Peace in Southasia beyond ideological barriers
Southasia Peace Action Network (Sapan) brings together individuals and organisations in Southasia* and the diaspora across all kinds of borders and barriers – caste, class, religion, nationality, politics – for a minimum common agenda: Southasia peace. We need it now, for the sake of the people of the region, and beyond.
We advocate for freedom of trade, travel, and tourism within the region, upholding human rights and dignity, and collaboration in all areas.
Sapan was launched in March 2021 at an online meeting of over 80 eminent individuals who endorsed the Founding Charter. The Charter was also initially endorsed by 10 organisations.
Our volunteers are an inter-regional, cross-diasporic, inter-generational group of ‘Peacemongers’ who passionately believe in that the nations of the region must engage in dialogue and allow people-to-people contact.
We carry forward the vision of mentors and leaders like Nirmala Didi Deshpande, Dr. Mubashir Hasan, Kuldip Nayar, I.A. Rehman, Nikhil Chakravartty, Asma Jahangir, Dr. Rajni Kothari, Dr. Eqbal Ahmad, Kamla Bhasin, and more.
If France and Germany can be part of the EU, why can’t Pakistan and India be part of a Southasian Union? We feel this regional approach promoting Southasian solidarity can help counter hypernationalism and hyper-religiosity, and contribute to developing harmonious relationships among the diverse nations and peoples of the region.
Join us and amplify the narrative. Click here to endorse the Founding Charter if your name is not on the list. There are downloadable translations of the Charter in several languages. If you sees one missing, please volunteer to get it done!
We hold online discussions on a variety of issues (art, sports, health, politics, human rights etc) on the last Sunday of most months. We’ve been joined by eminent thought leaders ranging from Amartya Sen and Noam Chomsky to Radhika Coomaraswamy and Salima Hashmi, the late Saleemul Haq and Dr Zafrullah Chowdhry, and many more. Details at the Events tab on this website.
Join us! Subscribe to the Sapan newsletter, fortnightly(ish) on SubStack.
Sign the MilneDo petition and share it: www.change.org/milnedo
You can also follow Sapan News Network (www.sapannews.com), a syndicated service that covers and connects Southasia, the Indian Ocean and diaspora. Sapan News sends out features to over 30 reputed media outlets across the region and beyond – the idea is to amplify the narrative of regionalism, peace, and dialogue. We welcome freelance writers and video producers and directors.
- This Sunday: Exploring Southasian Identity and Diversity
‘Imagine Neighbors in Peace’: Join Southasia Peace Action Network, Sapan, on Sunday 28 April for a discussion on ‘Exploring Southasian Identity and Diversity’ – of the youth, for the youth, and by the youth: 10am ET; 3pm U.K; 7 pm Pakistan; 7:30pm India; 7:45 pm Nepal; 8 pm Bangladesh. - ‘Hum Baat Karte Rahenge!’ – We will keep talking, assert Southasia peace activists
As the saying goes, “The heart wants what it wants”. This is reflected in Sapan’s concentrated, consistent efforts with a Whatsapp channel, dedicated ‘Peacemongers’ groups, regular monthly webinars, and campaigning for peace and harmony in Southasia. - Celebrating three years of Sapan: Art and Southasian voices
As we celebrate the third anniversary of Sapan (Southasia Peace Action Network), join us for a special webinar to mark this milestone, with a discussion on Art and Southasian Voices. - Feb 25: Southasia’s Romance with Democracy: An Enduring Relationship?
