FOSWAL

2023 FOSWAL LITERATURE








FOUNDATION OF SAARC WRITERS AND LITERATURE

 

  • 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.
  • 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 use the acronym 'SAARC', and the 'SAARC LOGO', to organize literature-related and cultural interactions, Seminars, Conferences, Festivals, Youth Outreach Programmes in eight SAARC countries, under the SAARC banner and with the SAARC logo.
  • FOSWAL launched its vision of cultural bonding among the neighbouring SAARC countries in 1986, and emerged as the first and the only non-government organisation working for Track II 'Public Diplomacy', in the specific area of culture, for creating cultural connectivity through a Think Tank of Intellectuals and Writers, Creative Fraternity and Peace Activists, Folklore-Buddhist-Sufi Scholars, Folk and Tribal Scholars; Folk Performers and Artists, Theatre and Film Artists, Painters and Dancers-Musicians, 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, as 'FOSWAL Caravan', for the first time in 2002.
  • 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 1986, 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 were invited to participate in our SAARC Writers Conference, who sang their lyrical poems in Pushto and Dari. Writers of Afghanistan continued participating in all our Conferences and Festivals.
  • This participation of Afghan poets eventually culminated in Afghanistan becoming the eighth member of SAARC in 2007.
  • In 2009, poets from Burma (Myanmar) also participated in our SAARC Festival of Literature, in Agra.
  • SAARC SECRETARIAT realized the importance of our work, and the Secretary General Dr. Nihal Rodrigo HOSTED the Inauguration of 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 Track II Initiative in the region, and it produced miraculous results.
  • The 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.
  • It is a life-long commitment and devotion for which the eminent Writer President of FOSWAL Ajeet Cour has also been honoured with the National Honour : '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 for exploring emotional linkages like Buddhism and Sufism.
  • In these times of conflict and terror, poverty and lop-sided development resulting in hunger and malnutrition at grass-root levels in the region, FOSWAL keeps highlighting the common concerns, through Culture and Literature, through Theatre and Films, through Exhibitions of Visual Arts and Concerts of Performing Arts, through Theatre and Films, and Exploring Common Highlights of Creativity, Common Folklore, and Common Civilisational Links among people living in the SAARC region, through Conferences and Seminars; Festivals and Conferences of Literature, Poetry, Folklore, Buddhism, Sufism; through Translations of creative literature and ideas, and publishing Anthologies of Poetry and Fiction and Ideas from across the eight SAARC countries; and publishing the quarterly SAARC Journal 'Beyond Borders'.
  • So far we have organized 42 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 tribal and dalit 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