ ਜੰਗ ਦੀ ਗੈਰਹਾਜ਼ਰੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੀ / aman janga di gyr hazri nahien hundi”, peace starts in hearts, our homes. Inability to communicate and resolve matter though dialogue results in war”, we must not glorify war, we must understand that people join army as they need to provide for their family.

Kavinder Chaand- Respected poet, Punjab Bhawan’s leading team executive member _ ਦਿਲਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਦਰਦ ਹੋਵੇ, ਤੇ ਮੁਹੱਬਤ ਦਾ ਚਲਨ ਹੋਵੇ, ਕੋਈ ਤੇਰੇ ਵਤਨ ਹੋਵੇ, ਕੋਈ ਮੇਰੇ ਵਤਨ ਹੋਵੇ,ਤੇ ਕਦੇ ਤੂੰ ਘਰ ਮੇਰੇ ਆਵੇਂ , ਕਦੇ ਮੈਂ ਘਰ ਤੇਰੇ ਆਂਵਾਂ, ਇਕੱਠੇ ਬਹਿ ਦੁਆ ਦੁਆ ਕਰੀਏ ਅਮਨ ਆਵੇ ਅਮਨ ਆਵੇ / Dillan wich dard howe, te muhabatt da chalan howe, koi tera watan howe,koi mera watan howe, te kade toon ghar mere awien, kade main ghar tere aawan, ikathe beh dua kariea aman howe aman howe” “ਜੰਗ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਕਦੇ ਅਮਨ ਪੈਦਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ jang wichon kade aman pyda nahien hunda” .

Baee Avtar- Tarkseel Cultural Society of Canada- Shared his message of peace and unity to humanity looking beyond religion and caste .

Karam Singh Dhanwant- Veteran socialist , standing up for the common man. He said that until people will not speak up and manufacturing of weapons will not stop, war will not stop.

B K Singh Rakhra- Known Theater and movie actor- Corporate greed and division at economic, religion and caste level are the root causes of violence and wars in this world.

Simran Kaur- On behalf of Our Global Village she shared that our organization’s motto is of peace and harmony and compassion for humanity and we want this to be the motto of all our lives.

Meera Gill- In closing Meera thanked all attendees, speakers and also Sukhi Bath for his generosity and support in sending the message of peace from Canada to all countries of the globe. Union of two drops of love creates life but union of oceans of venom can create nothing she said and shared poem of peace and hope written by Surjit Patar, "mombatian".

The entire team of Our Global Village Charitable Foundation working on this project, thank all media and especially Gurbaj Brar and Jasbir Singh Romana for their support.

Special thanks goes to Dr. Pritam Singh for his kind guidance on this matter.

Today we thank you all for your time for reading this report and engaging in peace conversations within your areas of influence.

Meera Gill Together we can, together we will.