We want peace 365 days a year, not a day less, but a day more! On the pretext of the International Day of Peace, after enduring three decades of war and losses and half a century of injustice, after leaving behind the storms and turbulences, we wish to remember that Simorgh, whose every feather is cure to every suffering and the herald of freedom and justice, has not nested behind Mount Qaaf; we are Simorgh (the thirty birds) and the reator and guard of enduring peace at the centre and the periphery, if we wake up… We are the saviour, if we are vigilant, believe in ourselves and roll up our sleeves.
“Simorgh” is a call for the citizenry to chant against war, militarism, torture and ill-treatment as well as all forms of violence and destructive interference in our home. It is a home for collating our calls on the path of peace and pride of the people of Afghanistan. “Simorgh” is a call for the solidarity movement to let peace into Afghanistan, to have it nested here and to guard it.
We call on all the authors, writers, poets, men and women, young and old, from any nationality to accompany us in building this home.
Literary passages, poems, narrations, memories, tales, short stories… may stem from experience and reflection as well as individual insight and vision. This is a present to the people of Afghanistan, a message of hope to assist these people to regain their integrity and benevolence; it is a tune for those who have long not heard anything but the drums of war.
The Armanshahr Jury shall award the Simorgh Literary Prize to three successful literary works and a selection of the most distinguished pieces shall appear in print under the heading “Let’s break the silence.”
How to take part in Simorgh Literary Competition: Send us your literary passage, narration, memory, tale, short story in 10-30 pages maximum, or three of your poems about/inspired by the following topics to enter the competition:
• Victim: victims of the recent tumults, conflicts and wars
• Torture: physical, sexual, psychological and social ill treatments
• Rejection of war: violence and militarism
Your work would preferably be a typed printout accompanied with its digital version on disk, or well-written legible text, which should be sent to us or e-mailed to the following e-mail addresses not later than 31 October 2009 together with the following form filled in:
Name (or penname): Surname/Date and Place of birth
Sex/Profession/Telephone/E-mail:
Armanshahr Foundation is an independent nonprofit making citizenship organisation based in Kabul that is not affiliated to any economic, political, religious, and ethnic group or any government.
We endeavour to create the foundations appropriate for achieving social demands geared to democracy, human rights, justice and rule of law; take cultural initiatives and publishing
books to serve the shaping of collective consciousness of the citizens. Armanshahr Foundation is working toward exchange of ideas and dialogue within Afghanistan and region-wide with the goal of achieving solidarity, peace and progress.
Contact us: jayeza.simorgh@gmail.com
Telephone: 0775321697 and 0700427244
Blog: http://jayezasimorgh.blogfa.com
