Shared heritage, digital stages connect South Asian youth across borders
HYDERABAD: Artists and young people from Bhutan, India and Pakistan used dance, music and digital technology to highlight shared heritage and promote peace and regional cooperation at the second Southasian Commemoration of Doyens of Peace held on August 12, 2026.
The hybrid event, themed “Digital Stages – Shared Heritage: Youth Connecting Southasia through Culture and Tech”, featured 190 videos created by youth aged 13 to 30 and prominent Southasians. The videos ranged from three to 12 minutes.
Youth from three countries collaborate through digital performances
A key feature was the co-creation of videos that brought together artists from different countries on digital platforms.
Juveria and Irma of Pakistan performed Kathak, Odissi and Manipuri dances, while Nihita and Pranava of India sang “Bol Ke Lab Azaad Hai Tere”.
In another collaboration, Niharika Kidambi and Nivedita Kidambi of India performed Kuchipudi to a song on Mother Earth written and sung by Dema Lhamo, Lekhi Zengmo and Jamyang Selden of Bhutan.
The programme commemorated the contributions of Adm. Ramdas, former chief of the Indian Navy, Karamat Ali, a labour rights and peace activist from Pakistan, and Tapan Bose, a peace activist from India, to the promotion of peace in Southasia.
Eight-hour programme brought youth voices into discussion
Fourteen youth videos were live-streamed during Part 1 of the eight-hour programme, while 60 videos from across Southasia were live-cast in Part 2.
The live cast included reflections by people below 30 years, video creators, 12 moderators of live-cast segments, students and members of the public who joined online.
The youth panel included Shahrbanoo Rezayee from Afghanistan, Lutfa Khan from Bangladesh, Dema Lhamo from Bhutan, Aisha Maaz from India, Ahamad Raza from Pakistan, Aradhya Yadav from Nepal and Mohammed Nasreen from Sri Lanka.
Khushi Kabir of Bangladesh delivered the inaugural address. Lalita Ramdas, former chair of Greenpeace International, shared reflections on interviews with prominent Southasians and the scope for young people across the region to collaborate on integration and development.
300-page eBook documents videos created for programme
A 300-page eBook containing the videos created by youth and prominent Southasians for the event was released during the programme.
The eBook was released by Lalita Ramdas and Rita Manchanda of India, Sheema Kermani of Pakistan, Omer Selab of Afghanistan, Maneesh Yadav of Nepal, Dema Lhamo of Bhutan and Lutfa Pathan of Bangladesh.
Educational institutions and civil society groups in some countries also organised live screenings. More than 15 schools and colleges in Hyderabad conducted hybrid programmes, allowing students to watch the event online and interact with panel members and moderators.
The organisers said the videos presented Southasia as a region linked by shared heritage, culture, history, traditions and common human values despite geographical and political boundaries.
The videos also highlighted the role of young people in regional cooperation, preservation of cultural heritage, promotion of peace and creation of links across countries.
According to the organisers, the programme conveyed a message that peace and regional solidarity could be strengthened through friendship, dialogue, education, cultural exchange, responsible technology and people-to-people connections.
