Quake unites Pakistani and Indian students

The October 8 earthquake was enough to jolt many, as the participants at a recent fundraiser at the World Bank, saw Pakistani and Indian American students of the SAIS, working together to plead the case of the affected people.
The two communities, it was noted, rarely agree on a single issue. The event was organised by the Committee for Global Relief (CGR), in collaboration with the School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Besides Pakistan Ambassador Jehangir Karamat, those attending were diplomats from Sri Lanka, India and Afghanistan; State Department and WB officials, former diplomats Robin Rafel and Karl Inderfurth, Dr Jessica Einhorn, dean, Paul H Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, and Dr Walter Andersen, Director SAIS; former WB official Karl D Jackson, and Theresa Rhodes, chief of NGO, CARE.
There have been other relief drives, "but this certainly was unique" in that it was the first organised effort "to link" the Indian American and Pakistani American community "for a project involving both India and Pakistan," said Dr Walter Andersen.
Dean Einhorn agreed to chair, in part to make this first effort at community co-operation a success. The Committee, comprising very savvy young professionals from the Indian American and Pakistani American communities has had in several areas to invent the wheel, but they have worked hard and there were early signs of success in this venture. "They intend to be a continuing organisation because the worst may be yet to come to Kashmir as winter descends on this region of high mountains and because there is no other similar group to link the two communities in the US," Dr Andersen added.
The fundraiser was unique in several ways.
A moving 12-minute video titled: 'A Catastrophe of Unparalleled Proportions' with a message 'We are determined to rebuild' was shown. It contained powerful glimpses of widespread destruction, mudsliding, emotions to live and distribution of relief goods in the far-flung areas of the rugged terrain.
Pradeep, the visiting Sri Lankan 'sitar' artist, made the occasion even more sober by playing 'song of separation', a song of heartbreak, and, 'loss of a loved one-' all in a brief sitting. The ending of the raga on the strings was on a note of hope- as a tribute to the human spirit- which has the strength to overcome adversity and an instinct to survive.
Pradeep Ratnayake told APP later that the massive 7.6 earthquake was Tsunami of the Himalayas. "So, it was not an occasion to play mix blend of Sri Lankan folk melodies with jazz or blues, which has been my passion."
The Committee for Global Relief (CGR) comprises Sumanth C Krishnamurthy, Ms Amina Khan, Ms Nilofer Afridi-Qazi and Sanjit Shah of South Asia Studies, SAIS-JHU.
In her welcome address, Amina said "our initiative is to do something positive about human suffering, which has prompted collaboration between the Pakistani American and the Indian American communities." She termed this collaboration as "decidedly an American experience."
Sanjit Shah said, the South Asian earthquake hit the area on October 8, while it was still October 7 in Washington. The CGR was set up the very same day, at the SAIS. "It certainly was a positive development, in such a negative situation." He said: "today, we have come together Indian American and Pakistani American communities-working in co-operation towards a common cause. We had the lofty goal of raising 50,000 dollars- which we have surpassed already."
Sumnath said the initiative has the acceptance and support of the academic community, legislators and officials of the WB. "The world class academic institution, like Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Science took on this opportunity to partner with us, because, they saw four committed professionals focused on one thought."
Chief of NGO CARE, Theresa Rhodes said some 39 aftershocks of the magnitude of 5.0 on the Richter scale had been recorded ever since massive 7.6 earthquake of October 8. She also referred to influx of a large number of victims to cities like Islamabad and Lahore.
Commenting on the effort by the young students, Dean Einhorn noted that "it's a recognition of the fact that political boundaries have no role in humanitarian crisis." She also referred the human suffering in the wake of Tsunami, and devastation caused by Katrina and Wilma hurricanes in the United States.
Einhorn added that funds raised would go to Rural Support Programme, the network led by Shandana Khan, a former student of the institution. She described the CGR as "a wonderful group- with a vision to work together."
Ambassador Jehangir Karamat praised the remarkable representation at the event. This tragedy which has struck, he stated, "has seeds of something bigger- hopefully, for the betterment of South Asia. People of old age might not grasp it fully yet, though, the younger people do." He expressed his support for the initiative.
In his concluding remarks, Sri Lankan diplomat Ravinatha Aryasinha praised the effort put in by young Pakistani and Indian scholars in forming the committee and hosting the event of November 10. "For us in Sri Lanka; when two people come together, that's a moment of celebration. And today, it is in that spirit that we are so glad to be here participating in this event of significance."