In a powerful testament to people-to-people solidarity, the peace initiative Aaghaz-e-Dosti has unveiled its 14th Annual Peace Calendar for the year 2026. This unique project, sustained for over a decade despite persistent diplomatic frost between India and Pakistan, showcases the hopeful visions of schoolchildren from both nations.
Art as a Bridge Over Troubled Waters
The calendar was officially launched at an event in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, on Wednesday, January 2, 2026. It features twelve selected paintings, with six contributions each from children in India and Pakistan. The initiative, which began in 2012, has continued uninterrupted every year, proving that civilian efforts for harmony can endure beyond political fluctuations.
Devika Mittal, co-founder of Aaghaz-e-Dosti and a sociology professor at a University of Delhi college, emphasized the critical need for such efforts. "The highs and lows in diplomatic relations will continue but the young minds should not stop dreaming about peace. That would be the most dangerous," she stated, adding that "There's no future without peace, and our future is our children."
"Together We Rise": Themes of Shared Progress
This year's calendar, created in collaboration with Gallery Art'est and the Gandhian Society, carries the theme "Together We Rise." The artworks vividly illustrate how children perceive mutual progress. One standout piece by Laila Babar, a student from Roots IVY International School in Faisalabad, Pakistan, depicts Indian and Pakistani cricketers shaking hands on the field. This imagery arrives at a time when such gestures between players from the two countries have become rare, highlighting a child's wish for restored sportsmanship.
Ravi Nitesh, another co-founder of the initiative, explained how current events shape the children's art. "We have observed that children know everything, whatever happens between both countries," he said. The submissions this year included ideas on collaboration in fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI). Past themes have been influenced by events like the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor in 2019 and gestures of sportsmanship, such as Indian Olympian Neeraj Chopra's mother appreciating his Pakistani counterpart, Arshad Nadeem.
Sustaining Hope Across Fourteen Years
The resilience of the project is remarkable. Mittal shared that the foundation received over 200 paintings from India and 40-50 from Pakistan this year. The team maintains connections with Pakistani schools they have previously worked with to keep the channel of dialogue open. "We have continued to work with children on both sides of the border as it is important to nurture their minds towards peace right from the beginning," she affirmed.
Ravi Nitesh pointed out that the calendar was even published during the Covid-19 pandemic, albeit without a physical launch. "We believe that civilian peace initiatives should be strong enough to help the government as well as foster young minds. Future generation leaders are children and our aim is to keep their minds away from weapons," he asserted.
Participation this year spanned cities including Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad in Pakistan, and Delhi, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh in India. Beyond art, Aaghaz-e-Dosti (meaning 'beginning of friendship') also fosters letter-writing exchanges. However, since the postal exchange between the two countries halted in 2019, handwritten letters are now scanned, printed, and distributed by teachers to preserve this emotional connection.
The 14th Peace Calendar stands as a poignant, colorful reminder that while governments navigate complex relations, the simplest dreams of children for a harmonious future remain a constant, unifying force.
