COTHM Pays Tribute to Dr. Senta Siller
Friday, May 22, 2026
This short video clip captures a beautiful part of his heartfelt and extraordinary tribute in the presence of Dr. Siller and her husband Dr. Norbert Pintsch.
Labels: COTHM, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:52 AM,
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A Heartfelt Thank You from Dr. Siller
Monday, April 27, 2026
She is particularly moved by her visit to the village of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, where the new Thatta Kedona showroom left a deep impression. To Dr. Siller, this beautiful showroom is more than just a space - it is a living testament that the seed she once planted through Thatta Kedona has not withered, but has grown stronger over time, continuing to blossom and bear fruit.
Labels: Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:28 AM,
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Dr. Senta Siller and Professor Dr. Norbert Pintsch in Pakistan
Friday, April 10, 2026
Labels: Amjad Ali, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Germany, Pakistan, TDAP, UNESCO
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:25 AM,
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Cross-Cultural Bridge Builder: Dr. Senta Siller Honored for Empowering Rural Pakistan
They were warmly received by LCCI President Mr. Fahren-ur-Rehman Saigol, who presented a commemorative shield to Dr. Senta Siller in recognition of her outstanding services to rural women in Pakistan—particularly her impactful work in the small village of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka in District Okara.
A meaningful moment celebrating dedication, empowerment, and cross-cultural friendship.
Labels: Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, LCCI
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:12 AM,
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UO pays tribute to Dr Senta Siller’s services
Sunday, April 5, 2026
In recognition of the German artist and academician Dr Senta Siller’s services for women empowerment, gender mainstreaming and female entrepreneurship, a seminar was organized by the Directorate of External Linkages and Directorate of Public Relations at the University of Okara where the Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Sajjad Mubin, and various member of Okara’s civil society paid tribute to Dr Siller who is currently visiting Pakistan along with her husband, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch. A large number of faculty members and students from the Weekend Program participated in the event.
Prof Mubin announced to name the under-construction girls hostel at the campus after Dr Siller. Amjad Ali, a correspondent of the German broadcasting service and an academician, briefed about the project “Thatta Kedona”, initiated by Dr Siller in 1990s. He told how the project had empowered thousands of village women and changed the socio-economic dynamics of the village.
Dr Siller, in her keynote address, explained the factors that led to her motivation of investing her energies for the project. Dr Pintsch told the journey of Dr Siller. The other speakers included a Aslam Tahir ul Qadri, a renowned social worker from Okara, and Chaudary Maqsood Ahmed Jutt, a representative of various agricultural bodies of Pakistan.
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The event was moderated by the Deputy Director (Press, Media & Publications) at the UO, Sharjeel Ahmed.
Labels: Amjad Ali, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Okara, Thatta Kedona, Tribute, University of Okara
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:51 PM,
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Thatta Kedona in the University of Okara
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Labels: Amjad Ali, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Okara, Thatta Kedona, Tribute, University of Okara
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 4:47 PM,
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Where Dolls Speak and Cultures Embrace - A Tribute to Humanity Through Art
In a world often divided by borders, languages, and histories, moments of cultural convergence become rare and precious. One such moment is set to unfold in Lahore, where art, memory, and human connection will intertwine in a deeply meaningful gathering at the prestigious Mozart Haus Lahore.
The Pakistan-Austria Friendship Society, Mozart Haus, Model Town, led by President Aamir Rafique and its Executive Committee, will host an evocative tribute in honor of Dr. Senta Siller - a distinguished personality celebrated as “Sitara-e-Pakistan” and affectionately known as the “Mother of Dolls.” This event is not merely ceremonial; it is a philosophical reflection on the power of art to transcend the visible and speak to the unseen threads of human unity.
Dr. Siller’s work, centered on the creation and preservation of dolls, may at first seem rooted in simplicity. Yet, beneath this delicate craft lies a profound narrative. Each doll she creates becomes a vessel of identity, tradition, and emotion—an embodiment of cultures that might otherwise fade into silence. Through her hands, dolls are transformed into storytellers, quietly narrating tales of heritage, belonging, and shared humanity.
The symbolism of the doll in Dr. Siller’s artistic philosophy is particularly striking. It represents innocence, continuity, and the universal language of care. In a fragmented world, these creations remind us of a time when connection was instinctive and empathy unspoken. Her work asks an essential question: can art restore the emotional bridges we have lost? And perhaps more importantly, can it remind us of who we truly are?
The venue itself, Mozart Haus, Model Town, stands as a beacon of cross-cultural dialogue, embodying the enduring friendship between Pakistan and Austria. This event further strengthens that bond, illustrating how artistic expression can succeed where politics and discourse often falter. It is here that diverse minds—artists, intellectuals, and admirers—will gather not just to honor a woman, but to celebrate a philosophy rooted in compassion and creativity.
Scheduled evening promises to be a confluence of reflection and admiration. Distinguished guests from various walks of life are expected to attend, each bringing with them their own interpretations of art, identity, and cultural belonging.
