South Asian Peacemakers

Today's featured peacemaker is a Journalist, very popular Vlogger, and a budding elected representative who has contested the elections to the Tamilnadu State Assembly in a superbly ethical campaign, with very little money and adirect outreach to the public: introducing Deepan Chakkravarthi. I have been following Deepan's Tamil language VLog, as it brings me news ffrom the land that I was born and grew up in a long time ago. What I love is how he focuses upon development in Chennai and in smaller cities, with very interesting looks at innovators and small entrepreneurs in that land. As a result, you can expect one episode to focus upon a new metro rail line or an electric bicycle rental service, another to look at a home-brewer who installs solar panels upon a rural home, and a third that looks at someone trying to preserve centuries old indigenous dog breeds in a country where there is a craze for exotic foreign ones. And these are just three among hundreds of examples. I s...

I have so far written about Pakistani peace activists on this forum. I do not know any of them personally. This time, I am writing about someone whom I have spoken to a few times, and whom a close friend and business associate of mine has met in person: Daniel Jain Raj, popularly known as Dan JR. His video channel has a mix of food and travel reviews, but what is especially endearing is his social work and his always happy commentary and sense of humor. His brother Jibin joins him on his Vlog and also has a separate Vlog of his own, where he teaches people to start Vlogging and make money off it. Both brothers participate in a number of festivals, undertake to feed orphans and seniors on all festive occasions, and quietly care for animals in their neighborhood. You get a sense of peace and calm just by watching their Vlogs, while you laugh at their infectious and always clean humor with memories of your own family gatherings. A must watch - these young men deserve everyone's suppo...

Rehan Allahwala is a man with much to commend him. From a successful background in technology entrepreneurship to his current aim of promoting education, encouraging both the financially weak as well as members of the minority in Pakistan to take entrepreneurship up, and with very strong video production skills (he likely has a superb team to film and edit his videos) his work in promoting peace is exemplary. I would sincerely hope that his attempts at fanning the sparks of curiosity that exist in most peoples' minds into warming and constructive flames succeed in a big way. This is one more good-hearted individual whose success is certain to make the world a better place.

The two young ladies in this series are Dua and Kainat. I have not been able to figure their brother's name out yet, and will post it when I figure it out. I just need to watch more of their videos when I have time. It is both cute and sad to see these kids struggling to understand some of the chaste Hindi commentary on the videos that they review. Under better circumstances, they would be able to converse and make friends with girls of their age across the border, and both sides would understand what the other spoke. That said, this is yet another family of young people working hard to try and promote a positive and sympathetic understanding of the other side.

Sana Amjad is a young lady with a wide range of interests, focusing upon areas of common interest between India and Pakistan, without shying away from contentious topics. Her interviewing technique is very interesting in that she manages to draw people whom she speaks to on screen out of their shells to opine on very complex issues concerning both these countries. It is always refreshing to see this young woman use her very disarming charm to get people to open up about difficult issues. I would think that she makes everyone she talks to revisit their own thoughts later on, as well. Do check her channel out. There's always something worth watching there.

Pakistani actress Bushra Ansari and her poet and writer sister Asma Abbas recently composed and performed a Punjabi rap number seeking peace between India and Pakistan. The song Humsaye Maa Jaye became an instant hit on both sides of the border, in a demonstration of how much ordinary people in both India and Pakistan desire peace. It was also a sad contrast between entrenched power centers on both sides who would prefer a permanent state of hostility and conflict instead. What is good is how much support there is for peace on both sides - as long as this is the case, those who would like otherwise, will find themselves overruled and brushed aside. Hopefully, this will happen sooner rather than later. Thank you, Bushra Sahiba and Asma Sahiba! My sincere respect to you!