SAI - News

The recent monsoon weather brought heavy rainfall in the end of July 2010 to various parts of Pakistan, resulting in devastating flash floods in most parts of rivers Kabul, Swat and Indus basin. These were the worst floods in the history of the region. At the beginning of August, after discussing various options for the flood relief activities, the South Asia Institute (SAI), University of Heidelberg, launched the campaign for the donations to help the flood victims of Pakistan. The donations were handled by the non-profit organization Assocation of Friends and Patrons of the SAI. Numerous individuals and organizations – among them Dr. Eckart Würzner, Lord Mayor of the City of Heidelberg and Mr. Mohammad Rafique, President Deutsch-Pakistanische Gesellschaft, Karlsruhe – supported the campaign actively.  

At this time, Professor Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah, Allama Iqbal Professor at South Asia Institute University of Heidelberg was on his way to Pakistan on a private visit. He decided to get himself fully involved in the relief activities and promised to spend the money on the purchase of essential food items and then to distribute it personally. Thus Prof. Shah was entrusted to bring the donations to Pakistan. Upon arrival in Pakistan Prof. Shah collected information through various sources and it was revealed that people in the far flung areas of Pashtoonkhwa were in dire need of food, therefore Prof. Shah selected Malakand Division for this purpose. Hereafter the Provincial Disaster Management authorities and other relevant officials including the Provincial Information Minister were consulted. They were requested to prepare the lists of the affected families in the area which they did accordingly.

On Sunday 5th September 2010 the truck headed early in the morning for Batkhela (Swat). The following five villages, on the downstream of river Swat from Batkhela were selected for the distribution of food: Totakan, Matkani, Hissar Kaley, Qalangey and Ziarat Hissar Baba. At about 11 am the food distribution started and it went till late evening. Some parcels were also distributed among the flood victims of Smaso Sar, another village in Batkhela. The following items of food were included in one parcel: Flour (20 kilos); Sugar (5 kilos); Rice (5 kilos); Daal (lentils) (5 kilos); Ghee (cooking oil) (5 kilos); and Tea (1 kilo). Each parcel was thus weighing 41 kilos and was meant for a family of eight persons. A total of 750 (seven hundred and fifty) parcels were arranged for the flood victims so that an estimated 6000 people benefitted from this package.

After this first successful action the SAI plans further activities: Up to now the northern province of Gilgit-Baltistan has not benefitted from help. The whole area, including Gilgit, the city of approximately 70.000 inhabitants, has been cut off electricity for an entire month while roads (among them the Karakorum Highway) have been blocked for almost two months. Under the coordination of the Nanga Parbat Foundation and Prof. Marcus Nüsser, who has just returned from the region, the SAI wants to support the setting-up of clean water supply in this region. In addition to this immediate help project the SAI engages in a long-term support project. The SAI is in touch with local authorities as to find a suitable location to built up a school. For both projects further donations are necessary and highly welcome. If you want to support this initiative please send your donation to
Vereinigung der Förderer des Südasien-Instituts e.V.
Keyword: Fluthilfe Pakistan
Sparkasse Heidelberg
BLZ 672 500 20
Konto-Nr. 1300695
For a donation receipt please write to manfred.hake@alumni.uni-heidelberg.de or foerderer@sai.uni-heidelberg.de

Events organized by the South Asia Institute (SAI), Heidelberg University at the Frankfurt International Book Fair 2010

Venue:
Weltempfang – Centre for Politics, Literature and Translation       Salon (Hall 5.0, E953)

Friday, October 8th, 11.30h – 12.30h:

An East-West Encounter: The Relevance Today of the Poet and Philosopher Muhammad Iqbal (German/English/Urdu/Persian)
Introduction and Readings
With:
Gita Dharampal-Frick
Professor of South Asian History at SAI, Heidelberg University
Christina Oesterheld
Lecturere in Urdu at SAI, Heidelberg University
Ali Usman Qasmi
Historian and Newton Fellow at the Royal Holloway College University of London
Qazi Adul Rehman Abid
Historian at the Bahauddin Zakaria University, Multan, Pakistan, and 2010/2011 fellow at the SAI, Heidelberg University Heidelberg
Nadia Butt
Lecturer in English and American Literature, University of Gießen

