What does India need in these trying times when deep societal fissures are evident amid the lofty ambition of making it a $5 trillion economy? The answer lies in big and small interventions, and political and apolitical movements that help to bring people closer in a diverse country like India. One such effort, albeit a political one, was the Bharat Jodo Yatra, but apolitical movements that are people-led are equally important. Now, another initiative for promoting peace and harmony has been launched, which is completely apolitical in nature.

One such initiative that was launched the last week of September is the Dhai Aakhar Prem Yatra—a collective effort by the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA), Progressive Writers’ Association (PWA), and many other like-minded civil society organisations.

The PWA and IPTA were established at the height of India’s independence movement in 1936 and 1943, respectively, and made immense contributions to the cause with meaningful stories, plays, and spirited songs against the exploitative colonial rule and princely states. They carried on with their movement of sensitising people about social issues during India’s formative years, rising to the occasion by giving voice to workers’ rights, employment, education, women’s liberation, democracy, and anti-war protests. Legendary poets and writers like Sahir Ludhianvi, Shailendra, Saadat Hasan Manto, Kaifi Azmi, Khawaja Ahmad Abbas, Balraj Sahni, Majrooh Sultanpuri and so on were part of these two cultural organisations.