Are you willing to be a pioneer?

“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future” said George Bernard Shaw. This statement speaks directly to all of us who are young and who have hope for a more positive future. It asks us all, Indians, Pakistanis and Kashmiris alike, whether we are ready to let go of our collective notions of the past… of who started the violence and who is at fault. It asks us to look ahead to the future and take responsibility for what we see there, awaiting us.

Every thought, every action is like a seed. They flower into trees over time, tall and strong and difficult to cut down. What are the seeds we are planting in our minds today when it comes to Kashmir? Are we seeking to resolve violence through more violence? Or can we plant another kind of seed… one of understanding… an outcome that can only emerge from a process of dialogue with those we see as different from ourselves.

Are you willing to be a new breed of Indian… one who is willing to look past the labels of terrorism, violence, religion, etc. and see something more hopeful? Are you open to building deeper relationships with those whom we like to call our own and yet treat as different, alien somehow? Are you ready to drop your insecurities about how Kashmir will make you feel and actually be there, experiencing it for yourself?

Join us in a visit to the Kashmir valley in early April. We will be meeting and spending time with the ordinary Kashmiri… the student, the lawyer, the houseboat owner, the politician, the journalist, the trader, the housewife, the poet. Listen to these people sharing their stories with you and share your own with them. You may find yourself being surprised at how similar people can be, beneath the differences.

A seven day visit that would include time in Srinagar, an overnight trip to Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonmarg and a visit to a village. While in Srinagar, we will spend time exploring the city… learning about the turbulent history of Kashmir from the people we come across. While interactions will largely be informal, some organized activity-based interactions with youth will also take place where you can share your skills, knowledge and talents. Anybody willing to share specific skills, especially creative ones, is welcome.

Date: COMING SOON.

Contact Vinod Sreedhar at vinodsreedhar@gmail.com for more details.

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