By Mazher Hussain
The essence of nearly 190 videos, featuring co-created dance and musical performances by artists from Bhutan, India, and Pakistan, took center stage during the 2nd Southasian Commemoration of Doyens of Peace on 12 August 2026.
This hybrid event showcased work created by youth aged 13 to 30 alongside prominent Southasians under the theme, ‘Digital Stages – Shared Heritage: Youth Connecting Southasia through Culture and Tech.’ A particularly unique feature was the technological co-creation of videos bringing together cross-border teams.
For instance, Pakistani artists Juveria and Irma performed Kathak, Odissi, and Manipuri dances accompanied by Indian artists Nihita and Pranava singing Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s iconic “Bol Ke Lab Azaad Hai Tere”. In another collaboration, Indian performers Niharika and Nivedita Kidambi performed Kuchipudi to a song on Mother Earth written and performed by Bhutanese artists Dema Lhamo, Lekhi Zengmo, and Jamyang Selden.
Honoring the doyen peacebuilders
The program commemorated the lifelong contributions of prominent peace champions in the region:
- Admiral ‘Ramu’ Ramdas, former Chief of the Indian Navy
- Karamat Ali, labour rights activist from Pakistan
- Tapan Bose, filmmaker from India
Youth voices and regional panels
The extensive 8-hour hybrid program featured live streams of 14 top youth videos in Part 1, followed by 60 cross-border videos in Part 2, alongside interactive sessions with 12 segment moderators and online student interventions. A dedicated youth panel brought together voices from across the region:
- Afghanistan: Shahrbanoo Rezayee
- Bangladesh: Lutfa Khan
- Bhutan: Dema Lhamo
- India: Aisha Maaz
- Pakistan: Ahmad Raza
- Nepal: Aradhya Yadav
- Sri Lanka: Mohammed Nasreen
The event featured an inaugural address by feminist activist Khushi Kabir from Bangladesh, followed by reflections from peace activist and former Chair of Greenpeace International Lalita Ramdas, who highlighted the immense promise shown by regional youth for collaboration and development.
eBook release
A comprehensive 300-page eBook compiling all youth-created and prominent Southasian videos was released during the event by an international panel comprising prominent Lalita Ramdas, Rita Manchanda, Sheema Kermani, Omer Selab, Maneesh Yadav, Dema Lhamo, and Lutfa Pathan. Educational institutions also embraced the hybrid format, with over 15 schools and colleges in Hyderabad organizing campus screenings and live online interactions.
Ultimately, the event underscored a hopeful message: despite political and geographical borders, Southasia’s youth are proving that friendship, dialogue, education, cultural exchange, and responsible technology can build bridges toward a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous future.
Prepared by Mazher Hussain, co-founder of Doyens of Peace. For inquiries, contact peacedoyenssouthasia@gmail.com
Why do we write ‘Southasia’ as one word? Because our histories are intertwined, our futures interlinked, and our struggles deeply connected.
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