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Journalism of Courage
The Indo-Pak relationship hasnbsp;beennbsp;so enmeshednbsp;in political issues 8211; mostly disputes 8211; that often both countries tend to neglect importantnbsp;developments which facilitate cultural cooperation betweennbsp;them. Foreign ministries in both countries arenbsp;engrossed in thinking of CBM8217;s, thoughnbsp;if one were to look,nbsp;not much progressnbsp;has been made with regard to educational and cultural exchanges.nbsp;Meanwhile, a Washington-based non-profit organisation named APNA, Academy of the Punjab in North America has taken anbsp; significant step 8212; publishing a quarterly Punjabi magazine by the name of Saanjh which means commonality in this contextnbsp;in both Gurmukhi, the Punjabi script used in East Punjab,nbsp;and Shahmukhi, the script used in West Punjab.
The magazine its first issue was published in May 2007 carries articles on various issues and publishes from both Lahore and Ludhiana. The thrust of all articles is on the cultural commonalities between the two Punjabs and the potential for a harmonious and mutually beneficial relationship betweennbsp;the divided provincenbsp;and the two countries. This thrustnbsp;is quite evident from the line inscribed on the covernbsp;ofnbsp;the magazine: 8220;Bulle Shah asaan marna naheennbsp;Bulle Shah, we are not destined to die.8221;nbsp;This development may not be earth shattering for many. But for those who understand the indelible loss to Punjabi culture and literature as a result of the division of Punjab and the use of different scripts in the two provinces, it comes as a breath of fresh air.nbsp;
Thenbsp;saanjh maynbsp;or may not increase, butnbsp;more people on both sides willnbsp;get accessnbsp;to thenbsp;works of Baba Farid, Bulle Shah and other legends.
