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Promoting Peace in South Asia & Remembering Didi Nirmala Deshpande

Karachi, 2nd July 2009: The Pakistan Peace Coalition organized a discussion program on the theme of Promoting Peace in South Asia on Thursday, 2nd July 2009 in Karachi . The Discussion-Forum was held at the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (Auditorium), Aiwan-e-Sadr Road , Karachi . It was held to pay tribute to the late Didi Nirmala Deshpande in recognition of her inspiring role in the struggle for peace and friendship between Pakistan and India and her deep commitment to the unity, progress and welfare of the peoples of South Asia .

The seventy-nine-year-old veteran Gandhian, who was also a sincere follower of Vinoba Bhave died on the 1st of May, 2008. The speakers honored her sacrifices for the marginalized minorities in India and her struggles for making peace in the South Asian region to uplift the condition of the downtrodden. Deshpande received the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award and the Padma Vibhushan title in 2006. She was a nominee for the Nobel peace prize in 2005.

Mainly known as “Didi” to those who knew her personally, her unexpected death left a vacuum. She was known as a sincere politician, a dynamic individual, an active social worker and above all a truly elevated human being. The event was attended by over 150 academicians, members of grassroots movements, civil society members from all over Karachi and an Indian delegation comprising three delegates.

For press coverage, follow the links given below:

Pak Peace Coalition forum to pay tribute to
Gandhian activist Nirmala Deshpande
Karachi, July 1 (ANI): An Indian delegation comprising of intellectuals from different spheres and human rights activists would be arriving here tomorrow (Thursday) to pay tribute to the renowned Gandhian activist, Nirmala Deshpande.
The delegation which includes senior journalist Jatin Desai, famous social activist Dr Sandeep Pandey, and renowned human rights activist Kavita Srivastava and several others would be participating in a forum named ‘Promoting Peace in South Asia and Remembering Didi Nirmala Deshpande’ here. ......more

Speakers emphasise importance of harmony
between Pakistan and India
Permanent peace in South Asia, especially in Pakistan and India is essential for the physical and spiritual welfare of both nations, and peace should be ensured by interacting with each other with open hearts and minds. This was the general consensus at a discussion forum titled, “Promotion of Peace in South Asia and Remembering Didi Nirmala Deshpande” at the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA) auditorium on Thursday.

The programme was organised by Pakistan Peace Coalition (PPC) in association with Pakistan Institute of Labour and Education Research (PILER).

Zulfiqar Shah from PPC summarized the life and work of Didi Nirmala Deshpande who devoted her life for the poor of South Asia and bringing peace between Pakistan and India. She had so much love for the labour and downtrodden that she chose to die on May 1 — the International Labour Day. ....more

Nirmala Deshpande paid glowing tributes
KARACHI - A peace activist, Nirmala Deshpande from India, was paid tributes on the other day at the auditorium of PIA, in which renowned peace-lovers and great humanists participated and highlighted her services for the establishment of peace and tranquillity especially in the sub-continent. Didi to all, Deshapande was not only a peace activist but was a prominent social reformer of her times, who passed away last year on the 1st May 2008, the Labour Day, for she herself voiced concerns for the labourers of India. .....more