Project Narratives: Stories from India and Pakistan

Welcome to Project Narratives!

A proud ‘Melton Foundation Action Grants’ initiative, Project Narrative is a storytelling initiative that explores the human impact of the India–Pakistan conflict through personal, cross-border interviews. By centering lived experiences and amplifying unheard voices, the project seeks to break down stereotypes, build empathy, and remind us of the shared humanity that persists beyond borders.

Amid renewed waves of violence and division in South Asia in 2025, Project Narrative stands as a powerful testament to what cross-cultural collaboration can achieve. Led by Melton Fellows Marleen Haupt, Nickhil Sharma, and Julian Klauke, with valuable support from Pooja Channaveerappa, Neli Blum, Diana Hues, Shuning (Sonya) Lu, Diego Cantos Zúñiga, Hanyu Gong, and others, the project delves into the lived experiences shaped by the decades-long India-Pakistan conflict.  The team found myriad ways to bridge divides—partnering with organizations like Aaghaz-E-Dosti in India and the Citizens Archive of Pakistan to gather personal stories that challenge stereotypes and illuminate shared humanity. From bustling streets in Delhi to creative circles in Bangalore, what emerged were deeply personal narratives—stories of identity, exclusion, connection, and resilience, that remind us of the emotional and cultural ties that endure despite political borders. In a world increasingly shaped by “us vs. them” rhetoric, this project dares to listen, to understand, and to show that empathy is still possible.

The following reflection captures the essence and journey of Project Narrative, as described by Julian Klauke, one of the project’s co-leads. What follows is his firsthand account of how the team came together, navigated challenges, and brought voices from both sides of the India-Pakistan border into conversation.

“After roughly 6 months of contacting potential collaborators and organizing interviews with our partner organizations, we were ready to meet a diverse set of people on both sides of the border.”

Voices from India: Warmth, Insight, and Connection

© Aaghaz-E-Dosti

In Delhi, our travels were very rewarding and through our partners Aaghaz-E-Dosti we met an amazing array of peace activists, artists, historians, educators, students and journalists who have been working very closely with the India-Pakistan issue. Our interactions were warm, personal and powerful and it has been a good push for us in the right direction — to continue working on collecting and sharing Narratives. Many of their stories will keep with us for a long time and we are already looking forward to sharing these in our documentary.

Hitting a Roadblock: Visas Denied

We were now looking forward to hearing stories from Pakistan, too, so in our original plan, we were supposed to meet the interviewees arranged for by our other collaboration partner, the Citizens Archive of Pakistan.

© Citizens Archive of Pakistan

Sadly, in the days leading up to our departure, it became clear that we would not be getting a visa to enter the country. Although we followed protocol, our intended purpose of visit, stated clearly in the required invitation letter, rerouted our visa applications to the Ministry of the Interior since matters of Indo-Pak relations are treated with a lot of scrutiny on both sides. This process ended up delaying the decision making until it reached a point where we had to get our passports back empty-handedly, in order to at least be able to travel to India for our interviews there.

Plan B: Adaptability and Global Support

We didn’t give up. We reached out through all possible channels—from Melton Foundation contacts and activists we met at conferences, to the German Foreign Ministry. Though responses were positive and supportive, diplomatic barriers proved too difficult to overcome.

Our contacts—while eager to help—had to operate carefully within their own political contexts, many choosing to support us quietly to avoid jeopardizing their work. So, once we reached Delhi, we began putting Plan B into motion.

“We concluded that, if we, personally, can’t reach the Pakistanis in their country, we will either have to personally meet Pakistanis outside their country or have to find someone who could meet Pakistanis in their own country.”

Thankfully, The Citizens Archive of Pakistan immediately agreed to conduct interviews on our behalf, following an interview manual we created to ensure content consistency—much like the MF Brand Book. Although this workaround compromised full consistency, we’re confident we will receive good-quality footage from our partners.

Nelly and Nickhil conducted an interview in Gothenburg, Sweden, as part of Project Narrative’s international outreach.

We also began conducting interviews with Pakistanis living abroad. While not our first choice, it was our only option and added yet another layer of diversity to the voices we recorded.

Mapping the Vision: Beginnings in Berlin

In Berlin, the team of Melton Fellows working on Project Narrative came together to plan, map, and strategize the next steps. They coordinated interviews, developed ethical storytelling guidelines, and established the framework for the project, setting the stage for impactful cross-border storytelling.

Creativity and Collaboration

Our trip to India concluded with a week of enriching connections. Thanks to personal ties from BMS fellows, we were introduced to even more fascinating individuals to interview.

The artist collective Open Sky Slam immediately stepped up—helping us arrange interviews and even reaching out to their Pakistani contacts to conduct interviews according to our guidelines.

Additionally, Marleen visited the Partition Museum in Amritsar, deepening her understanding of the historical and emotional impacts of the India–Pakistan partition, which greatly informed our storytelling approach.

Strength in Teamwork

One of the most heartening aspects of this journey was the teamwork that developed within our interview group. Years of experience with each other’s cultures, mutual respect, and genuine friendship allowed us to complement one another’s strengths and compensate for weaknesses.

Having one Indian fellow and two others familiar with India proved instrumental in building trust with interviewees and navigating challenging situations. This connection enabled people to open up, sharing stories they hadn’t told even to close family or friends.

Themes That Emerged: Identity, Exclusion, and Shared Histories

The stories we gathered in India presented a contrast to those from our first documentary in Israel and Palestine, where narratives focused on danger, humiliation, and confrontation.

Here, the focus was more on complex issues of identity, social exclusion, and the psychological impact of separation. Interviewees from border regions and Kashmir, however, told stories that more closely resembled the intensity of our earlier work.

Interestingly, many voices echoed one powerful idea:

“India and Pakistan were made by separating one people—and even today, nearly 70 years after partition, the similarities far outweigh the differences.”

“One thing that stood out throughout the whole experience was the teamwork and routine that was quickly established within the interview team

Sharing Stories Globally: Screenings and Collaborations

Première screening of Project Narrative in Gothenburg, where stories of identity and connection crossed new borders.

Poster announcing the screening of Project Narrative in Temuco, showcasing  stories of resilience and humanity.

After months of effort and emotional investment, the narratives we collected were finally ready to be shared with the world. The first screenings of the Project Narrative documentary were held in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Temuco, Chile—two cities deeply connected to the project through the Melton Foundation’s global network. These screenings brought together students, educators, and activists who engaged with the stories and reflected on the themes of identity, conflict, and connection.

In addition to the documentary, a short video supported by our team offered further context and insight into the importance of cross-border storytelling.

🎥 Watch the video here: 

To explore more personal accounts, behind-the-scenes updates, and interviews, visit our archive page on Facebook:
🔗 Project Narratives

Looking Ahead: Continuing to Share the Humanity in ‘The Other’

Despite political tensions, border restrictions, and logistical challenges, Project Narrative stands as a powerful reminder that understanding is possible through storytelling.

Projects like this continue to inspire the Melton Foundation and its community to seek empathy, bridge divides, and amplify human stories that challenge division and foster connection.

Clockwise from top left: Marleen, Nickhil, and Julian