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Saanjh

Saanjh, a celebration of the common cultural and historical heritage of India and Pakistan, was initiated in 2004, with the collaboration of Punarjyot, a socio-cultural organization, founded by Dr Shivinder Singh Sandhu and Mrs Manveen Sandhu with Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop, Lahore.

In the words of its founders, Saanjh is a cross border festival bridging the gap between the divided Punjabs. It has been the initiative of a handful of "thoughtful, committed citizens", aiming at starting a cultural dialogue from both sides of the Indo-Pakistani border.

‘Saanjh’, which is hosted annually at Spring Dale Senior School, aims at promoting peace between India and Pakistan by allowing the artists of both the countries to share the stage. Its organizers on booth sides of the border felt that the time was ripe for unifying the two countries by uniting hearts through a cultural mélange.

Since its inception in 2004, ‘Saanjh’ has not only regaled the masses with songs of love and brotherhood, but has also acted as a launch pad for those interested in initiating their careers as Sufi singers. The efforts have started yielding fruit in the form of increased cultural exchange and the consequent unification of hearts on both sides of the Radcliffe Line.

CARAVAN of SAANJH since 2004 The journey of ‘Saanjh’ or spiritual, cultural and historical unity of India and Pakistan continues with SAF-Saanjh Peace Festival-2009. ‘Saanjh’ would not have been possible, but for a few like-minded individuals backed by Punarjyot, Amritsar, and Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop, Lahore, who believed that it was time to rise above the senseless cynicism with which we had been viewing our next door neighbours since the Partition. They deemed that the time was ripe for unifying the two countries by uniting hearts through a cultural mélange and hence ‘Saanjh’ was born in 2004 with the maiden celebrations focusing on ‘Bridging the gap in understanding each other's thought process’. Here is an overview of the journey of Saanjh since 2004 starting with the most recent celebrations.

1.	Saanjh 2011 ‘A celebration of shared roots can bind hearts more firmly with cords of love than a hundred ropes put together’ The deep longing for peace of each human heart was accentuated again when renowned musicians and singers from India and Pakistan shared the stage again during the Eight Saanjh 2011 Amritsar-Lahore Festival on November 19. The event was jointly organized by Punarjyot and Lahore-based Rafi Peer Theatre Group. ‘Let peace and amity prevail between India and Pakistan’ was the collective sentiment that prevailed among the Indian and Pakistani performers and the audience, who had assembled at Spring Dale Senior School. It was a proud moment for Punarjyot, Amritsar and Rafi Peer Theatre Group, Lahore, to see this legacy, founded by Late Dr Shivinder Singh Sandhu and Mrs Manveen Sandhu and Mr Faizaan Peerzada, of Rafi Peer Theatre Group, attain another significant milestone.

The event saw soulful renditions of ‘Sufi kalaam’ by Indian and Pakistani singers, which virtually moved the audience to the verge of tears. One by one, the singers including Raza Khan, Arif Lohar, Rizwan Muazzam Qawwal and Sanam Marvi rendered the ‘Sufi kalaam’ in their own distinctive style, which lent an aura of mysticism, to the noble initiative of uniting the hearts of people on both sides of the border. Like the previous years, this year’s celebrations too received an overwhelming public support with people in large numbers thronging to be a witness to the bonhomie between Indian and Pakistani people evident through impressive cultural performances by artists from East and West Punjab. The venue Spring Dale Senior School once again reverberated with unique commonality in the culture and language of East and West Punjab, which still binds the hearts and souls of the masses on both sides of the border. August gathering… Former Cabinet Minister and MLA from Majitha constituency Mr Bikram Singh Majithia, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Inderbir Singh Bularia and Tim Uppal, first Sikh Cabinet Minister of the Canadian Parliament and Mr Param Gill, MP from Canada were among others present on this occasion. Director Speaks… According to Dr Kirat Sandhu Cheema, “Punarjyot and Saanjh are not about an institution or people working for it. It is about the common urge in man for peace. This legacy of Saanjh has not only been passed on to me, but also to my entire team and all the peace lovers that we are associated with. My parents ignited this candle to teach people to live and let others live. It is not only my pleasure and prerogative to keep this flame aloft and ignited, but also that of my entire team, who have always put in their best efforts to make Saanjh a success, and all the peace lovers associated with the Spring Dales family, who have supported this peace initiative in a myriad other ways besides their presence. It is indeed a proud moment for Punarjyot to see Saanjh enter its eighth year. This has only been possible with the unflinching support extended by all the peace loving people in India and Pakistan and we expect similar cooperation year after year. The journey of Saanjh would continue till peace is established in the region.”

