Barinder Saluja, Amritsar,May 10 : The barriers of borders between the two arch rivals India & Pakistan, cannot hold back the emotions, over flowing in the hearts of the citizens of the two countries. This was once again proved by an year old alumni of two “pre-partition sister” institutes in twin cities of Amritsar and Lahore i.e. Sacred Heart School, Amritsar and Sacred Heart School, Lahore.
“Amritsar Sacred Heart Alumni (ASHA)” India –an Ex-students Association under the aegis of “Sacred Heart School, Amritsar” and an NGO, would forge new ties with “Sacred Heart School”, Lahore, Pakistan. A 9-member group of members of ASHA have crossed the Indo Pak border on foot on May 9, 2011 around 11 AM and was received by staff of SHS Lahore besides the “Indo –Pak Peace Initiative” organization headed by Mr Awais Sheikh a peace activist and lawyer of incarcerated Indian prisoner Sarbjit Singh .ASHA’s wing “Indo-Pak Peace & Friendship” (India)” would also sign a Memorandum of Understanding with “Indo –Pak Peace Initiative” for a bi-annual exchange of peace activists in turns belonging to both organizations for each others countries by turns.
ASHA members would have an interactive session with men and especially women in Lahore on softer topics of lifestyles, food and education besides common cultural heritage of the two border cities, to facilitate greater understanding between the people of both countries. The group headed by ASHA president Rashmi Talwar would also visit Nankana Sahib in Pakistan before returning on May 13, 2011 by land route Wagah/Attari . ASHA would present a letter of invitation on behalf of itself and Sacred Heart School, Amritsar to its sister counterpart “Sacred Heart School”, Lahore, Pakistan, for joining in the celebrations of Diamond Jubliee of SHS, Amritsar in year 2012 (next Year). Also the two would sign a “Memorandum of Understanding” for a bi-annual exchange between students, staff and ex-students of both to visit each others Institutions.
Other members of the group include Kiranjot Kaur (SGPC member) and Vice President, Pooja Mehra (Treasurer), Ridhi Khanna (Jr Secretary) and members Ashima Khanna, Mamta Sen, Amrita Batra, Taru Peshawaria and Anuja Mallik.