South Asian Fraternity
South Asian Fraternity: An Overview
South Asian Fraternity (SAF) was established in 1990 at LajpatBhawan. Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi to develop good neighborly relationship on a people to people basis among thecountries of South Asia, namely India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Bhutan and Nepal, and to take such measures as are calculated to promote this objective in this area.
We are inhabitants of the same geographical regions and are proud to share common mountains, oceans, rivers, jungles and the resources from there. If we could scratch the layers of the history, we will be pleased to know that at certain periods our political sovereign crossed each other's.
The children are taught to like, love and possess. They quarrel and fight to maintain possessions and likes. We learn to love our family, our community, our religion, our language and our nation. It is good. But when this circle of us tightens us too much and implies dislike and hatred for others, it generates confrontation, fights, riots and wars among nations. South Asian Fraternity works to convert this confrontation between ours and others into cooperation. It helps us to behave like matured, cultured and social persons. This may help us in converting the tears into smiles.
The history has taught us that greatness of the person is seldom measured by his possession, but it is remembered by sharing of wisdom, rendering of services and by sacrificing personal belongings including comforts and luxuries. That is why we remember Lord Rama, Buddha, Mahavira, Christ, Mohammad and Guru Nanak with respect and reverence. South Asian Fraternity motivates to adopt their path of greatness and righteousness and not rituals or symbols.
The nature has bound us in common geographical resources, common cultures and climate and common consumer demands. The human beings are born free. In order to make the life secured, disciplined and happy, they gradually created various departments like defense, agriculture, industry, communication and so on. The state should, therefore, help to channelize the different flows to carry the benefits to a maximum number of people in maximum areas but should avoid in creating artificial barriers, otherwise the common people will suffer and ultimately the nation will suffer. SAF brings the people closer to chalk out common plans of development and create an atmosphere of coordination and co-operation instead of confrontation. Prosperity of the people will make the member nations prosperous. Let us resolve and deliberate the various ways and means to develop the Common Economy. We may think to redtatt our text books to include the South Asia weather, production of raw material, development of agriculture. trade and commerce, extension of communication, and free flow of economieinformation through press and media.
The economy in South Asia can be self-reliant if we decentralize the economy by producing our requirements of daily life in man-power oriented cottage small industries. We should be alert and vigilant to watch the results of Western type of modernization which leads to increasing unemployment, accumulation of wealth in fewer big houses. If conceived policies have led to migration of population from rural to urban slums, generated violence, addicted youth to drugs and liquor, increased molestation, rapes and dowry deaths and creating many problems for women and children. Industrialization, urbanization and modernization without caring for the environment is reducing our green cover, polluting the air, rivers and the earth and has damaged ozone layer The present system of education, the capital oriented consumerist economy is converting man into a commodity or a consumer of the commodity We are losing the fine, rational, ethical, and social human being. Do we call it development"? Let us pause, analyze the past and think over the future. Unless we convert confrontation into cooperation, hatred into understanding, violence into compassion, we cannot convert tears into smiles South Asian Fraternity helps to think what type of world we want for ourselves.
SAF discusses how to strengthen human rights and democratic institutions Democracy helps to change-over from bullet to ballot to express the will of the people. But we are sorry to see that the democratic institutions like panchayats, local bodies, judiciary, voluntary organizations, media, etc. are being gradually trained to live under the shadow of bullets. The people are being cordoned off to outer and outer circles of the authority. This alienation cannot strengthen democratic institutions.
SAF organizes South Asian Friendship youth camps of 200-300 friends for 10 days to discuss common issues and to seek common solutions. South Asian Fraternity proposes that the Government may consider creating an NGO cell in the SAARC Division of the Ministry of External Affairs to promote people to people friendly relations with our neighboring countries. The more we invest on people to people friendship, interactions, the more we will save in defense budgets and spend ultimately for the welfare of the people.
To strengthen this process of thinking, SAF plans to bring out a South Asian Common Magazine which may contribute to highlight the constructive sides of other communities, tribes, religion, language and nations. The pages of the common magazine may spread its fragrance with smiles and praises for others.
If you wish to appreciate each other's country, culture and traditions to nourish and strengthenthebonds of friendship, and to open more channels of understanding and cooperation please join South Asia Fraternity.
A Brief History
SAF Camps, Conferences and Workshops held from 1991 to 2024
About SAF
SAF aims to build strong bonds and cultural exchange among South Asian countries, emphasizing brotherhood, support, and collaboration, creating a network
