How do we talk about a border when the music, poetry, and memories of the people it divided refuse to stay on one side?
Seventy-nine years after the 1947 Partition of the Indian subcontinent, the geopolitical binaries of the region remain as rigid as ever. Yet, beneath the official state narratives lies a rich history of solidarity, syncretism, and shared trauma that demands a more nuanced conversation.
This upcoming weekend, Mela Nordic, in collaboration with the Southasia Peace Action Network (Sapan), invites you to step beyond traditional political rhetoric. On 4 July 2026, Stockholm will play host to ‘Divergent Voices of South Asia: Rethinking Partition, Reimagining Peace’, an international gathering dedicated to exploring cross-border reconciliation, art, and alternative histories.
“This gathering is a rare and vital opportunity to bring Indian, Pakistani, and Kashmiri perspectives into the same room. It is a dedicated space where disagreement is welcomed, dialogue is protected, and the possibility of reconciliation is taken seriously.” – Mela Nordic Collective
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, 4 July 2026 | Time: 10 am to 9 pm CEST | Venue: Filmcentrum Riks, Bredgränd 2, Stockholm | Admission: FREE and open to the general public.
Morning Sessions: Kashmir, Poetry, and Resistance
- 11 am: Community Lunch
- 11:30 am – 12 pm: Questioning Fragile Normalcy in Kashmir | Sarah Gilley, MA, PhD. Aspirant, university of Central Florida,
- 12:15 pm -12:45 pm: Songs of Love: How Poets of India and Pakistan Foster Peace | Dr. Aamir Butt, writer, UK
- 1 pm- 1.30 pm: Night Of The Elephant: Reclaiming Histories of Resistance (Online) | Dr. Tariq Mehmood, American University of Beirut / Daraja Press
Afternoon Sessions: Media, Empire, and Alternative Futures
- 1.40 pm – 2:10 pm: India as Media Subimperialism! | Dr. Farooq Sulehria, author, Palgrave Macmillan
- 2:10 pm – 2:30 pm: TEA BREAK
- 2:30 pm – 3 pm: Book Launch: India’s Imperial Formations: Race, Caste, and Religion in South Asia | Dr. Amrita Ghosh, academic and singer, USA
- 3 pm – 3:30 pm: The United States of Jammu and Kashmir: Pathways to Peace | Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, chairman, United Kashmir Peoples National Party
- 3:45 pm – 4:10 pm: Bridging the Noise: Media and the Art of Solidarity in South Asia (Online) | Anuradha Bhasin, editor, Kashmir Times
- 4:20 pm – 4:45 pm: ‘Think like a Journalist. Build Peace’ | Beena Sarwar, co-founder of Sapan and founder editor of Sapan News, on navigating a reactive, post-truth media ecosystem through independent cross-border collaboration.
Evening Feature: The Unbroken Raag
- 4:45 pm – 6 pm: Dinner Break
- 6 pm – 8 pm: The Unbroken Raag: Music, Memory and Echoes of Partition | Dr. Ghulam Ali Shair, University of Sussex
Whether your family was directly impacted by the events of 1947, or you are simply interested in geopolitics, human rights, and the power of peace journalism, your presence will enrich the room. Come join us in creating a safe, open space focused not on the lines that divide us, but on the humanity that connects us.