Sapan is a coalition of individuals and representatives of various organisations joining hands for a minimum common agenda: Reclaiming Southasia.

In doing so, we reiterate our commitment to take forward the principles and ideals of peace, justice, democracy and human rights articulated by visionaries like Dr Mubashir Hasan, Nikhil Chakravartty, Asma Jahangir, Nirmala Deshpande, Kuldip Nayar, Rajni Kothari among others –  a visa-free Southasia or confederation of nations with soft borders. A region in which each nation ensures quality education, justice, and freedom of expression and religion to its own citizens as well as support and solidarity to those of the other nations.

We aim to ‘reclaim Southasia’, to quote another of our mentors and visionaries, the late I.A. Rehman.

We support the objectives of SAARC, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation: “To promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life; to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potential; to promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia; to contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s problems; to promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields; to strengthen cooperation with other developing countries; to strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interests; and to cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes.”

The Southasia Peace Action Network therefore calls on the governments and peoples of Southasian nations to work towards:

1. Instituting soft borders — visa-free Southasia, visa-on-arrival, or at least ease of visas – to allow freedom of trade and travel to each other’s countries
2. Ensure human rights and dignity for all their citizens including religious and ethnic minorities, women, children and other oppressed communities
3. Cooperate in all areas related to public health, culture and legal reform, education, environment, climate change, water issues, disarmament, de-militarisation and de-nuclearisation.

Please fill out the form below endorse our stand.