SAHIWAL, Dec 10: Academic and cultural exchanges are necessary to develop people-to-people relations between Pakistan and India and it is time to explore commonalities among the people, cultures, history and architecture of both countries and bury hatred for a peaceful co-existence of future generation of South Asia.

These views were expressed by Dr Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi, while addressing the last session of the international conference organised by the Trust for History, Art and Architecture of Pakistan (THAAP) on ‘Cultural roots of art and architecture of Punjab’ at the Harappa Museum on Tuesday.

The event was organised in collaboration with University of Gujrat (UoG), Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad, Punjab Lok Sujag and National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore.

More than 20 academicians from universities of Iran and India participated in the conference.

The delegates led by Dr Gandhi on their arrival at the museum were accorded a warm welcome. Sanwal Jhumar group performed a thrilling Ravi Jhumar, a folk dance, on the arrival of the guests. The delegation also visited archeological sites at Harappa.

Dr Tarhana Yaldav, an Iranian delegate said, “It is time we see our identities through culture and architect. She said that she was happy to be in Harappa, associating herself with ancient history of the people of the land dating back from 3rd to 5th century BC.

Amit Ranjhan from India stressed Unesco must include the site in its world heritage list and allocate funds for Harappa Museum.

Ms Ausha, wife of Dr Gandhi, told Dawn it was an amazing experience to become one with history and with the locals.

Dr Gandhi referred to Baba Farid of Pakpattan and said it was a blessing to be in the vicinity of such a great saint. “While standing in Harappa, I can feel that Pakpattan is on my right side”.

He said Punjabi poetry of Baba Farid spread message of tolerance, peace and co-existence among all communities. He said it was also a blessing that he was near Malikan Hanse where master poet of Punjab Waris Shah wrote the classic Heer. He said he wished to visit both Pakpattan and Malikan Hanse.

“I met many people here who migrated from Indian Punjab in 1947 because of the Partition. They during their interaction with me said they wanted to visit India. There should be some workable mechanism to facilitate such an exchange between peoples of India and Pakistan,” he added.

Earlier, the delegates were welcomed by activists of Lok Sujag and Harappa Museum Curator Hasan Khokkar.

THAAP chairperson Sajida Vandal thanked the hosts for according a warm welcome to conference delegates.

Teachers from Punjabi and English departments of the Government Post Graduate College, Sahiwal, Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Sahiwal Campus director and others accompanied the delegates during their tour of the archaeological site.