50 students talk of Indo-Pak peace in workshop

CHANDIGARH: Mumbai-based writer, educator and peace builder Chintan Girish Modi conducted a workshop with students of Dikshant International School on the topic, 'India-Pakistan: Scripting a New Future'. Modi, is also the founder of Friendships Across Borders: Aao Dosti Karein - an initiative that uses the power of storytelling and social media to foster cross-border friendships and transform hostility into hope.
Around 50 students of classes IX to XII participated. They shared their own stories about the Partition, read the views of Ziyad Faisal, a Pakistan-based writer, and wrote back to him. Students watched a number of video clippings appealing for peace and made up their minds to sign a petition urging the leaders of both countries to come up with creative diplomatic solutions instead of engaging in a violent display of military might. It is noteworthy that Modi has recently launched an online petition - 'Indian & Pakistani citizens speak against war' which has already been signed by 4,500 citizens - both Indians and Pakistanis. The same has also been tweeted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Modi.
"I conducted this workshop right amidst the political tensions between India and Pakistan to give students a chance to participate in a dialogue that directly concerns their future. It would be unfortunate if they had to pay the price for a conflict they have inherited from their parents and grandparents. It is time to stay clear-headed instead of being swayed by jingoistic rhetoric, and to build a culture of peace and non-violence in keeping with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals," said Modi. The workshop generated a lot of interest as it enabled the students to articulate their own vision for re-scripting the future of India-Pakistan relations.
Modi has conducted interactive, arts-based peace education workshops with students in Mumbai, Trivandrum, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pondicherry, Lucknow, Panchgani, Lahore, and Islamabad, among other cities.