beenasarwar

[beenasarwar]

The climate crisis and the urgent need for a regional response

The deadly smog stretching from Delhi to Lahore, and recent devastating floods in Nepal are reminders that climate-related transborder issues require cooperation and joint action across regions, as journalists and activists point out. Are the leaders listening? By Pragyan Srivastava/ Sapan News “Climate change knows no borders. Our shared geography demands shared solutions, from coordinated…

[beenasarwar]

Boston area screening of 'Democracy in Debt' documentary, Sunday 24 November

You are invited to a screening of my documentary film ‘Democracy in Debt: Sri Lanka Beyond the Headlines’ (25 min), followed by a discussion, at the Cambridge Public Library on Sunday 24 November, 2-4 pm

COMMUNITY INVITE: If you are in the Boston area, you are invited to a screening of my documentary film ‘Democracy in Debt: Sri Lanka Beyond the Headlines’ (25 min), followed by a discussion, at the Cambridge Public Library on Sunday 24 November, 2-4 pm. If you are not here or unable to join, please tell people you know who might like to: ‘Democracy in Debt: Sri Lanka Beyond the Headlines’ A film…

[beenasarwar]

How can India and Pakistan 'win without fighting'?

Why can't Pakistan-India ties be modelled on Aiyar's relationship with his old friend Javed Jabbar, a self-proclaimed "chauvinist and narrow-minded Pakistani" -- they disagree on almost everything "yet we are the closest of friends" as Aiyar said.

When an Indian is in the room, and it isn’t ‘bad news’ – and why can’t the relationship between India and Pakistan be modelled on the relationship between Mani Shankar Aiyar and Javed Jabbar? Thoughts on The Citizens Foundation annual gala in Boston, a discussion on ‘Improving Indo-Pak Relations’ hosted from Kolkata, cricket, qawwali, education and collaboration PERSONAL POLITICALBy Beena…

[beenasarwar]

How can India and Pakistan 'win without fighting'?

An India-Pakistan discussion with Khurshid Kasuri, Mani Shankar Aiyar and others, and a TCF Pakistan Boston fundraiser later where the keynote speaker was Indian - and full of praise for the Pakistani education NGO... Can our leaders please learn?

The keynote speaker at TCF Boston fundraiser this year was Indian – and it wasn’t ‘bad news’. On the contrary. Check out Shashi Buluswar‘s cricket documentary that I’ve included in the article. Plus a discussion with ‘peacemongers’ hosted by a center in Kolkata the same day. Why can’t our political leaders take a leaf from Mani Shankar Aiyar’s relationship with his old friend Javed Jabbar, a…

[beenasarwar]

A region rooted in resistance

A recent panel discussion highlights the key challenges facing Southasia’s social movements from modern day genocide to environmental justice. There was no shortage of ideas as activists and experts unpacked these urgent issues By Pragyan Srivastava, Sapan News Network “Bangladesh’s biggest political changes have emerged through mass movements, not traditional political channels,” said Khushi…

[beenasarwar]

Sri Lanka's election poised to herald a new youthful surge in nation's politics

Sri Lanka’s youth are increasingly driving political change, demanding reform and accountability in response to economic crises, corruption, and a lack of opportunities, reshaping the country’s future through activism and civic engagement. By Sugeeswara Senadhira Sri Lanka’s parliamentary election taking place on November 14 will be notable for the unprecedented number of young candidates and…

[beenasarwar]

So, President Trump will you be calling Afghanistan's Abdul?

During his only presidential debate Trump recalled his conversations with the Taliban’s Abdul Ghani Baradar, current vice-president in Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban government. Afghanistan, like most countries, looks different from a distance. Things are more complex than than they seem. And in the current scenario, there might be an opening. By Kathy Gannon/ Sapan News During the only…

[beenasarwar]

U.S. elections: Is America’s Jeffersonian democracy staring into an abyss?

If a political thriller writer submitted a manuscript to a publisher with this plot, they would have been laughed out of the commissioning editor’s office for its sheer unbelievability. And yet this has been real life in America.

