Celebrating Social Commitment ~ the MEETO memorial award for young South Asians

Portrait of MEETO ~ Kamaljit Bhasin~ Malik (1978~2006)

To commemorate the brief but brilliant life of Meeto or Kamaljit Bhasin-Malik (1978-2006), a scholar, activist and dancer, Meeto’s mother, Kamla Bhasin has decided to institute an award in her memory to honour young South Asians whose work demonstrates a commitment to communal harmony, peace, justice and human rights.


MEETO memorial award ceremony was held at Jatiya Nattyashala, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on 1st of October 2010. Several prominent South Asian activists, artists, academicians and diplomats attended the ceremony. Akeela Naz, a farmer and a woman’s leader from Punjab, Pakistan was awarded this year’s MEETO memorial award. The award ceremony is held for the second time, the first award ceremony was held in 2009 in New Delhi. This year’s award night was followed by cultural events including participants of SANGAT XVth South Asian Feminist Capacity Building Course on Gender, Sustainable Livelihoods, Human Rights and Peace sang and danced for the song “Chalte Jaayenge” at the event.



The Award comprises of Indian Rupees 100,000/=, a citation and a memento

Guests at the occasion

Professor Amena Mohsin from the Department of International Relations at the Dhaka University addresses the gathering

Dr. Hameeda Hossain, the Co-Chair of the South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) hands over the book to MEETO’s mother Kamla Bhasin

Religion: A Tool for Discrimination in South Asia? is launched at the MEETO Memorial Award ceremony which is dedicated the work to MEETO

Past and present participants from Bangladesh who attended SANGAT South Asian Feminist Capacity Building Course sing songs on stage

MEETO' mother and renowned feminist and feminist scholar Kamla Bhasin addresses the gathering
Dr.Amreen Ahmad of Pakistan addresses the gathering while this year’s award winner Akeela Naz stays on stage before receiving her award

Abha Bhaiya shares her thoughts of MEETO

Brij Bhasin, MEETO’s maternal Uncle reads her mother’s words

Sunila Abeysekera delivers the key note at the ceremony

Award winner Akeela Zaz addresses the gathering

Akeela Naz of Pakistan receives her award from Anusheh Anadil of Bangladesh~last year's MEETO memorial award recipient

A section of audience at the event

Anusheh Anadil sings songs of Peace