SAF News

Testimony from a Sri Lankan student

South Asia Foundation, Kabul - Afghanistan

UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asian Arts (UMISAA)

The Dean of (UMISAA) Pakistan Prof Salima Hashemi

It is a week to go before our Final Thesis Examination and Exhibition. This is the most frantic, busy but also inspiring time of year.

Madanjeet Singh rebuts 'first time' claim on Indian art at the Venice Biennale

Acknowledgement Sarita Mishra Chairperson, Cheli Sangeetik Samuha

Respected Sir I wish you a very happy Birthday. I am planning to dedicate one of my musical compositions, to be released on 29th April, to your birthday celebration.

SAF students on a trip to Karachi

... Sometimes, reality become a 'frequently occurring dream'; when I was in grade 11, one of my teachers used to say "when you love something that takes a position of 'a frequent dream' but 'love' always comes after your proper understanding of something.

Photograph of the handing over the cheque for the UMCSAWM (UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management)

Handing over the cheque from SAF Sri Lanka Chairperson Hon'ble Chandrika Kumaratunga Former president of Sri Lanka, to the Vice Chancellor of the Moratuwa University Prof Ranasinghe.

UMCSAWM (UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asian water Management)

Madame Chandrika Kumaratunga, SAF Sri Lanka Chairperson, handed over a cheque to Prof Ranasinghe, Vice Chancellor of Moratuwa University for the construction of the new UMCSAWM.

Visit to the Secretary General of SAARC

Mr Nishchal N. Pandey Vice Chairman SAF Nepal paid a courtesy call on the first lady Secretary General of SAARC.

International Conference on 'India in Emerging Asia Pacific: Challenges and Opportunities in the New Decade'

Southern Asia Studies Programme, UNESCO MISARC
Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
Co-sponsored by Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
March 9-11, 2011

Forum Towards Rapprochement & Tolerance

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the destruction of the Buddha statues in the Bamiyan Valley, Afghanistan.

Reception given in honour of Dr Kamal Hossain, SAF Chairperson Bangladesh and Dr Hameeda Hossain

The new SAARC Secretary General

Dr Kamal Hossain SAF Bangladesh Chairperson visits UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and SAF Founder

Dr Kamal Hossain and Dr Hameeda Hossain after attending some meetings in Paris visited UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and SAF Founder, Madanjeet Singh to update him about the activities of the Chapter.

Vidya Shah, member of SAF India advisory board, singing Faiz in Pakistan

Some years ago, in the mid-90s, I walked about 20 kilometres in a yatra over several days along the amazing Narmada river that cuts across the middle of India through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Nepali Prime Minister Hon’ble Jhal Nath Khanal receiving the ‘Himalayan Art’ of Ambassador Madanjeet Singh

A workshop in UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for Preservation of Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage (UMCPACH)

Report on the visit to UMIHRSACL at Dhaka of two DPS, Srinagar Teachers (3rd Feb. to 17th Feb. 2011)

It was a learning experience for the two teachers namely Mr. Showkat Ahmad Ganai and Ms. Asmat Chowdhary of DPS, Srinagar. During their visit to Bangladesh they had an opportunity to interact with various NGOs and distinguished personalities and heads of different public departments. The main focus of the tour and the interaction was the contemporary legal studies and human rights issues of South Asia in general and Bangladesh in particular.

SAF Pakistan chairperson visiting Delhi on the occasion of late Mr. Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s birth centenary

Research on the Core Issues associated with the Functioning of Shalish Kendras and Village Courts in Madaripur

Shalish is primarily an outgrowth of rural power structure. Derived from an Arabic word meaning ‘arbitrator’, Shalish can be understood as a process of mediation with much emphasis on the people who act as mediators or ideally “Shalishkars”, who are rich, powerful and socially accepted persons.

Report on the course on Alternative Dispute Resolution

Based on my online application, I was selected by the South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal & Human Rights Studies (SAILS), Bangladesh to attend a course on Alternative Dispute Resolution starting from 29/05/2010 till 29/06/2010 in Bangladesh.

SAF India chairman and Pakistan former minister at the UMCSAJ (UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre of Asian of journalism, Chennai

SAF India chairman Mani Shankar Ayar and Pakistan former minister Kurshid Mahmud Kasuri were able to interact with UNESCO Madanjeet scholarship students from South Asian countries at the Asian College of journalism.

Way forward in India-Pakistan relations

New head of the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of Cultural Heritage Preservation

The Head of UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of Cultural Heritage Preservation is replaced. The new head of Institute, Sayed Mossadeq Khalil, was introduced by H.E Minister Dr.Sayed Makhdoom Raheen on the begining of January 2011.

Blasphemy laws and their serious implications

The proposed U.N. resolution, “On Combating Defamation of Religions,” is but a bid by certain countries to enforce Sharia law.