Sunday, October 10th, 13.00h – 14.00h:
Literary Encounter with Geetanjali Shree (German/English/Hindi)
Introduction and Reading
Participants:
Felix Otter (Introduction)
Assistent to the Chair of Modern South Asian Languages and Literatures, SAI, Heidelberg University
Geetanjali Shree
Historian, Social Scientist, Writer, New Delhi
Birgitta Assheuer
Dubbing and Radio Voice (among others for ARD, ZDF, 3SAT, arte and ORF)

Currently several provinces in Pakistan are hit by floods due to torrential rains. In the course of this ongoing catastrophe more than 1000 people have died and more casualties are expected. Access to food, clean water and medicine is not given for a huge number of people.

The Association of Friends and Patrons of the SAI which is a non-profit organistaion now calls for donations for flood victims in Pakistan. With these the assocation wants to support help in the region of Peshawar and in the districts of Swat and Shangla in particular. Professor Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah from the Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, who since last year is Muhammad Iqbal Fellow at the Southasia-Institute, will coordinate the help on location. He will take care that the donations are given directly to the people concerned and will later also report about the usage of the money donated.

If you want to support this initiative please send your donation to

Vereinigung der Förderer des Südasien-Instituts e.V.

Keyword: Fluthilfe Pakistan

Sparkasse Heidelberg

BLZ 672 500 20

Konto-Nr. 1300695

For a donation receipt please write to manfred.hake@alumni.uni-heidelberg.de or foerderer@sai.uni-heidelberg.de . I am greatful for your support.

With best regards

M. Hake

Students of the SAI-courses Mapping Public Sphere (J. Siefert) and Screening the Nation (A. Schott) will prepare a talk on the movie "Road to Sangam" (2009). The talk is part of the programme of  the 7th Indian Film Festival at Stuttgart from July 21st to 25th. "Road to Sangam" is touching upon social topics that were discussed and analyzed in the courses. For the filmtalk the students have developed a joint presentation which sums up central themes of the film. Among these are the role of the public in India, or the representation of the nation in Indian cinema. 

Coordination:
Alexandra K. Schott and Justin Siefert, "akademische Mitarbeiter" at SAI
// Filmtalk: 23.Juli 2010 / 19:30 Uhr / Festivalbar / SI-Centrum Stuttgart / Plieninger Str.
100 / 70567 Stuttgart
// Filmscreening: Road to Sangam / 23.Juli 2010 / 17:15 Uhr
http://www.bollywood-festival.de/filme-events/filmprogramm/filmprogramm-freitag-23-juli-2010.html

The Pakistan Working Group at SAI cordially invites to the talk on "Pakistan-Iran. Relations  in the Changing Security Environment" by Dr. Nazir Hussain
Department of International Relations, Qaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad
on Wednesday, 21 July 2010,
at  5.30 pm, room Z10

Abstract: Pakistan and Iran are the two important players in South West Asia. Their relations have enjoyed many similarities but have also been deeply influenced by unfavorable security environment. Having shared common history, religion, language and traditions, they assume greater position in the region. The peace and stability of the region is determined and assessable with the nature of their relations. With the passage of time their relations have experienced many ups and downs. The significance of this relation can hardly be over emphasized. For Pakistan, Iran provides much needed natural depth and support in the eventuality of any out break of hostilities on the eastern borders. Consequently for Iran, Pakistan serves as a vital link to West Asia, especially, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf in the context of building a psychological bridge. Furthermore, Pakistan is located at the crossroad of West, Central and South Asia and has strong ties with China. The interdependence of Iran and Pakistan makes this relationship even more important in the contemporary strategic environment. In the post 9/11 strategic environment the world seems to be behind the US in its war against terrorism whereas, inwardly, various undercurrents are gradually shaping up the strategic dynamics of the region. Under these changing circumstances, the relations between Pakistan and Iran assume greater significance. Therefore, this presentation attempts to look into this relationship in the changing environment focusing on security, economic and social issues confronting the two states and their implication for the region.