Live Painting “Partition” during the launch at Ahmedabad, Gujarat
The Peace Now and Forever Campaign was launched in 30 cities and towns across India and Pakistan on 1 July 2017. The launch saw enthusiastic participation from people from different walks of life, including students, in large numbers. Some of the cities were the campaign was launched In India are New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmadabad, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Guwahati, Jaipur, Lucknow, Ranchi, Saharanpur, Shimla, Kolkota, Khatua, Imphal, Vijayawada and Ayodhya. In Pakistan it was launched in Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad and other cities. The signature campaign was also launched in Hamilton, Canada. The campaign is being planned in the UK and the USA as well.
Musicians Performing at Bengaluru
Peace Songs at the Karachi launch
Eminent personalities who participated in the launch in different cities across India include Admiral Ramdas, former Chief of Indian Navy Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, Dr. Sayeeda Hameed, Tapan Bose, Harsh Mandar, Kamla Bhasin, Gagan Sethi, Azeez Pasha, Satya Paul, Julson Soy, Rajesh Joshi and LS Herdenia. In Pakistan, the launches were led by Asad Iqbal Butt, Ms. Anis Haroon, Ms. Sheema Kermani, Mahnaza Rahman, Dr. Jaffar Ahmed, Dr. Riaz Ahmed, Habibuddin Junaidi, Aabida Ali and others.
Eminent personalities signing at Hyderabad (India), Karachi & Hyderabad (Pakistan)
At the launch programmes, there were invocations for peace, and the attempts to vitiate the atmosphere in both countries by vested interests were condemned. Apart from which, songs of peace were sung and candles were lit. The highlights of the launch were the live painting on “Partition” by Prof. Pravin Mishra in Ahmadabad and performance by 60 musicians from 6 music bands in Bengaluru. The participation of youth was overwhelming and many pledged to partner with the campaign till 15 August 2017, when it would conclude with the Festival of the Subcontinent for Union of Hearts!
Launch program at Bhopal, India
National Media Covering the Launch
About 200 cities and towns are expected to join the campaign in the coming weeks. The objective of which is to address the deteriorating relations between Pakistan and India. The campaign is also a platform to enable common people and civil society to demand peace, and condemn war mongering without feeling apologetic or guilty about their stand.
Apart from a joint signature campaign, many other simultaneous programs are being planned in different cities and towns during the campaign period. There are plans especially for the seven weekends. There would be lectures on the need for cordial relations between Pakistan and India in schools, colleges and universities; art for the future of humanity; film and documentary festivals, culture camps; inter-faith prayer meets; peace caravans, rallies and marathons, and outreach to political parties and elected representatives.