February is ‘the month of love’ and at Sapan we believe in radical love. We also believe in democracy. Bangladesh and Pakistan recently held elections while India and Sri Lanka will soon go to the polls. This is a good time to explore Southasia’s complex relationship with democracy - Sapan in the news: Opinion piece in Holland’s largest paper
The Netherlands’ largest paper, Volkskrant, published an op-ed by senior correspondent Rob Vreeken, featuring the Southasia Peace Action Network (Sapan), which aims to foster connections between South Asian citizens. Sapan advocates for visa-free travel and ‘soft borders’ in South Asia to promote greater understanding between nations, particularly India and Pakistan, due to historical conflicts. - Jan. 27: Celebrating the love and resilience of Amrita Pritam and Fahmida Riaz
When Gen. Zia-ul-Haq’s regime found the poetry and political activism of Fahmida Riaz intolerable, she fled the country and took political asylum in India. It was Amrita Pritam who went to the then Prime Minister of India, Mrs Indira Gandhi and secured shelter and safety for Fahmida Riaz, her friend and contemporary poet from Pakistan. - Event, Dec 10: Why SAARC? Challenges and missed opportunites
To commemorate the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) charter day observed annually on 8 December, the Southasia* Peace Action Network, Sapan, will host a webinar titled, “Why SAARC? Challenges and Missed Opportunities” on Sunday, 10 December 2023. Background: SAARC was established as a platform for member nations toContinue reading “Event, Dec 10: Why SAARC? Challenges and missed opportunites” - Sapan Webinar Addresses Refugee Issues in South Asia
Leading experts and advocates around the region convene to discuss the plight of refugees and find solutions A webinar titled “Refugee Crisis in Southasia” brought together prominent experts, activists, and leaders to discuss the complex nature of the refugee plight in Southasia* driven by historical events, conflicts, political interests, andContinue reading “Sapan Webinar Addresses Refugee Issues in South Asia” - Event, Nov 12: Global Virtual Vigil
The Southasia Peace Action Network calls to #be4peace, an interfaith global vigil this Sunday, 12 Nov., to envision/pray for an end to the violence at home and elsewhere, for a ceasefire in Gaza, and hostages and child prisoners to be freed.
“There is a need for connection among countries in South Asia. We must create economic and healthcare closeness across the region.”
Dr. Amartya Sen,
Nobel Laureate in Economics
“Covid is a reminder that South Asian cooperation must go beyond SAARC meetings.”
Kanak Mani Dixit, Founding Editor, Himal Southasian
“Peace is the way, Peace is too precious to be left to the whims and fancies of leaders and governments, and we the people are reclaiming it.”
Lalita Ramdas, Founder, Greenpeace India
“To fight injustice, ensure rights, bring peace to the excluded and marginalized people of South Asia. Building collective responses and creating our own Sapan is the only option.“
Khushi Kabir, Coordinator,
Sangat, and One Billion Rising, Bangladesh
“Our future cannot be held hostage to the past. We have to form an alternative trajectory for our combined futures.”
Raza Rumi,
Founder, Naya Daur Media
“We will use whatever it takes – singing, poetry, literature, art, love. We will keep taking forward our fight for peace. I don’t think giving up is an option”
Beena Sarwar,
Co-Founder and Curator, Sapan
Thanks to Abdul Hamid in Vancouver, Canada, for designing the logos for Southasia Peace Action Network and Sapan News, and to Aekta Kapoor in New Delhi for building both websites.
Thanks to web developer Nasha Kanga for helping maintain the website.
Many thanks also to all those who have volunteered time and expertise since the Sapan launch in March 2021, including Aekta Kapoor, Afia Salam, Amit Singh, Fauzia Deeba, Gurmehar Kaur, Husnain Jamil, Irfan Mufti, Lalita Ramdas, Khushi Kabir, Khawar Mumtaz, Kavita Srivastava, Lubna Jerar, M. Waqas, Mandira Nayar, Namrata Sharma, Pragya Narang, Priyanka Singh, Saifullah Saify, Samir Gupta, Sarita Bartaula, Shailaja Rao, Sushmita Preetha, Urmi Chanda, Vikram Srivastava, Vishal Sharma, and more.
Advisors include Baela Jamil, Dr Martha Alter-Chen, Kalpana Sharma, Raza Rumi, (late) Rubina Saigol, Saeed Ahmed Rid, Salima Hashmi, Sanjoy Hazarika, Dr Vinod Mubayi among others.
*Note on Southasia as one word: Following the lead of Himal Southasian, Sapan News Network uses ‘Southasia’ as one word, “seeking to restore some of the historical unity of our common living space, without wishing any violence on the existing nation states”.
This page is still being developed.
Southasia Peace Action Network 