China-India Forum Youth Festival

“Youth Dialogue for Peace and Development”
Dates: 19th August – 2nd September 2007 Goals and Agenda:
1. To prepare the final draft of the China-India Forum Charter.
2. To learn from the Chinese and Indian Cultural and Historical Pluralism and convert cultural barriers into cultural understanding and cultivate appreciation.
3. To dialogue, discuss and find possible solutions in both countries and globally on issues related: Environmental Crisis (Water, Global Warming and Climate Change), Health especially HIV/AIDS, Poverty, Education and Information Technology,
4. To explore the role of Spirituality, Religion, Materialism and the Role of Women in creating a Peaceful World.
5. To Empower Youth to take an active role in transforming Awareness into Action
6. To form youth groups and network to work towards the Chinese-Indian Citizens Assembly in 2010.
7. To have fun and enjoy the Cross-Cultural experience.
8. Open Forum Discussion.

Vedike (NGO in Bangalore) in collaboration and support by the Charles Leopold Mayer Foundation for Human Progress (FPH), Center for Cross-Cultural Studies, Peking University, China, Samvad India Foundation (NGO in Delhi), Project Agastya (NGO in Bangalore), Centre for Gandhian Studies, Bangalore University, Banglaore and other NGOs organized the China-India Forum Youth Festival. China-India Forum Youth Festival 2007 was not just a workshop (theme based) oriented festival but more of a gathering to celebrate life and cultural diversity, share and exchange both contemporary and traditional art, dance, music and food of both the countries.
Twenty One (21) Chinese participants compromising of young people from colleges and universities along with few Chinese scholars and professors came to India on 19th August 2007 and stayed on up to 2nd September 2007. They traveled from north to south of India and had a rich cultural experience in India for fifteen days. The Chinese friends, all 21 of them were preparing for this journey in India almost two months before they arrived in India. They might have certain dogma before they arrived and some after they went back. In India, the Chinese friends visited places such as Delhi, Agra, Bangalore, Chikmagular, Mysore, H.D Kote, Cochin and Alleppey. They traveled using different modes of transport and experienced an “Indian ride” by bus, train, air plane, horse cart, jeep, etc. It wasn’t mere tourism but a responsible eco-tourism through experiential learning. Every stop they made at various locations in India there was something to learn and to give back in return to fellow Indians.

India and China both the countries show up in the list of The Seven Wonders of the World. Mughal Empero Shaha Jahan’s love for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal was manifested through the monument of love, Taj Mahal which is one of them. The Chinese friends admired the beauty of Taj Mahal for long hours. This was also an occasion to discuss a brief history of India and the Moghulistan - land of the Moghuls. Krishna Janmastami celebrates the appearance day of Lord Krishna in Mathura. It is celebrated in an elaborate way in Vrindavana. Rasa-lila plays are performed, which shows different pastimes of Lord Krishna. It is believed that Lord Krishna appeared in Mathura about 5,000 years ago. During such a celebration our Chinese friends visited temples in Vrindavana at the banks of Yamuna river.
In north India, they visited different sites in Delhi, Agra and Mathura. Some of the other places they enjoyed visiting were: Rajghat Gandhi Samadhi, Lotus Temple - Bahá'í House of Worship, Jama Masjid, Gateway of India, walking around in the streets of Old Delhi and tri-cycle rides. South India must have been a different experience for our Chinese friends as they first visited Chikmagalur in the state of Karnataka which nestles in the Baba Budan hills. Chikmagalur is calm, serene town full of scenic hills, valleys, streams and snow-white coffee blossoms.

They had an opportunity for a three day home stay with mainly coffee & areca nut growing farmer’s community for more personal and cultural interaction. After having visited other beautiful places and temples around the community where they lived, we arranged a youth dialogue one of the evenings. There were more than 40 Indian youth gathered to see the Chinese friends and have an interaction with them. Questions were exchanged about the stereo types, food, religion, language, culture, agriculture and other practices of both the countries. The Indian youth were in awe of the Chinese having so many talented youth who win Olympic medals for their country. To this comment, one of the Chinese friend responded that government takes well care of the athlete and a lot of money for infrastructure and training is spent. The Chinese youth were so surprised to know that youth there didn’t feel the need to live in cities and they were happy with their occupation and were living an enjoyable life. In their discussion they found out that family was the most valued part of their lives. That evening gathering ended with celebration: dance, singing and dinner. In Mysore, the cultural capital of the state the Chinese friends visited the great Mysore Palace and learnt about the Wodeyars. The Wodeyar dynasty ruled over Mysore Kingdom for a while who were also patrons of art and culture contributing significantly to the cultural growth of that city. It was also a time for shopping various traditional arts and crafts, garments and the sweet dish Mysore Pak. FEDINA (NGO working in South India) helped us arrange a visit to a tribal community living in the forest in Nagarhole near H.D Kote. This was mainly a honey collecting community known as jenukurubas (jenu means honey).