2.     Saanjh-2010 Theme: “Let’s give peace another chance.” Despite the challenges involved in its orchestration, the celebration began on a high note in the premises of Spring Dale Senior School with Art of Living exponent Sri Sri Ravi Shankar inaugurating the impressive cultural mélange, which not only saw Indian and Pakistani artists sharing the stage as usual in their quest for peace, but also a host of cultural treats introduced for the first time. Reiterating their commitment to peace through the legacy of Saanjh imparted by late Dr Shivinder Singh Sandhu and Mrs Manveen Sandhu in collaboration with Rafi Peer Theatre Group, Lahore, the doyens of Punarjyot and Pakistani peaceniks represented by Dr Kirat Sandhu Cheema and Ms Saleema Hashmi, a noted painter from Pakistan, respectively, assured the continuity of ‘Saanjh’ to strengthen the accord between India and Pakistan. To give peace another chance, both budding and established vocalists, musicians and artists from either side of the border were invited not just to regale the audience but also to give voice to the common, but oft suppressed desire for peace by their rendition of Sufi ‘kalam’.

3.   Saanjh-2009 Focus: ‘Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification’ Acting as ambassadors for peace, which has been held hostage by the terrorists in India and the Talibans in Pakistan, women and children, who are considered to be most vulnerable to various kinds of aggression in both the countries, rallied for restoration of mutual accord between the two neighbours and peace in the region during the SAF-Saanjh Peace Festival 2009 being organized by South Asia Foundation (SAF) in collaboration with Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop and Punarjyot. The dire need to restore peace among and within these nations in the wake of the recent bombings in Pakistan and terrorist activities all over India, and the concern for the humanity suffering because of these onslaughts, brought these and other peaceniks including singers and artists from both countries together to work for peace on a common platform. The events included ‘Building Blocks for Peace’ featuring Pak Rights Activist Asma Jehangir, Salima Hashmi a Pakistani painter and daughter of one ofthe sub-continent’s most renowned poets, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Teesta Seetalvad, a Mumbai based Journalist, Activist and Educator, a four-day film festival based on the theme of peace. The other events staged on this occasion were solo performances by thespian artiste Neeta Mohindra, from Amritsar, Sheema Kirmani, the only Odissi dancer and a known Bharatnatyam performer in Pakistan and Sania Saeed, a known TV personality from Pakistan, in ‘Three Women’. Raghu Dixit, a fast emerging, unique and popular composer- song writer-singer from India, Sain Zahoor, a folk singer from Pakistan, Goonga Sain, Mithu Sain, Mangniars, epitomes of tradition of music of the Thar Desert, Arif Lohar a Pakistani singer, Tina Sani and Bharti Bandhu also performed in the Festival.

4.   SAANJH 2008 Focus: Let there be Peace Discussions on global terrorism, considering the recent bomb blasts at various places in India and Pakistan, dominated the Fifth SAANJH-Amritsar-Lahore Festival organized by Punarjyot as intellectuals from India and Pakistan sought clear-cut definition for peace. Besides this, the festival also showcased Sufi and folk singers from India and Pakistan, who performed together to promote harmony between both nations. A team of journalists from Pakistan led by Imtiaz Alam, President, South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), interacted with the intelligentsia here, discussing myriad issues including peace, terrorism, Indo-Pak trade, relaxation of visa norms and opening of borders. Musical night 'Jashan-e-Junoon', a component of Saanjh 2008, brought 'Sufi-Ka-Sultan' Akbar Ali and 'Mati-ke-Lal' Lakhwinder Wadali and Ashraf Khan together for the first time in the holy city of Sri Amritsar.

