06 February 2004	Friday	14 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 5: A group of Indian writers and peace activists, led by noted historian K.N. Paniker, was welcomed by the Progressive Writers Association and Bazm Adabo-o-Saqafat at a reception held in their honour at the Newsport Institute of Communications and Economics on Wednesday.

Addressing a large number of writers, intellectuals and journalists, the visiting guests presented their problems and viewpoint in their effort to bring peace, amity and harmony in the subcontinent.

Prof Paniker felt the need to have move 'people to people contact' between Pakistan and India. This time, writers and poets were meeting their counterparts in both countries, similarly scientists, social scientists and professionals should also come forward and exchange visits quite frequently.

Most ill-will was created by the fundamentalists in both countries due to lack of information. India, despite having a vibrant democracy was in the grip of communal frenzy, because the peace activists could not reach the common people and the NGOs had no networking and people in both countries were unaware about the goodwill they had for each other.

Prof Paniker also held history as a culprit, the historians in both countries had been writing myths in the name of history and propagating lies and communal hatred. He was however satisfied that secular and enlightened historians, three of them from each country, were now meeting to write a history of the subcontinent.

Writer Hershmandir referred to the rehabilitation work being done in the ravaged Gujarat, the professionals and wage-earners like auto-rickshaw drivers providing relief to the poor. The writer, who had resigned from a prestigious government job as a mark of protest after Gujarat riots, said that he was saddened but not pessimistic.

Scientist and poet Gauhar Raza spoke about the current socio- political conditions in his country and of the extremists going to people with a new innocent face. But, he expressed hope that they would not succeed and quoted a couplet from his poem.

Naya libaas pahen ker yeh tum samajhtey ho
Ke apney khoon ke dhabbay ko tum chhupa lo gay

Film star Naudita Das, who in her modesty said that she was just a social worker, expressed her utmost pleasure to have visited Karachi and hoped to have more visits in future.

Shabnam Hashmi, a poet coming from the famous Hashmi clan of Delhi, lamented th separation of Muslim and Hindu families and expressed her desire that there should be no restriction on such families in visiting both countries. Ms Hashmi said that at times she felt that she was fighting a lost battle, however, she was determined to carry on."

Noted scholar Dr Manzoor Ahmad while welcoming the guests felt happy that messengers of goodwill and activists working to bring about a bright future had kept themselves busy for a great cause. He too felt the need to rewrite history, 'since we had been mislead by wrong perceptions'. He said doing even small things was a big achievement so the struggle must be continued.

Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqui said, "Since our cause is big therefore our efforts to fulfil it should also be equally strong and untiring."

At the outset, Huma Bokhari welcomed the guests. Muslim Shamim did the compering. Hussain Anjum read out his verse in praise of Indian visitors.

Noted poet Tabish Dehlvi also presented his couplets written for the occasion. He was the chief guest of the evening.