The FOUNDATION OF SAARC WRITERS AND
LITERATURE is the ONLY SAARC APEX BODY in the SAARC Region, working under
the SAARC banner, projecting, nurturing and strengthening cultural
connectivity through literary and cultural interactions among the SAARC
countries, for peace and tranquility in the region, through
people-to-people contacts and dialogue.
• FOSWAL launched its vision of cultural bonding among the neighbouring
SAARC countries in 1987, and emerged as the first and the only
non-government organisation working in the specific area of culture, for
creating cultural connectivity through a Think Tank of Intellectuals and
Writers, Creative Fraternity and Peace Activists, who have common
sensitivities and common concerns for the
socio-cultural-political-economic-tribal-gender issues of the region.
• Writers of Pakistan set foot on Indian soil, for the first time after
Partition, in 1987. And writers from India set foot on the soil of
Pakistan, with us, for the first time in 2001.
• The FIRST-EVER SAARC WRITERS CONFERENCE was organised in April 2000.
• “We are the mad dreamers of the SAARC region. Let governments do their
political and diplomatic work. Let us, the writers and the creative
fraternity of the region, endeavour to create bridges of friendship across
borders, and beyond borders” : declared the 2000 Resolution.
• Though we have been building bridges of cultural connectivity with all
the countries of the SAARC region since 1987, we traced the centuries-old
civilisational and cultural links even beyond SAARC region, extending to
Afghanistan and Burma, and expanded our vision and thrust with total
passion, determination and commitment, from 1999 onwards, when we started
organizing and putting in place our National Chapters in all SAARC
countries.
• In April 2000, two poets from Afghanistan participated in our SAARC
Writers Conference and sang their lyrical poems in Pushto and Dari.
• This participation of Afghan poets eventually culminated in Afghanistan
becoming the eighth member of SAARC in 2007.
• SAARC Secretariat realized the importance of our work, and the Secretary
General HOSTED our SECOND SAARC LITERARY AND CULTURAL CONFERENCE, in SAARC
Secretariat's own Theatre Hall, in Kathmandu, in November 2000.
• Everybody realized at the highest levels, that it was a major step of
SAARC Charter was therefore amended during the 13th SAARC Summit in
Kathmandu, and 'cultural exchanges' included in the SAARC constitution.
• From 1986 when we launched this crusade of getting ‘cultural
connectivity’ included in the SAARC vision, to 2001-2002 when it was
eventually included, we walked long miles through dense forests and
deserts, swimming against the current, but it was eventually worth all the
effort.
• FOSWAL was given the honour of SAARC RECOGNISED BODY by the SAARC SUMMIT,
on January 1-2, 2002.
• Our Status has been elevated to SAARC APEX BODY.
• The Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) as an APEX BODY
OF SAARC, is the only organisation in eight SAARC countries : India,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Afghanistan,
legally authorized to organize literature-related and cultural
interactions, Seminars, Conferences, Festivals, under the SAARC banner and
with SAARC logo.
• It is a life-long commitment and devotion for which the Writer President
of FOSWAL Ajeet Cour has also been honoured with 'Padma Shri' : as a
Cultural Pioneer in the SAARC region, as a Writer, as a Crusader for
Conservation of Environment, and for Preservation of Intangible and
Tangible Historical Heritage of the SAARC region, focusing on and working
for exploring and documenting Folklore and Tribal Arts and Crafts,
Historical Monuments and Anthropological treasures, which are common links
of the SAARC region since Indus Valley Civilisation, and exploring
emotional linkages like Buddhism and Sufism.
• In these times of conflict and terror and instability in the region,
FOSWAL keeps highlighting the common concerns, through Culture and
Literature, through Theatre and Films, through Visual Arts and Performing
Arts. Exploring common highlights in creativity, common folklore, and
common civilisational links among people living in the SAARC region,
through Conferences and Seminars, Festivals of Literature, Poetry,
Folklore; through Translations of creative literature and ideas, and
publishing Anthologies of poetry and fiction from across the eight SAARC
countries, and publishing the quarterly SAARC Journal ‘Beyond Borders’.
• So far we have organized 31 major SAARC Cultural and Literary events,
Festivals of Folklore, Conferences on Buddhism and Sufism, in all the
countries of the SAARC region.
• We invite creative and peace-loving people, all culture and gender
activists, all tribals and dalits writers and activists, all theatre
artists, all visual and performing artists to join hands with
FOSWAL! There is no Membership Fee. All are welcome !
• Our details are available on our website : www.foundationsaarcwriters.com