Sagar Media Online

I am not Stereotype: Exploring Diversity

Celebrating UN International Day of Tolerance

DATES: Saturday & Sunday, 28 & 29 November 2015, 2 to 8 p.m.

GANDHI-KING PLAZA, India International Centre Lawns

40 Lodi Estate, New Delhi-110003

(Adjacent to UN House)

On the occasion of International Day of Tolerance, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message said: “Tolerance is much more than passively accepting the "other". It brings obligations to act, and must be taught, nurtured and defended.”

To walk and navigate this path of tolerance and acceptance is imperative for the volatile yet ever shrinking world today. A world where boundaries are constantly blurring as we get more interconnected -- where one encounters both the positive and negative sides of humanity.

I am not Stereotype: Exploring Diversity has been organized to take on this challenge and promote the path of peace and tolerance.

This event is an outcome of 40 young graduate and undergraduate students from Kashmir, Manipur and Delhi who launched a journey. They entered into a conversation with themselves and with each other, through the medium of photography. Over a period of three months they churned, levelled with themselves, faced the other and finally entered a zone of love, compassion and critical thinking.

At a day-long celebration in SKICC (Sringar) and a two-day festival at the India International Centre (New Delhi) a book capturing their experiences will be launched in the hope of continuing their dialogue on tolerance with a wider audience.

Celebrating the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, these events are organized by NGO Standing Together to Enable Peace Trust (New Delhi) in partnership with the United Nations Alliance for Civilizations, UN Information Centre for India & Bhutan along with the India International Centre, Anhad (Delhi), Qalamkaari Creative Calligraphy Trust, Kashmir Creative Education Foundation, SKICC, Degree College Pulwama, Dolphin International School, Pulwama and Saadi Kids World, Pulwama.

Wednesday, 25 November, 2015, Kashmir, SKICC, 10:30am - 3:00 pm I Am Not a Stereotype: A Journey Through Photography; Inauguration by Masood Hussain (International Artist ), Panel Discussion: Kashmir's Syncretic Past - A message for the future” speakers Sameer Yasir (Journalist), Shah Faesal (Director School Education, Kashmir), Shahzada Saleem (Poet & Social Worker), Waheed Ur Rehman Parra (Political Analyst to Hon. Chief Minister J&K); Poetry Reading by Shahzada Saleem (Poet & Social Worker); Stand-Up Comedy by Rayees Mohiuddin; and Persian Music and Dance- Fakhroddin Ghaffari - Iran (Tombak, Daf) , Lise Moulet- France (Kathak & Persian Dancing), William Rees Hofmann - England (Rabab)

Saturday, 28 November, New Delhi, Gandhi-King Plaza, India International Centre, 2:00 pm -8:00pm:Interactive Exhibition I Am Not a Stereotype: A Journey Through Photography; Workshop: Beyond Stereotype;Panel Discussion - Unboxing Dissent: Fostering Democracy Speakers- Guahar Raza (Scientist & Poet); Dr. Mridula Mukherjee ( Historian); Shivam Vij (Journalist); Kavita Krishnan (Activist); and Ajay Norhona (Cinematographer & Documentarist); and Qawwali Performance by Dhurv Sangari.

Sunday, 29 November, New Delhi, Gandhi-King Plaza, India International Centre, 2:00 pm -8:00pm:Interactive Exhibition I Am Not a Stereotype: A Journey Through Photography; Workshop: Beyond Stereotype; Meet the Artist: Qmar Dagar (Calligraphy); iStereotypnator Play by T for Theatre; Persian Music and Dance: Fakhroddin Ghaffari (Iran), Lise Moulet- (France) William Rees Hofmann (England); Message for Tolerance - Mrs. Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman, Director, UN Information Centre for India & Bhutan; Isabelle Tibi - United Nations Alliance of Civilizations; Kh. Samuel Poumai - Standing Together Enable Peace Trust and Satakshi Gawade - Student Participant and Author; World Music Performance by Mrigya.

All these events are open to all; entry is free.

YOU ARE MOST CORDIALLY INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS FESTIVAL.