Team Doyens of Peace
Why am I excited to share this?
In a world which has been filled with cynicism and grim, dark news…of violence, genocide, threats of nuclear annihilation, and the calamities wrought by an increasingly angered mother nature, these videos are like a breath of fresh air and glimpses of that other world that young people are promising to create…….
We need to hear these voices of hope, idealism and confident calls from a new generation, for a South Asia where Peace, Harmony and soft borders would prevail.
Please watch, listen, read, share, and create millions of concentric circles of such dreamers and dreams…
Don’t dismiss these as ‘castles in the air,’ these are earnest pledges outlining incredibly practical steps for change…
And we need to seriously find ways to ensure that these young people are taken seriously, some of their ideas followed up, and as the say repeatedly, the power of youth in the region be allowed creative and constructive expression and opportunity.
My Vision for South Asia if I am the President / Prime Minister of my Country!
This was the Theme for Youth for the 1st South Asian Commemoration of The Doyens of Peace organised on August 12, 2025 online with participation from 8 countries of South Asia
As many as 198 youth between 15 and 25 created two to five minute videos of innovative and fascinating blue prints that can measure up to every South Asian Aspirations!!
Sixteen Videos: Top two from the 8 countries – were live cast followed by a Panel Discussion with eight Youth below 30 years of age on the subject “Visions in the Videos for South Asia and The Way Forward!!”
Collectively, through their videos from across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, young people have demonstrated their clear understanding of the major issues and have come up with creative solutions, demonstrating a commitment to non -violent approaches.
The common threads in creating inspiring Vision for South Asia were:
- Revive, Revitalise and Energise SAARC
- No to War and Hate;
- Yes to Peace and Love;
- Progress with Sustainability and Dignity for all;
- Climate Change – an urgent challenge across all boundaries;
- Act now on Gender Justice, Economic partnerships, Religious tolerance and fraternity;
- Prioritise collaboration on Education and Health.
- We demand Soft borders – freedom of travel and exchanges.
- We will work to end terrorism and create a nonviolent South Asia
The list is breath-taking and comprehensive, reflecting a maturity beyond their years
A Document Titled Vision of Youth for South Asia compiled and released on the occasion states:
“South Asia is naturally without borders. Therefore, instead of enforcing boundaries we ought to indulge in a coexistence which is strung along economic, political, social, and cultural lines. We must build strong foundations for such a future for which internal development and universal education are essential.
To that end we must focus on raising national employment, creating native institutions of learning and investing in regional student-exchange programs and digital school networks.
*We acknowledge the truism that peace requires dialogue and freedom and the need for cross-border mobility and people-to-people diplomacy. This would become the soil to nurture peaceful resolutions to existing conflicts between countries.
We have to become very serious about joint river programs, regional emission reduction projects, and diversifying energy sources.
There is a need for a common vision of economic integration, sometimes through a South Asian economic bloc.
This would follow and inform ecologically sensitive models of economic development on the national level, spearheaded by a young generation of educated, connected, and innovative people.
Soft-borders and linkages by sea would promote free trade, based on equality and shared concerns rather than domination.
The reinvigoration of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) is an embodiment of these visions.
Finally, the assumption of a leader’s responsibility brings seemingly distant issues to the fore and closer to our homes.
This provides us with the impetus to apprehend a larger and more intimate reality such that we may identify erosions at its structure and tirelessly work together to sustain, improve, and change our world.
For all details please visit: (www.peacedoyens.org, Email: peacedoyepnssouthasia@gmail.com)
Related:
Moving beyond nationalism: a new vision for peace in South Asia
#SayNoToWar in South Asia, take part in the Global StandOut for peace
Tapan K Bose: A life devoted to human rights, peace, and resistance