The community leader Sommana facilitated the discussion in Kanada (state language) which was being translated to our Chinese friends. This community has been facing many challenges in the forest and who have been fighting for their rights. The community spoke about their problems and abuse of rights, displayed techniques how they dealt with the bees while collecting honey, shared some honey with the visitors and were also curious to know more about China. The Chinese friends were surprised to see all the children and family having smile on their face amidst all these problems and were very touched to have met, hug and interacted with the tribal community. One of the important programs of the festival was the youth convention in Bangalore, India where the Chinese youth stayed together with young Indians in a beautiful eco-friendly campus of Visthar (NGO in the north of Bangalore). The youth convention was held between 25th August – 28th August 2007. On 25th August, the convention was inaugurated at the Centre for Gandhian Studies, Bangalore University, Bangalore by opening of an exhibition, “Gandhiji in Mint and Print” from the personal collection of Dr. V.S Yalvigi. The rest of three days intense program for cross-cultural dialogue, presentations, discussion on serious issues, and joyous moments in their larger effort for Peace, Friendship and Sustainable Development was carried out in Visthar. Dr. Jeevan Kumar, Director, Centre for Gandhian Studies invited Sandeep Shastri, Du Lingling, Yu Jing, Zhao Baisheng, Gustavo Marin (FPH), John Clammer, R.L. M Patil and other guests to jointly light the lamp. This process is very common to inaugurate auspicious convention or projects in India.

Anugraha John and Chen Dunfei jointly presented the background of China-India Forum and the purpose of gathering at the convention. Gustavo Marin in his inspirational talk said if China and India can be at Peace, then one third population of the world is at peace. He challenged the youth to create a world community with responsibility, ethics, values and good governance. He asked us to join force with China-India Forum to promote people- to- people dialogue and hope that these two nations will set examples for the others. He also assured that FPH will back such initiatives of the China-India Forum in their journey towards a Citizens Assembly.The first day of the convention was more an intellectual presentations by the experts on themes such as, Chinese and Indian Cultural and Historical Pluralism., role of Religion especially Buddhism for Peace in China and India and environmental concerns. The next three days youth took the main stage. They raised various issues to promote the idea of a ‘Global Citizenship' and very seriously concerned about issues of our generation: globalization, environment concerns - global warming, climate change & water crisis, poverty, HIV/AIDS among other health issues, cultural consciousness and many more. Through dialogue they pursued to find possible solutions for the various problems in their respective countries. They motivated each other to become Change Makers.The various presentations by youth gave a wider knowledge, spectrum and motivation to all the participants. There was so much to learn from all facts and figures, to analyze the differences and similarities and to work towards bringing positive change in the society.

Dr. Siddlingiah, Chairman of the Kanada Development Authority awarded the certificate to both Chinese and Indian youth participants and encouraged the youth to work towards creating a better and peaceful society. Over all this convention saw a geo-cultural diversity from both countries with a gender balanced participants. The youth had time for talent hour, singing, dancing, karate moves, fun skits, games, football match and a great party in a restaurant in the city. The Festival concluded with a three days retreat in Alleppey in the state of Kerala (also called as the Venice of the East) during the auspicious Onam Festival widely celebrated in Kerala. This was a time to reflect and plan for the follow up of the China-India Forum. Both Chinese and Indians felt the need to expand the Forum and include Japan one of the most powerful nations in Asia to join in achieving the objectives and strengthening their walk towards a Citizens Assembly in 2010.

Mr. Thomas Chandy, Kuttanad, Member of the Legislative Assembly awarded the Chinese friends with souvenirs in Alleppey and was impressed with the youth activities through the China-India Forum.