Divergent Voices of South Asia – Rethinking Partition, Reimagining Peace
An International Commemoration of the 1947 Partition of the Indian Subcontinent
Mela Nordic, a South Asian cultural organisation based in the Nordics, is honoured to present Divergent Voices of South Asia — an international gathering marking the Partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, an event that birthed the nations of India and Pakistan amidst profound human upheaval and the closing chapter of British colonial rule.
Rooted in Mela Nordic’s vision of a thriving South Asian union where cultural diversity is celebrated and mutual respect forms the foundation of community, this event moves beyond the familiar binaries of Partition’s grand narratives. In an era where divisive rhetoric continues to shape public memory and political discourse, we bring together academics, artists, writers and activists to examine the enduring forces of creativity, solidarity and syncretism that offer alternative ways of understanding our shared past — and our shared future.
Our Guiding Question
We come from different lands, speak different languages, and carry different memories of 1947. Yet the question before us is not how our voices differ, but how they can speak to one another. How do we, across borders of nation, faith, and history, find the common ground needed to build peace and a progressive South Asia? This gathering is dedicated to that conversation — a space where disagreement is welcomed, dialogue is protected, and the possibility of reconciliation is taken seriously.
We are privileged to welcome a remarkable gathering of scholars, writers, and journalists:
Beena Sarwar: Pakistani multimedia journalist, editor, documentary filmmaker, and peace activist known for her work on human rights, gender, media, and South Asian peace initiatives.
Anuradha Bhasin: is managing editor of the Kashmir Times and a journalist with more than 35 years of experience reporting on the Kashmir conflict, human rights, militarization and geopolitics in South Asia. She is the author of A Dismantled State: The Untold Story of Kashmir after Article 370 (HarperCollins India, 2022). Bhasin has been a prominent voice documenting press restrictions, legal challenges and communications shutdowns affecting journalists in Kashmir.
Dr. Amrita Ghosh: Assistant Professor of South Asian Literature, Department of English, University of Central Florida
Dr. Farooq Sulehria: Beaconhouse National University (BNU), Lahore
Dr. Aamir Butt: Writer (UK)
Dr. Tariq Mehmood: Writer. American University of Beirut
Dr. Ali Sher: Writer / Musician, University of Sussex, Writer
Shaukat Ali Kashmiri: Chairman United Kashmir Peoples National Party
Sarah Gilley Fragile: University of Central Florida. Normalcy in Kashmir
Together, they bring Indian, Pakistani and Kashmiri perspectives into the same room — a rare and vital opportunity for honest, cross-border conversation.
Date: 4th July
Time: 10:00 – 21:00
Venue: Filmcentrum Riks, Bredgränd 2, Stockholm
More info: https://fb.me/e/7qo34HZTq
Tid 10:00