An online discussion hosted by the Southasia Peace Action Network on Sunday will explore the catalysts for change in the region with activists and scholars from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and India, sharing vital insights on people’s movements
Curtain Raiser: ‘The Next Wave’ - Exploring Social Movements Shaping Southasia’s Future
By Pragyan Srivastava / Sapan News Desk
What causes a people to rise up? What makes a movement go beyond a moment and become a revolution? These are the questions that ‘The Next Wave’ seeks to answer, bringing activists, academics, and community leaders from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and India to share their stories and experiences.
Put together by young global community organizer Faisal Lalani, the online discussion hosted by the Southasia Peace Action Network , or Sapan, was scheduled to take place on 27 October 2024, at 11:00 am Eastern Daylight Time.
This isn’t just another panel discussion; it’s a call to action, a reflection on the ongoing battles for democracy, human rights, and governance that continue to unfold across the region. It brings forward the voices of those who have been at the forefront of fighting for change – from feminist activist Khushi Kabir’s decades-long activism in Bangladesh, organizing marginalized communities, to scholar Swati Narayan’s deep exploration of inequality in India.
The history of Southasia is rich with collective advocacy. The past few years have seen the Citizenship Amendment Act protests and farmers’ movement in India, the Aragalaya protests in Sri Lanka, and most recently the Bangladesh student protests.
- What: The New Wave, panel discussion in the Sapan series ‘Imagine: Neighbours in Peace -XXVI’
- When: Sunday, October 27, 2024
- Time: 11:00 AM EDT | 8:00 PM PKT | 8:30 PM IST and SLST | 8:45 PM NPT | 9:00 PM BST
- Where: Online on Zoom ( Register here ) and live at SouthasiaPeace YouTube
According to a post on the Sapan website , this is the organization’s 26th virtual discussion under the banner of ‘Imagine: Neighbours in Peace’, held on the last Sunday of most months since the organization’s launch in March 2021.
The intergenerational panel at the event will discuss how seemingly isolated national movements are part of a broader wave of resistance that links social justice and activism across borders. From students in Bangladesh demanding reforms to Indigenous groups in India fighting for their rights, the speakers will explore what fuels these movements and how they can contribute to lasting change.
The diverse range of notable speakers includes activists, academics, and leaders, ensuring a wide range of perspectives and experiences in an effort to be inclusive and representative.
Researcher and writer Uditha Devapriya, Chief International Relations Analyst, Factum, Colombo, will host the event. Devapriya was also a key researcher for the recently released documentary ‘Democracy in Debt: Sri Lanka Beyond the Headlines’ supported by the Pulitzer Center .
India-born panel moderator Faisal M. Lalani based in New York has a diverse background in activism. With his work with education in Nepal, community networks in South Africa, and social media analysis during Indian elections and digital rights efforts across the APAC region, he brings deep expertise in technology, governance, and policy to the conversation.
Speakers include the well-known feminist and rights activist Khushi Kabir in Dhaka, who has been active in citizen rights movements since the 1970s, and is a Sapan founder member and board member. Her work with the nonprofit Nijera Kori focuses on organizing marginalized communities in Bangladesh. Her advocacy spans environmental justice, gender equality, and democratic practices through a feminist lens.
Historian Dr Ammar Ali Jan is a well-known academic and activist in Pakistan, known for his critical work on the country’s socio-political landscape.
Dovan Rai, a computer scientist and civil society activist from Nepal advocates for digital rights and a feminist internet in Nepal. Her work bridges the gap between technology, education, and social justice.
Melani Gunathilake, a feminist, human rights defender and environmental activist, will join from Sri Lanka.
Academic Swati Narayan, author of the recently published Unequal: Why India Lags Behind Its Neighbours, will bring her expertise on social policies and civil society activism in India. Her research often examines why India struggles with issues of inequality and governance compared to its South Asian neighbours.
Put together by a dedicated team of volunteers, 'The Next Wave’ offers a unique opportunity to gain insights from the forefront of South Asia’s most pressing social movements. The discussions will focus on the shared challenges and opportunities for democratic action and human rights advocacy across the region, with the ultimate goal of fostering a regional understanding of resistance, solidarity, and lasting reform.
( Pragyan Srivastava is an Indian journalist who recently obtained her master’s in communications at Rutgers University as a Fulbright-Nehru Master’s scholar. With extensive experience in digital storytelling, social media, and television production, she is passionate about creating authentic and powerful stories about South Asia, aiming to foster understanding and connection through compelling narratives.
This is a Sapan News syndicated feature available for republication with due credit to www.sapannews.com
Note on Southasia as one word: Like Himal Southasian , we use ‘Southasia’ as one word, “seeking to restore some of the historical unity of our common living space, without wishing any violence on the existing nation states”.
HYPERLINKS IN THIS STORY
Southasia Peace Action Network - http://www.southasiapeace.com
Register - https://tinyurl.com/3rhddbfu
Southasia Peace Youtube - https://youtube.com/@southasiapeace?si=AES3lQi_A6Tug7qP
Post - https://southasiapeace.com/2024/10/25/the-next-wave-sapan-virtual-event-to-spotlight-social-movements-across-southasia/
Supported - https://pulitzercenter.org/projects/sri-lanka-beyond-headlines
