Indian-American and Pakistani-American students at Johns Hopkins University have formed The Committee for Global Relief, which debut[ed on November 10] with a major fundraiser for victims of the South Asian earthquake last month.
The Global Relief benefit is unique in that it [was] organized by a committee comprised of young Indian-American and Pakistani-American leaders, in what the University’s South Asia Studies Program of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), says will be “a precedent for future cooperation and shared interests.”
Proceeds will go to CARE, which will divide the funds between its branches in India and Pakistan; in the latter country, CARE is a partner with the Rural Support Programs Network, which will serve as the ultimate recipient for the Pakistani funds.
SAIS says that CARE and the Rural Support Programs, which are both on the ground in the affected areas, had reported on the “immediate need for assistance as winter descends on the areas devastated by the earthquake.”
Dr. Walter Andersen, associate director of the South Asia Studies Program at SAIS, told India Abroad: “The idea for a fundraising event to help victims from the earthquake emerged first from the students at SAIS. It was then picked up by some politically savvy young Indian-American and Pakistani-American professionals, who organized the Committee for Global Relief.
“It was necessary to create a committee because there was no available organizational mechanism to appeal to both the Indian-American and Pakistani-American communities, and they approached the South Asian Studies Program to assist them,” said Andersen.
Andersen added that he was impressed by the fact that the two communities were working together to address the same problem. “The recent Diwali bombings in Delhi underscore the need for the two communities in the United States, and for India and Pakistan, to move ahead and jointly confront the issues before them, like the earthquake.
“Those responsible for the bombings want to disrupt any joint activities and any improvement in relations between India and Pakistan. They must be isolated and the model of people from the two countries working together is a way to marginalize them.”
Andersen said the committee would continue its work even after the fundraiser, because the need for assistance remains. Further, he said, the committee will function as an organizational mechanism to link the two communities, so that they can address common problems more effectively.
Sumanth Chipuri, one of the Indian-American members of the committee, told India Abroad that besides the immediate benefit of raising funds for the earthquake victims, the forming of the committee is “also historical step toward unifying the Indian-American and Pakistani-American communities.
“I am extremely proud as an Indian American to be part of the Global Relief and work toward bridging the gap between our two communities here in the United States,” he said, pointing out that the two countries shared a common past. “It is time to look ahead, towards a bright and unified future under a strong partnership as Americans.”
Amina Kahn, a Pakistani-American member of the committee, told India Abroad, “As a Pakistani American, I am heartened to see the support offers by the Indian-American community as a response to this humanitarian crisis. These are all steps in the right direction.
“Our communities in the United States are successful and prosperous and we achieve new heights by working together and building on these successes. The Committee for Global Relief is one venue through which common goals of human relief can be achieved.”
For more information, call 202 737-1121 or email: commiteeforglobalrelief@gmail.com.
