mumbai the observer research foundation mumbai orf has invited the eminent pakistani writer and journalist asifnoorani to talk on strengthening indopak ties through our shared cultural heritage noorani will speak in mumbai on friday august 23 at 530 pm in the orf office 5th floor nkm international house babubhaichinaimarg backbay reclamation mumbai behind licyogakshema building asif noorani proudly calls himself a peacenik whose favourite subject is the urgent need for strengthening the cultural bonds between pakistan and india born in mumbai in 1942 into a secular urduspeaking family he migrated to pakistan when he was eight but his links with india have over the decades gone from strength to strength he has visited india many times as a member of the pakistani media delegation or simply to meet relatives and his increasing number of friends he is currently writing a book on these visits for a multinational publishing house in 2008 he coauthored with kuldip nayar the bestselling book tales of two cities lotusroli in 2010 he authored a book on ghazal king mehdi hassan he writes on art literature music and films his talk will highlight the commonalities between our thought processes lifestyles languages and common problems such as gender discrimination and poverty noorani will suggest how we can strengthen these bonds not necessarily with sports because there is a spirit of rivalry involved in competitive games i will lay stress on performing arts particularly music when jagjit singh performed in pakistan twice the second time to raise funds for the treatment of his mentor mehdi hasan he was given a roaring applause the kind which nusrat fateh ali and more recently abida perveen got in india stated noorani in an orf media release he added that the heart of even the staunchest indiahater in pakistan melts when he listens to the honeysoaked voice of lata mangeshkar your films are doing big business in pakistan chennai express has broken all records when it was released on eid our tv plays should similarly be shown on your television networks i will dispel many misunderstandings he mentioned in the release for more details call 02261313800 or email dhavaldesaiorfonlineorg