SAF News

Prof Tareen Vice Chancellor and the Director with a group of Madanjeet Singh scholarship students
from SAARC countries

Malik Siraj Akbar - ACJ student

I hope you do remember me. I was an ACJ student in the batch of 2006 on the South Asia Foundation (SAF) scholarship.

Madanjeet Singh, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador represents the Director General Madame Irina Bokova

May I at the very outset mention that I am delighted to be with you today, an occasion which is a double honour for me to represent Mme Irina Bokova, the first woman Director-General of UNESCO, and to inaugurate the exhibition of Mr. Husson-Dumoutier’a UNESCO Artist for Peace.

39 SAF-Madanjeet Singh students passed out from 18 months of Assistant Nurse Mid-wife

Altogether 39 SAF-Madanjeet Singh students passed out from 18 months of Assistant Nurse Mid-wife training from the Jiri Technical school (JTS) under the CTEVT in Nepal yesterday.

UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors

South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies

I am glad to inform you that the certificate courses were launched on 29 May, 2010. The formal inauguration of this was done by former Chief Justice Habibur Rahman, whom you may remember from the inauguration ceremony of the Institute, which you had participated.

For a moment of freedom

Madanjeet Institute of South Asian Art

These series of very thought provoking talks are only possible because of MISAA funding In recent lectures, Mr. Rafay Alam talked about the city of Lahore in terms of Geography and Culture. Mr. Qalandar Memon’s lecture was based on contemporary ideas in Poetry and Music.

Himalayan Art Revived

Madanjeet Singh's classic book on the artistic heritage of the Himalayan region gets a reprint

Successful students of M.A in South Asian studies, University of Pondicherry

The two students from Nepal and Bhutan who came out successfuly after M.A. in South Asian studies

Invitation to the group show RISE TO RUIN, at Alhamra art gallery

Photography workshop by Bangladeshi Photographer Omi

This was a really wonderful experience. Omi is going to help us with networking across South Asia. We were able to carry out a really excellent workshop because we had the funding from you.

Deputy Chairperson of SAF Bhutan handing over of the Cheque to VAST/Tarayana art Gallery

The media coverage on handing over of the Cheque for Nu.150,000 (Hundred and fifty thousand) to VAST/Tarayana art Gallery in Thimphu.

Rony James Martin - Single file

Rony James Martin is showing his sculture, Relax, in April Salon, a group show of upcoming artists.

Letter from the Assistant Director-General Social and Human Sciences

It is an honour and a pleasure for me to inform you that the Executive Board of UNESCO at its 185th session adopted 185 EX/Decision 35 by which the Board approved the modifications of Article 6 of the Statutes of the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence...

The People's SAARC conference

The People's SAARC conference which was held on 22nd and 23rdApril in New Delhi with Kamala Bahsin and Babulal Sharma as Co-Conveners; attended by Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar and Dr Sayeda Hameed, respectively Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of South Asa Foundation India.

Vidha Saumya

It gives me immense pleasure to speak to you about my trip to Lahore and Rony James Martin’s new work that was shown at Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai.

Media Coverage on handing over the Cheque

The Cheque was handed by the Dy Chairperson of SAF Bhutan Chapter on behalf of SAF Founder UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh.

Establishment of Institute of South Asian Studies at GC University Lahore

A preliminary meeting of experts was held on 3rd April, 2010 in GC University Lahore on the invitation of Prof. Khalid Aftab, Vice Chancellor, GC University Lahore

Sakunthala Galanga, a promising sla student

BNU was just one year old when I got the admission under The South Asia Foundation, Madanjeet Singh Scholarship from Sri Lanka.

Institute of Kashmir Studies, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar-6.

Under Madanjeet Singh Scholarship (SAF) the Institute of Kashmir Studies, University of Kashmir, Srinagar has six scholarships, three from each gender available for the year 2010/2011 as per the following breakup.

MoU between 'SAF' and the University of Pondicherry

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Pondicherry University and the South Asia Foundation-India for the establishment of Madanjeet School of Green Energy Technologies (MSGET) at Pondicherry University

Madanjeet Singh to grant funds for Kashmir varsity building

UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and Founder of the South Asia Foundation (SAF) Madanjeet Singh will grant half-a-million dollars to establish a building for the Institute of Kashmir Studies at the University of Kashmir.

