Nothing is more important today than a better coordination among the South Asian countries and a durable peace between India and Pakistan. There are many people who are working overnights to achieve this. One of these ‘Soldiers of Peace’, Nirmala Deshpande, renowned parliamentarian and activist, was in Malegaon recently on a mission to promote peace and harmony. She shared her experiences and peace plans in detail.

In spite of the fact that we share so much with each other, India and Pakistan have always been at loggerheads. Unlike the siblings who grow up to love and help each other through troubling times, we’re the estranged half-siblings who gloat at each stumble the other one takes. What we fail to realise is that each of these stumbles hurts the oneself as much as the other one. A weak or unhappy Pakistan is always going to be a problem for India and vice versa.

Forced marriages, honour killings and the hugely publicised case of the gang rape of Mukhtar Mai have held Pakistan up as an international example of the impact of religious fundamentalism on women’s rights. This has certainly become evident from the number of reports that have been churned out by international human-rights organisations over the past several years on women’s rights in Pakistan. Interestingly, this emphasis also fits seamlessly into the rhetoric of the ‘war on terror’.

I read with interest some of the contributions on this site. Being of Pakistani Muslim background, I can understand some of the resentment I note in the language in a few comments of articles. I have struggled with contradictory emotions myself in the past until a voice from deep inside came up with the answer; Ask what you can do for humanity not what humanity can do for you (I am sure Kennedy won't mind!). I understand that there may be (mostly perceived I might add) grievances on both sides of the border, but the cause is by no means unilaterally instigated.

Baba Bulleh Shah (1680-1758) was the great humanist, philosopher, rebel, internationalist, teacher and Sufi poet of all times. Baba ji was the disciple of Enayat Shah Lahori, who himself was a great Sufi of his time. Baba ji was born in a noble and aristocratic Saye’ad family but, as a result of Enayat’s teachings, he left the life of nobility and luxury and led quite simple and humble life. Baba ji was a great poet and use to sing his poetry in the streets of his city Kasur.