PEN Ukraine organized a visit of cultural and human rights activists from India to Ukraine

PEN Ukraine hosted a delegation of cultural activists from India within the program In Solidarity With
Ukraine, supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

Tehnaz J. Dastoor, human rights activist and the UNICEF ex-Global Coordinator for Landmines and Focal Point for Child Soldiers, and Bishan Samaddar, editor and director at Seagull Books, visited Ukraine on April 15-19, 2024.

During their visit, they met Ukrainian cultural activists, representatives of NGOs, and human rights defenders, and visited places affected by Russian aggression against Ukraine. The delegation got acquainted with Kyiv and its cultural institutions – PEN Ukraine, Mystetskyi Arsenal, Ukrainian Institute, Holodomor Museum, and the Khanenko Museum. Additionally, they met the teams of the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Voices of Children Foundation, and the Birds project led by Tata Kepler. During their visit, Tehnaz Dastoor and Bishan Samaddar also attended the poetry and musical performance of Maryana Savka, poet and co-founder of the Old Lion Publishing House, and actor Ostap Vakulyuk.

Impressed by these meetings, publisher Bishan Samaddar shared his observations: "The spirit of resistance and dedication to nationhood I perceived among all Ukrainians is truly inspiring. We can all take lessons from this."

Tehnaz Dastoor was mostly impressed with meeting Ukrainian cultural institutions: "What was most memorable about my visit is the role that people from different walks of life - successful artists,
restaurateurs, writers have decided to join hands and work in aid of the country foregoing successful careers, but, in my opinion, doing ‘what is right’ for the current times!"

The delegation visited the Kyiv region to see firsthand the consequences of Russian invasion. For the same purpose, they also visited the village of Yahidne in the Chernihiv region where the occupiers captured the whole population in the basement of the local school using people as a living shield.

Tehnaz Dastoor and Bishan Samaddar partook in the public discussion at PEN Ukraine Space. The event concerning the question of how people in Ukraine and India could know more about each other was moderated by Volodymyr Yermolenko, philosopher and president of PEN Ukraine, and held in partnership with the UkraineWorld, an anglophone multimedia project about Ukraine.

By the end of their visit, the delegation attended the Boryviter exhibition, held at the Ukrainian House and dedicated to the famous dissident artist Alla Horska. Olena Grozovska, musician, art scholar, and co-curator of the exhibition, got the Indian guests acquainted with Horska’s art.

After returning home, human rights activist Tehnaz Dastoor said that it was the role of culture as a center
of people’s unity in wartime that impressed her the most throughout the visit.

"Hearing their favorite programs on the radio, seeing them on TV, or reading a new book by a known author or visiting Alla Horska's fabulous art show, helps, I believe, to create a sense of normalcy despite the stressful situation", Tehnaz shares.

PEN Ukraine expresses their gratitude to the Embassy of Ukraine in India and Iryna Vikyrchak for their assistance in organizing the visit.

The project In Solidarity With Ukraine is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation. Informational partner of the program – Espreso TV Channel.