Events

The society co-organised a COVID-secure protest in University Parks to express solidarity with the protesting farmers in India. The gathering was addressed by Prof Pritam Singh, who explained the pro-agro business and anti-farmer content of the three farming laws, Dr Nikita Sud, who highlighted that parliamentary procedure was not followed in the enactment of these laws and Mr Gurdeep Singh Saini, the Secretary of the Oxford Singh Sabha, who requested for moral and material support for the protesting farmers. Finally, a solidarity statement, endorsed by over 150 current and former student, staff and faculty members of the University of Oxford, was read by Sameer.

The society screened the documentary 'Exiled', which tells the story of the Rohingya by exploring the role of military dictatorship, propaganda, Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims living side-by-side, and survival at all costs. We were joined by the Director of the documentary, Ms Shahida Tulaganova, who spoke about her experience shooting the documentary.

The society hosted Mr. Naveed Noormal, First Secretary at the Embassy of Afghanistan in London, to speak on the Afghan Peace Process and issues incidental thereto.

The society hosted Jo Krishnakumar (India), Muhammad Salman Khan and Aradhiya Khan (Pakistan), and Aritha Wickramasinghe (Sri Lanka) for a conversation on LBGTQ+ Rights in South Asia, to mark the LGBTQ+ History Month in the United Kingdom.

On the occasion of the International Mother Language Day, the society brought Oxford's South Asian community together for an evening of poetry and songs on resistance, over desi food. It was a celebration of thought-provoking poems and songs of resistance composed in South Asian languages.

The society hosted Dr Ayesha Siddiqui, Dr Mahvish Ahmad, Mr Asad Jamal (virtually) and Mr Mohsin Dawar (virtually) for a conversation on sedition laws in Pakistan and their use against members of grassroots movements like the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement to crush dissent.

The society hosted Ahmer Bilal Soofi, who served as a caretaker Federal Law Minister of Pakistan and is the founding President of Research Society of International Law. He spoke about the role of legal diplomacy and international law in addressing various issues plaguing the South Asian region, including disputes concerning territory, religion, trade, environment and interference in internal affairs.

In the backdrop of the recent ruling of the Supreme Court of India in the Ayodhya dispute, the Oxford South Asian Society screened the documentary 'In the Name of God' (Ram Ke Naam). The screening was followed by an informal discussion on the Supreme Court’s verdict and its implications. We were joined via Skype by Mr Muhammad Isa Hakim, a lawyer at the Supreme Court of India. He has been active in advocacy and litigation on minority rights in India.

The society hosted Ali Jehangir Siddiqui, Pakistan's Ambassador at Large for Foreign Investment. He spoke about the role that the US plays in South Asia, focussing particularly on US involvement in the Afghanistan conflict, the relationship that Pakistan shares with the US in relation to Afghanistan and otherwise, and how the US could influence India-Pakistan relations.

Members of the society sat over a cup of Kehwa to discuss how the intervention of Western Powers influences the geopolitics of South Asia.

The society hosted Mr. Fawad Chaudhary, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Pakistan in association with the Oxford Pakistan Society. He spoke about the rule of media in shaping public policy.

The society hosted Lt General Nasir Khan Janjua, Outgoing National Security Adviser of Pakistan. This was a round table conversation event attended by students from across the South Asian region.