5.   Saanjh - 2007 Focus: Joining hands to spread the message of brotherhood to the entire South Asia. In keeping with it theme of spreading brotherhood in South Asia with a campaign titled ‘Ab Sarhadein Nahin’ noted Indian and Pakistani singers shared the stage to spread the message of peace during the celebration of Saanjh in 2007. Noted singer Arif Lohar son of legendary Punjabi folk singer Alam Lohar, Surriya Khanum the voice of the desert of Cholistan, Arieb Azhar- an ideal combination of traditional and contemprory sufi singing and rising star singer of India Lakhwinder Wadali son of legendary singer Padam Bhushan Ustad Puran Chand Wadali performed together.

6.  Saanjh - 2006 Focus: Recognition and integration of cultural oneness. TRANSCENDING borders with soulful performances that tug on the intellect, the heart and the soul with equal force, Indian and Pakistani artistes converged on a common platform during the week-long 'Saanjh-2006' organised by Punarjyot in collaboration with Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop from Lahore. Sufi singers and folk dancers from both the Punjabs performed together, apart from the screening of award-winning classic movies and documentaries from both sides of the border. Pakistani singers and musicians like Allah Ditta Lonawala, Sayin Zahoor, Nautanki by Rafi Peer Theatre Group and the Jat Brothers shared the stage with Indian performers like Pooran Chand Wadali of Wadali brothers’ fame and Saida Begum from Puran Shah Koti Gharana. A film festival showcasing some of the classical award-winning films and documentaries from India and Pakistan was the highlight of the event. 'Sufi soul The mystic music of Islam', a documentary by Daniel Abda1-Hayy Moore depicting Suffism's finest nuances and Sa1maan Peerzada's award-winning feature film 'Zar Gul', a portrayal of political corruption and oppression in contemporary Pakistan, were screened. Documentary on 'Saanjh - Amritsar Lahore Festival' was released on the occasion and touched the hearts of one and all present.

7.  Saanjh – 2005 Focus: Playing the ‘Good Samaritan’ or empathy for the neighbor in difficult times The cataclysmic impact of the earthquake that ravaged India and Pakistan became the focus of Saanjh celebrations in 2005. Instead of just indulging in music, dance and gaiety, the organizers focused their attention and funds on the earthquake victims and decided to play the Good Samaritan by sending them relief material irrespective of their nationalities. In keeping with the mellow tones assumed by the event this time, 'Naquab-The Veil' written by Late Rafi Peerzada, based on the 1945 atomic bombingof the Japanese Cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and its devastating effect, was staged. The play was about the damage suffered by people not only oflives and property but also of human emotions and relationships. Furthering the message of peace Dr. Shivinder Singh Sandhu and Mrs. Manveen Sandhu appealed to people to maintain communal harmony and observed silence with all present in condolence to the lives lost during the pre Diwa1i bomb blasts in New Delhi.

8.  Saanjh – 2004 Focus: Bridging the gap in understanding each other's thought process. Using culture, music, dance and art forms, common to both India and Pakistan, to induce harmony among both nations that were hitherto divided by caginess and mistrust caused by two wars and a series of aggressive gestures evident in the form of Kashmir and Kargil conflicts, the journey of Saanjhwas started in 2004 by enabling artists from both sides of the border to perform on one stage for the first time. The event featured singer Iqbal Bahu, Sayin Zahoor one of the last wandering minstrels, Goonga Sayin Dholia and his brother Mithu Sayin Dholia international percussionists, and famous Multan Folk Dance Group, who enthralled the audience with soulful performances. A documentary "Lattoo" by Faizan Peerzada on the suppressed performing arts in Pakistan was screened on the occasion. An interactive session with Dr. Angelica from HENERICH FOUNDATION, Germany on how people to people contract can revive the spirit of peace between the two countries, was one of the highlights of this event. Dr. Sarwat Ali, a renowned musicologist National College of Art, Lahore, delivered a talk on Sufi Music.

'Ek Thee Naani', a play inspired by the true story of two thespian artistes and sisters Zohra Sehgal and Uzra Bhatt was also staged during the celebrations. The two siblings performed together again after a long time, in Amritsar under the banner of Ajoka Theatre Production.