October 18, Baramulla: In a time when disagreement and conflict can seem to overpower unity and peace, 25 different people from all over India set out on an amazing trip to northern Kashmir.
What was their mission? For the purpose of breaking down social boundaries and misunderstandings and to personally experience the warmth, friendliness, and culture of the country towns in the area.
The famous social organiser Shabnam Hashmi and her team at ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy) are in charge of the “Mere Ghar Aa Ke Dekho” (visit my home, be my guests) campaign, which includes this really nice project.
Delhi-based lawyer Sumita Hazarika talked about the amazing time she spent with families in the remote towns of Kupwara district.
Sumita was deeply touched by Kashmir’s strong family values, especially the joint family system, where people of all ages get together in the evenings to talk about everything from politics to personal matters.
All of the volunteers, including Sumita, said that the experience opened their eyes to how powerful face-to-face contact can be in bringing people together and helping them understand each other.
As a tourist location, Kashmir is usually thought of as having only the most famous sights, and guests don’t associate much with the locals, she said.
Management workers, businesspeople, doctors, psychologists, lawyers, gender experts, teachers, artists, and activists from Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kochi, Mewat, Ahmedabad, Kutch, and Varanasi were among the visitors.
ANHAD and the “Mere Ghar Aa Ke Dekho” programme were started by Shabnam Hashmi. She thinks that bringing groups together is the best way to build bonds and promote understanding.
The main goal of the project, according to her, is to break down the social walls that have grown over time and clear up the misunderstandings that exist between groups.
Some troublemakers in various groups are trying to cause problems between them, but the Indian people are smart enough not to fall for their evil plans.
Shabnam Hashmi stressed the importance of direct and good relationships in a world where opposing stories can lead to prejudice and hatred. By sharing food, having open talks, and feeling the love of a home, she talked about how important it is to make lasting friendships that can stand strong against forces that try to bring people apart.
Hashmi says, “People-to-people contact is the most important way to understand societies.” He underlines the importance of such efforts in today’s political and social environment.
She hopes that this effort will reach more people, especially now when misunderstandings are growing between different groups in society.
Hashmi is eager to keep extreme groups from debasing the idea of India.
