“We want peace in South Asia and not pieces in South Asia.” “I am not a wall that divides. I am just a crack in that wall,” read statements on a banner put up at the Jamia Millia Islamia University.

As tension between India and Pakistan escalates in the face of terror attacks on Mumbai’s hotels, railway stations and hospitals, 600 men and women assembled at the Jamia University on Sunday to strengthen the South Asian identity, shaken post 26/11.

The occasion was the South Asian Women’s Day, being hosted by the Jamia this year and conceptualised in 2002 by feminist activist Kamla Bhasin, advisor to SANGAT. The occasion is celebrated every year on November 30 by women across India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and for the first time this year, Burma. The date chosen for the celebration also falls within the “International Fortnight Protesting Violence against women”.

This year, however, issues have gone beyond the marginalisation of women and education, to express solidarity across religion, caste and gender in the wake of the attacks that roiled the financial capital. “Sixty years is much too long to go on fighting a war on violence with Pakistan. It’s time we joined hands and assert a collective South Asian consciousness, speak out against hatred and violence and condemn the divisive politics played out by political parties,” said Bhasin, who mobilised more than 30 organisations for the event.

Sahar Khan, a student from Pakistan said, “Geographically and historically, South Asia is a region bound together by common socio-economic and developmental concerns. And the countries here are similarly affected by increasing violence — which has given way to violations of human rights.”

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