Report by Manoj Pai, StarPeace ambassador in India


While  many  of  the  amateur astronomers world wide, as well as those around  the  Asia  were focused on the Total Solar Eclipse activity, a small group of amateur astronomers carried out a small activity, which
had  a  tremendous impact worldwide. For the first time in the history of two countries, whose relations were marred with cross border firing and acts of violence, actually had members of the armed forces of both
sides of the border, rubbing shoulders with amateur astronomers at the very border dividing the two countries. During this StarPeace and AWB event an actual star party was held on the Ground Zero between two different countries, which was also attended by the security forces of each country.

Debasis with M A Sharif, Photo by Debasis Sarkar

On 21st July 2009, a few hours before sunset amateur astronomers from two different countries India and Bangladesh had a star party at the border which is heavily guarded by the Border Security Force (BSF) in Indian side and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in the Bangladesh.

As  per  Indo-Bangla  border  treaty,  no  one  can  have  any form of activity,  which  appears  as  a  war potential within 150 yard of the border  ‘zero  line.’  The demarcation between the two countries is visible through numbered pillars. The Indian side has multi layered, heavily built, flood lit border fence around 150 yard off from the zero line.  No one is allowed to cross the fence between sunrise and sunset.  Even during the day time, one needs to cross multilayer permission procedure to cross the border.

To host a star party would have been a highly improbable event.

Both teams together, Photo by Debasis Sarkar

In  the first week of July, Mr Debasis Sarkar the President of the Sky Watchers Association of   North  Bengal  (SWAN),  affiliated  with Confederation  of  Indian  Amateur Astronomers, India  requested for an appointment  with  Border Security Force of the North Bangla Frontier. He had a long meeting with the Inspector General Mr. Nand Kishore, and also the Director General of SF, highlighting the need on use of astronomy to harbor peace and harmony. Mr Sarker apprised both of them the role of Astronomers without Borders and their activities world wide.  He  also  told them about the Star Peace Project of IYA2009 and also  highlighted  the Star  Peace events  held  between India and Pakistan  earlier  this  year. The simple term that “Boundaries vanish when we look skywards” helped convenience both of them and the Border Security Force formally gave them the permission to hold the event with a few conditions.

Mr  FR  Sarker  of  the  Bangladesh Astronomical Society had a similar discussion  with  the  Bangladesh Rifles, who, when informed that BSF, India  had  formally agreed to hold such an event on the border, found no reason to deny.

It was mutually decided by both sides that the event would be held at Border pillar number 433, located at Latitude 26°29'10.11"N and Longitude 88°22'16.99"E.  This place is about 20 km from Panchagarh, Bangladesh. The strength of team members for either side was restricted to 15 members each.

On the 21st July, 5:20PM, a team of 15 SWAN members under the leadership of Mr. Debasis Sarker headed for the “NO MANS LAND”. No camera, materialistic gifts or weapons of any short were allowed as per the
international protocol. The sole exception was the flag pole to carry the National Flag and a few flex banners.

Me, Debasis Sarkar hugging Mr. F R Sarkar, Photo by Debasis Sarkar

A similar delegation headed by Mr FR Sarker in company of 15 members of the BAS also arrived at the Ground Zero. The security on either side  of  the border treated this event as an official Flag meeting as per  UN  Protocol  and  then allowed the astronomers and citizens from either  side  to  greet  each other. The routine protocol was slightly lowered as a mutual understanding between either security forces. Both the teams carried with them their National Flags and Banners of their Organizations which were hoisted. They greeted each other but could not control their emotions. Crying with job, they started hugging each other, ignoring the political demarcation line between the two countries.  The security forces present had no desire to stop the emotional avalanche.

The  first  speech  was  delivered  by  Debasis  Sarkar, “Sun is one, we  are  looking at the Sun around the world to observe Solar Eclipse, we  are  all  same,  we  do  not  believe  in border between India and
Bangladesh.”  He concluded his talk by asking, “Can any border keep love, greetings, faith between two friends separated into two halves?”

Mr. F.  R.  Sarker, the General Secretary, Bangladesh Astronomical Society continued in the same vein. “When we look at the Earth from the Space, we see Earth as one entity without any border. We human beings  are the same species all over the Earth, we are one, and we do not believe any border on planet Earth”

The Bangladesh Party accompanied by BDR Jawans, Photo by Debasis Sarkar

To commemorate the event both sides had decided to exchange T-Shirts in the Olympic style. The BAS had brought specially printed ones. While  SWAN  had  brought specially hand woven silken scarf called
‘Khada’  a  symbol  of  honor  in  foothills  culture. This is also a Traditional Tibetan custom on honor. Unfortunately no exchanges of gifts were allowed. After a brief photo session, followed by a press
conference was held at the venue.

As  the  time  for  sunset drew closer, the amateurs were asked by the security  forces  to  leave  the  area  as  no movement was officially permitted after sunset.

After arrival into the mainland of each country, either amateur group decided to give the gifts, which they had brought for their counter parts, to the Security forces. In addition to this gift, the SWAN also gave them AWB Logo, a Picture of Mt. Kanchendjungha.

This event appeared in various newspapers and TV the next day.