Solar energy for cellphone towers in pipeline

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy along with the Union Ministry of Telecommunications is working on converting almost all cellphone towers into "green towers" by using solar panels instead of diesel generators.

Inauguration of the International conference on Green Technology

At the opening of the International conference on Green Technology: Challenges in Research and Human Resource Development, a plate was presented to Madanjeet Singh, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and SAF Founder; Union Minister for Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah; Vice Chancellor Pondicherry University J.A.K. Tareen.

Philanthropist funds forestry studies

UNESCO goodwill ambassador and the founder of South Asia foundation (SAF), Madanjeet Singh, has committed to donate USD 1 million to help start a centre for South Asia forestry studies in Bhutan.

MoU for the establishment of the Madanjeet Singh Center for South Asia Forestry Studies

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment and the South Asia Foundation, for the establishment of the Madanjeet Singh Center for South Asia Forestry Studies at the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment.

MoU Signed to Establish UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Center for South Asia Forestry Studies in Bhutan

Audience with His Majesty Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, H.E. Madanjeet Singh UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador SAF Founder, Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup SAF Bhutan Chairperson and Mme France Marquet SAF Trustee

Visit of SAF founder to Paro Bhutan

Meeting between the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Bhutan and SAF Founder.

Visit of SAF founder to Bhutan, 15th-16th March 2010

During his visit to Bhutan, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh and SAF Founder was received on March 15th 2010 at Paro Airport by Mr Chencho Tshering (SAF Bhutan Vice Chairperson) and Mr Lham Nidup (Secretary SAF Bhutan).

A portrait by Choney Pelzang, former Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarship at BNU

Vice-Chairman of the SAF-Nepal Nishchal N. Pandey handed over a copy of the 'The Oral and Intangible Heritage of South Asia'

Vice-Chairman of the SAF-Nepal Nishchal N. Pandey handed over a copy of the 'The Oral and Intangible Heritage of South Asia' to Mr. Mohammed Ajmal Khan.

Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar SAF India chairperson visit to Beaconhouse National University

SAF Annual Report 2009

Major events and activities of SAF during the year 2009

Letter from the Director-General of ICCROM

Participation of Prof. Khawaja, Director of the Institute of Kashmir Studies in the workshop on Kashmir Saivism

Participation of Prof Khawaja,Director of the Institute of Kashmir studies in the workshop on Kashmir Saivism organised by the Theosophical Society of India at Varanasi from 26th of December, 2009 to 2nd January, 2010.

Dreams and realities

The passing away of Marxist stalwart Jyoti Basu ends an important chapter of India’s history of Independence led by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, writes MADANJEET SINGH.

Astonishing memory

The India Pakistan Conference, 10th-12th January 2010, India International Centre,

It is the government’s role to make war or peace with any nation. It is an irony to know that India has excellent relations with Paraguay but not with Pakistan which is the country’s immediate neighbor.

SAF Bhutan Advisory Board meeting, 6th January 2010

SAF Bhutan just had its Advisory Board meeting on 6th of January 2010. The Board members unanimously elected Mr. Chencho Tshering, Managing Director of Kuensel Corporation who is also our Advisory Board Member as the Dy. Chairperson.

New Afghani students at Beaconhouse National University (BNU)

Here are our New Afghani students with a group work made entirely from edibles from Kabul!

Kashmiriyat presented to Mrs. Mala Sinha

Vice-Chairman of the SAF-Nepal Nishchal N. Pandey presented a copy of the 'Kashmiriyat' authored by SAF Founder Ambassador Madanjeet Singh to well known actress of the Indian Cinema Mrs. Mala Sinha.

Photograph of the function held in connection with the distribution of the book Kashmiriyat

SAF Afghanistan activities during 2009 and plans for the year 2010

In 2009, SAF Afghanistan had many activities within the country and also has introduced students for SAF Madanjeet Singh Scholarships.

