We are pleased to announce the results of our poster design competitions. The entries were evaluated by a panel of three judges:

1. Dr. Ajaz  Anwar, distinguished artist and former professor at NCA Lahore
2. Dr. Irfan Babar, chairperson, Department of Fine Arts, GCU, Lahore
3. Ms. Zara David

Many congratulations to the winners!

Poster Competition – Spreading the Colours of Peace (Age 13-17)

Poster Competition -  Moving Beyond Tolerating Diversity to Celebrate it (Age 18-27)

Youth from all over Punjab participated in this poster-making competition. More than six hundred entries from public and private schools, colleges and universities were received. The participants were divided into two categories according to age: 13 to 17 and 18 to 29.

Come encourage young talent and share their vision for peace.

Essay Writing Competition – ENGLISH, JUNIOR 13-18

How is Peace Achievable in Pakistan

Essay Writing Competition – URDU , JUNIOR 13-18

پاکستان میں امن کیسے ممکن ہے

Essay Writing Competition – ENGLISH , SENIORS 18-27

Religious Extremism: A Challenge to Pakistan’s Existence

Essay Writing Competition – URDU , SENIORS 18-27

 مذہبی انتہا پسندی : پاکستان کے وجود کے لیے ایک خطرہ

Poetry Competition -  ENGLISH

Peace, Tolerance, Humanity

Poetry Competition – URDU

مسیحی ، سکھ ، ہندو مسلمان
سب کا ہے یہ پاکستان

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Published: Express Tribune – March 24, 2013

The participants paid tribute to him for services rendered during the independence movement. Bhagat Singh was born in Banga Jaranwala village in what was then Lyallpur, now Faisalabad. “He was educated in Lahore and visited many towns in Punjab inspiring others youngsters to fight for freedom,” said a press release from the Bhagat Singh Foundation. He was later hanged at what is now Shadman Chowk by the British. Bhagat Singh Foundation President Abdullah Malik demanded that the Indian and Pakistani governments declare all freedom fighters to be national heroes. The participants lighted candles in front of a portrait of Bhagat Singh and demanded that Shadman Chowk be officially renamed after him. The event was also attended by Saeeda Diep, Idrees Tabassum, Farooq Tariq, Iftikhar Butt, Amna Malik and Madeeha Gauhar.

They were also confronted by a simultaneous protest by a religious group denouncing the idea of renaming the chowk after Bhagat Singh.

The Institute of Peace and Secular Studies said that “religious extremists” had assaulted some of the protesters. It said that the local SHO had urged them to abandon their protest within half an hour because of the threat of escalating violence.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2013.

Published: DAWN – March 24, 2013

LAHORE, March 23: Scores of civil society representatives, intellectuals, writers, poets and students on Saturday gathered at Fawara Chowk, Shadman, to mark the 82nd death anniversary of Bhagat Singh.

As the participants carrying placards and banners were paying a tribute to Singh at the location where he was hanged during British rule, a group consisting of workers of religious parties and local traders reached there in a bid to stop the vigil being held to honour the memory of Bhagat Singh. The two parties exchanged harsh words.

Earlier, the participants under the banner of Bhagat Singh Foundation highlighted Singh’s struggle and ideology.

Foundation’s president Abdullah Malik demanded Pakistan and Indian governments declare all freedom-fighters heroes of the movement against British rule.

“Since freedom fighters gave the message of tolerance, brotherhood and peace and raised voices against injustice and unfair distribution of resources in society, we should follow in their footsteps by struggling for our rights,” he said.

The participants lit candles in front of a Singh’s portrait, urging the authorities officially rename the intersection after him.—Staff Reporter

Published: The Hindu – March 24, 2013

Peace activists, who gathered at Lahore’s Fawara Chowk in the Shadman area, on the 82nd death anniversary of revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh on Saturday to press for the renaming the roundabout after him were attacked by religious rightwing groups.

According to Saeeda Diep of the Institute for Peace and Secular Studies (IPSS), women were also assaulted. Posters and banners held by the peace activists were torn up and things could have got ugly but for police intervention, said Madeeha Gauhar of Ajoka Theatre.

For the first time in 15 years the annual remembrance of Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom by peace activists has come under attack. Trouble was anticipated as the morning’s newspapers had carried a threat by religious groups warning that anyone who demanded the renaming of Shadman Chowk as Bhagat Singh Chowk would be considered a traitor, anti-national and anti-Islam.

When the activists reached the venue in the afternoon, they found some religious rightwing groups already picketing the area. They had placards which said Bhagat Singh was not only anti-Islam but also an atheist, said Ms. Gauhar.

Though the peace activists were allowed to continue their protest, it had to be cut short after the manhandling as the police advised them to leave the area for fear of escalation of tension. “This is yet another example of how the democratic space for peaceful protest and pluralism has been hijacked by narrow-minded bigots who believe in imposing their version of Islam and nationalism on everyone,” the IPSS said in a statement.

Last year, some Indian peace activists, including film-maker Mahesh Bhatt, had participated in the protest. Though some were visiting the city this year also, they were apparently advised against participating.

For the last several months, the issue is in court after Tehrik Hurmat-e-Rasool, an organisation led by a Jamat-ud-Da’wah leader, filed a petition against the attempt by the Lahore administration to rename Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh Chowk in memory of his being hanged to death by the British at that spot in 1931. Prior to Partition, the roundabout was known as Bhagat Singh Chowk.

Published: Times of India – March 23, 2013

BARNALA: Despite real threats by religious groups of Pakistan not to demand renaming of a roundabout after martyr of yore, legendary martyr Bhagat Singh aficionados paid tributes on his 83rd martyrdom day.

Institute for peace and secular studies (IPSS) convener Diep Saeeda in an email from Lahore said “despite threats made by certain religious groups on Saturday morning through newspapers about demanding the renaming of Shadman Chowk as Bhagat Singh chowk, a large number activists of IPSS and other civil society organizations assembled at the chowk.”

Certain organizations are demanding the renaming of the chowk, where in earlier times stood the Lahore central jail where Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev were hanged on March 23, 1931. Later when jail had given way, the chowk named Shadman chowk was built on the lace and Bhagat singh fans of Pakistan wanted the naming of chowk after the martyr, said Diep.

The police demanded the activists to leave the venue under the threat of an escalation of violence. This is yet another example of how the democratic space for peaceful protest and pluralism has been hijacked by narrow minded bigots who believe in imposing their version of Islam and nationalism on everyone, said Diep.

Are you an aspiring artist and would like to present your talent to a diverse group of people? Are you a poet and want to recite your poetry before others? Are you a writer and would like to read to an audience? We bring you an Open Mic evening where you will have the opportunity to express yourself.

Join and invite your friends to this open and free event.