South Asia Foundation Annual Report on Activities for the year 2010 - Part 1

South Asia Foundation Annual Report on Activities for the year 2010 - Part 2

New SAF Maldives secretary

SAF-Maldives has a new Secretary w.e.f. 05.01.11 in Ms. Enam Hussain as Mr. Ahmed Hamdan has left for Australia for higher studies.

SAF Nepal Annual report 2010

The SAF Nepal has continued its focus on promoting the SAF Founder's aspiration of a more cooperative and peaceful South Asia. This aspiration is being pursued through empowering healthworkers, women in particular, through public-private partnerships.

Bangladesh Chapter - Annual Report 2010

The 15th meeting of the Advisory Board for SAF Bangladesh Chapter was held on 8 July, 2010 chaired by Dr. Kamal Hossain, Chairperson, SAF-Bangladesh Chapter at Chairperson’s residence.Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Vice-Chairperson of SAF Bangladesh Chapter, Professor Rehman Sobhan and Ambassador Farooq Sobhan, Members and Mr. Shah Jahan and Mr. Khairul Hasan were present.

BNU graduates meeting at another venue in South Asia (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

The Silver Jubilee of SAARC Charter Day - 3rd-5th December 2010 - Chandigarh

Greetings on The Silver Jubilee of SAARC Charter Day.

16-18 November 2010, Beijing, China,
First International Conference on Sustainable Development of Peasant Agriculture

Thanks to the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and non-Violence received in 2009 Mr Francois Houtart was able to organize the First International Conference on Sustainable Development of Peasant Agriculture in Beijing, China, with participants from: Belgium, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

Reduce number of goods on sensitive lists

International Conference on South Asia in 2020: Towards a Greater Unity and Interdependence

UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asia Regional Cooperation (UMISARC) Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India

Remove climate of mistrust

Bilateral disputes should not hamper regional cooperation: Mehrotra

Learn unity from Europe, SAARC told

The first International Conference of MISARC
'South Asia in 2020: Towards a Greater Unity and Interdependence'

I am happy to inform you that under the dynamic, dedicated, innovative and able leadership of our Vice Chancellor, Prof J A K Tareen, we are going ahead with organizing the first International Conference of MISARC on the theme kindly approved by you, namely, "South Asia in 2020: Towards a Greater Unity and Interdependence," during November 22-24, 2010.

MoU for the establishment and management of the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Climate Research Centre (UMCRC)

Signing of the MoU for a Climate Research Center

Maldives College of Higher Education (MCHE) is to establish a climate research centre with assistance from South Asia Foundation.

Presentation of the book the 'Himalayan Art' by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, SAF Founder Madanjeet Singh

As you know, the ‘Himalayan Art’ by Amb. Madanjeet Singh is a much sought after book with a rare collection of photos depicting the art, monasteries, temples of the Himalayan region.

Presentation of the book Himalayan Art by Madanjeet Singh to the SAARC library

The 1968 classic ‘Himalayan Art’ by Ambassador Madanjeet Singh has been re-printed and is sought by museums, universities and art lovers throughout the world and especially in this part of South Asia as the book has wonderful photos of temples, monasteries, artifacts and sculptures of Ladakh, Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal.

UNESCO Director-General Madame Irina Bokova announced on 26 October 2010, that the 12 SAF institutions can use the UNESCO logo

UNESCO Director-General Madame Irina Bokova announced on 26 October 2010, that the 12 SAF institutions can use the UNESCO logo as long as it is always associated with Madanjeet Singh's name and his official title of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador....

MoU between 'SAF' and the University of Moratuwa

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between University of Moratuwa, and the South Asia Foundation, for the establishment of Madanjeet Singh Centre of South Asia Water Management (MCSAWM) at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

Committee on International Non-Governmental Organizations of the Executive Board - 185th session

A BeaconHouse National University student, Lahore, Pakistan

I am working at a tv channel as a graphic designer, my job is going good. its different experience to work in e-media.

Ma'am France Marquet gifting Photograph of the Punjabi writer (Mr Navtej Singh with Faiz Ahmad Faiz ) to Sr Darío Oses

Ma'am France Marquet, Trustee, (MSF-SAF) visited Museum of Memory and Human Rights

Supplemental MoU between 'SAF', 'SAILS' and 'MIHRSACL'

News from the Madanjeet Institute of Human Rights and South Asian Law

Our Institute after the successful Regional course on Clinical Legal Education, organized in collaboration with the National Law Reform Commission a series of national seminars on ADR attended by Judges, lawyers and law teachers, one at Chittagong and one at Rajshahi on 18 September, 2010, which was attended by two Supreme Court Judges, Chairman of the Law Reform Commission and myself.

Nomination of Mrs Nim Dem

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.