South Asian Agenda for Jammu and Kashmir

The communal fanatics will not give up unless they are reduced to nonentities in a secular configuration of South Asia’s unity in diversity, as in the European Union.

Upholding human values

Focus is on Institutions of Excellence

Jang Press, Islamabad, Pakistan

Reclaiming the Legacy of Kashmiriyat

In this narrative on the assimilative multi -cultural tradition of South Asia with Kashmir being its epicentre, Madanjeet Singh, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, inadvertently offers a peep into his own deep-rooted ties with Kashmir and Kashmiriyat.

Book release: Between dreams and realities by Sartaj Aziz, former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan

The Seventh SAF-Scout Friendship Camp - 20th-26th November 2009, Gadpuri, India

Visit of Madanjeet Singh UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and founder of South Asia Foundation, to the 7th SAF-Scouts Friendship Camp (20-26 November 2009 in Gadpuri, India

Signing of the MoU for the establishment of a Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asia Regional Cooperation

Signing of the MoU for the new Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asian Arts (MISAA)

Signing of the MoU between Prof Salima Hashmi, SAF Pakistan chairperson, Mr Sartaj Aziz, Vice chancellor Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan and Madanjeet Singh UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, founder of South Asia Foundation, for the new Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asian Arts in Lahore (Pakistan).

The First Meeting of the Advisory Council of MISARC, 21st November 2009, New Delhi, India

Minutes of the 1st Meeting of the Advisory Council of Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asia Regional Cooperation (MISARC) held on 21.11.2009 at 04:00 pm in the SAF India Conference Room, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi

Academic Activities of Institute of Kashmir Studies

The Institute of Kashmir Studies was initially established in April 2006 as Centre for Kashmir Studies. In the month of November 2007 the University of Kashmir signed an MoU with South Asia Foundation (SAF).

Bangladesh Chapter - Annual Report 2009

The 14th meeting of the Advisory board for SAF Bangladesh chapter was held on Saturday, March 28, 2009 chaired by Dr. Kamal Hossain, Chairperson, SAF Bangladesh chapter at the Vice Chancellor’s office, BRAC University. Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Ambassador Farooq Sobhan and Mrs. Khushi Kabir, Members and Mr. Obaidullah Al Zakir, Secretary, SAF, Bangladesh were present.

SAILS

A progress report was presented with regard to the South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies (SAILS). The Institute has been registered under the Societies Registration Act. Its inauguration was held on 13 October 2008 in the Spectra Convention Centre in the presence of Ambassador Madanjeet Singh and the former Chief Adviser and Chief Justice Mohammad Habibur Rahman.

SOIMA 2009, 16 November - 11 December 2009, New Delhi, Pune

An international course on the preservation of audiovisual records including photographs, films, recorded sound and videos was inaugurated on 16 November at the National Museum Institute, New Delhi , India.

Press clipping from Jang

Award of the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence

UNESCO Press Communiqué address by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh

Address by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh Founder, South Asia Foundation (SAF) at UNESCO Headquarters Paris on the occasion of the award ceremony of 2009 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence.

2009 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence award ceremony

The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence was awarded to this year’s two laureates - François Houtart, Belgian sociologist and theologian, and Abdul Sattar Edhi, Pakistani philanthropist – at a ceremony at UNESCO’s Paris Headquarters on 16 November - International Day for Tolerance.

Md. Saimum Reza Talukder Piash

With due respect, I would like to state that I am Piash, a student of Law from University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Also, I am involved in some extra-curricular activities such as Scouting, Theater group, Debating club, environment movement etc.

Letter of the UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura to UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh

Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence award ceremony on 16 November

Dr Syeda Hameed's article

SAF calls for single SAARC currency

Mr Nishchal N. Pandey secretary to SAF Nepal chapter, delivered a keynote

Mr Nishchal N. Pandey secretary to SAF Nepal chapter, delivered a keynote on 'National Interest and Nepal's Participation in the SAARC Process'.

The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence 2009

Mussarat

It is good to hear from a SAF scholarship student. Mussarat from Bangladesh is one of our first graduates doing well in Dhaka and ofcourse staying in touch with all the others.