In many ways, the 2024 U.S. election will be uniquely worrisome from the global standpoint for its sheer range of absurdities, irrespective of the outcome. It is also fraught with the prospect of further undermining America’s democratic credentials in the estimation of the world at large. By Mayank Chhaya / Sapan News As America’s most contentious, abusive, bitterly tribalistic and absurdly…

[beenasarwar]

OPINION: Tradition or not, endorsing candidates in an election makes a mockery of an independent media

Publicly endorsing political candidates weakens democracy in which an independent media is a key pillar. There is a vast readership that wants information, but they need to trust the information put before them. That becomes a struggle once a newspaper has already picked a side in the contest By Kathy Gannon / Sapan News The decades-old tradition of U.S. newspapers endorsing presidential…

[beenasarwar]

Is 'Pahari renaissance' a path to economic revival in Himachal and beyond?

The first of November, observed as Pahari Day across Himachal Pradesh to commemorate the 1966 merger of Pahari-speaking areas, is a reminder that reviving Pahari is not just about language. It is about reclaiming a long-suppressed cultural identity. Uplifting it could enhance regional cooperation in the Western Himalayas, potentially supported by platforms like the Shanghai Cooperation…

[beenasarwar]

Sindh fights back: 'Blasphemy' fears threaten Diwali festivities and centuries-old interfaith harmony in historic Pakistan district on India border

The police killing of ‘blasphemy’ accused Dr. Shahnawaz Kunbhar cast a pall of fear over Diwali celebrations in Umerkot, Pakistan’s only Hindu-majority district, located near the India border. The case highlights the importance of taking mental health issues into account and has catalysed calls for reforms in the system. By A. B. Arisar/Sapan News The brutal killing by Pakistani police of Dr.…

[beenasarwar]

Emerging trends in India-Pakistan relations and the call for trade resumption

India and Pakistan’s relations have always shaped regional stability in the larger context of Southasia. At a time when both countries face challenges beyond their mutual hostility — such as economic crises, political instability, and border disputes with other nations — two significant opinion pieces published recently in the Indian media argue for diplomacy and pragmatism rather than an endless…

[beenasarwar]

Curtain raiser: ‘The Next Wave’ - Exploring social movements shaping Southasia’s future

An online discussion hosted by the Southasia Peace Action Network on Sunday will explore the catalysts for change in the region with activists and scholars from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and India, sharing vital insights on people’s movements. By Pragyan Srivastava / Sapan News Desk What causes a people to rise up? What makes a movement go beyond a moment and become a revolution?…

[beenasarwar]

Empowering voices: Tasveer Film Festival highlights gender diversity among Southasian filmmakers

[beenasarwar]

Global community screenings of 'Democracy in Debt' conclude the first phase with enthusiastic engagement

The documentary has resonated far beyond Sri Lanka, with nearly 50 screenings in 14 countries across five continents. From bustling urban venues to intimate community gatherings, the screenings have sparked critical conversations on governance, transparency, and democracy. By Pragyan Srivastava/Sapan News The Pulitzer Center-supported documentary ‘Democracy in Debt: Sri Lanka Beyond the…

[beenasarwar]

Multicultural unity in the UK counters the violence which makes headlines

A human rights lawyer from Pakistan living in a small seaside city Southend-on-Sea in England reflects on his experience organising a month-long event to honour the contributions of Southasians, from their post-World War II migration to their impact on the UK’s identity, economy, and cultural landscape. By Shahid Nadeem / Sapan News My adopted country, the U.K., was in the news recently for…

[beenasarwar]

A change of guard in Sri Lanka amidst economic crisis and political reform

By Pragyan Srivastava, Sapan News Network Anura Kumar Dissanayake’s recent election as Sri Lanka’s president signals a momentous political shift in the island nation. Backed by the National Peoples’ Power (NPP), a coalition rooted in Marxist-Leninist ideals, Dissanayake’s rise to power comes amid one of the worst economic crises in Sri Lankan history. His presidency, marked by promises of…