In essence, this tribute to Dr. Senta Siller is more than an acknowledgment of her achievements—it is a meditation on the enduring power of art. It reminds us that even the simplest forms of expression, when infused with sincerity, can echo across continents and generations.
As the soft light of a Lahore evening descends upon Mozart Haus, one truth will quietly resonate:
Art does not merely imitate life - it heals, connects, and ultimately defines it.
Labels: Aamir Rafique, Amjad Ali, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Germany, Pakistan, Tribute
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:59 AM,
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Off to Thatta Kedona
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Unimaginable – a generation ago, the journey from Lahore to Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka (TGD) took eight hours; a round trip in one day was hardly possible. Tongas and rickshaws were the usual means of transport in rural areas. There wasn't a single gas station between Lahore and Okara.
The situation improved with the construction of the Lahore-Multan Highway, so that visitors, by car or bus (e.g., from universities), increasingly visited the village of TGD.
Sustainable tourism developed. Guests could stay overnight with accommodation and meals; thanks to the drinking water project, fish could be offered for local consumption; neem tree leaves for insect repellent were available, as were sugarcane spread and fresh buffalo milk.A prize was regularly awarded for the most beautiful mud house (Preservation of Cultural Heritage).
The project's sustainability in this context was repeatedly hampered by major political events (nuclear tests), security concerns, and natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and pandemics, so that domestic and international guests and visitors could take advantage of the pleasant temperatures between September and March.
TK (Thatta Kedona) lives on, preserving its traditional character. Local culture and looks optimistically to the future:
-In 2019, an art project (Artist in Residence Peter Hecht) was successfully carried out,
-In 2021, the crime novel *The Village of Dolls* by Hans Sachs was published,
-In 2024, Dr. Gwendolyne Kulick received her doctorate with a research dissertation in which the TK project also played a role.
-In 2025, after 25 years, the doll project participated in the Bazaar 2025 in Berlin with its own stand, under the patronage of Dr. Senta – a wonderful sign of the connection between tradition and the future.
Labels: Dolls Toys and More, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Gwendolyn Kulick, Peter Hecht, TGD, Thatta Kedona, The Village of Dolls
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 3:15 PM,
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Senta Maria Anna Siller Awarded Sitara-e-Pakistan
Saturday, August 16, 2025
To ensure authenticity, Dr. Siller herself travelled to northern Pakistan to study traditional attire, including that of the Kalash people, believed to be descendants of Alexander the Great’s soldiers. Over time, these handcrafted items were not only showcased in major Pakistani cities but also internationally — particularly in Germany — under the name Thatta Kedona.
The project brought more than just recognition. It offered the village women a steady source of income, enhancing their self-esteem and improving their position in a traditionally patriarchal society. But Dr. Siller’s vision went far beyond dolls. She contributed immensely to the welfare and development of the village. She helped build and furnish the primary school, provided students with free books and stationery, and played a key role in introducing solar power and later connecting the village to the electricity grid. Thanks to her, a proper asphalt road was constructed, connecting the main road to the Women Art Centre, which was later renamed Senta Siller Design Center (SSDC) in her honour. Dr. Siller also initiated a clean drinking water project that serves the entire village. She launched a green initiative, encouraging tree planting and environmental care. Her idea "One Baby, One Tree" provided each newborn’s mother with a fruit tree, encouraging them to nurture the tree as they would their child.
As a symbolic gesture, every doll-maker received a Bougainvillea plant, so that blooming flowers in front of homes would signal to visitors: a doll-maker lives here.
Dr. Siller's efforts transformed Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka — not just in infrastructure, but in spirit. To provide basic healthcare to the people of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, a village dispensary was established as early as 1992 by Dr. Leila Siller, a medical doctor and the daughter of Dr. Senta Siller. The nearest hospital is five kilometres away, so the dispensary became a lifeline for the local community. Dr. Senta Siller personally supervised and supported the handicrafts project until 2007, before returning to Germany. She left the initiative in the capable hands of a self-organised group of village women, empowering them to run it independently. To this day, she remains in regular contact with them through occasional Zoom conferences, offering guidance on handicrafts and welfare-related matters.
Today, the villagers are overjoyed by the announcement that the Government of Pakistan will honour Dr. Senta Siller with the Sitara-e-Pakistan (also known as Sitara-e-Imtiaz) in recognition of her outstanding service. She will celebrate her 90th birthday this year and is expected to receive the award in person on March 23, 2026.
Previous: Governor Award Conferred Upon Senta Maria Anna Siller
Labels: Amjad Ali, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Germany, Okara, Pakistan, Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:26 AM,
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Between Rest and Travel
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
April 8th - April 18th: Budapest, Shanghai, Auckland / New Zealand Congress of the International Lyceum Club in Tauranga, Meeting with friends from Switzerland, France, and Australia / Remembrance: Isabel Mertel, volunteer at TGD and artist, Sydney, Melbourne / Home of Dr. Elizabeth, volunteer at TGD, -
Bali, Dili / Timor Leste, Meeting with chief of cabinet of the Ministry of Art and Culture,
Singapore, Istanbul
April 26th: Workshop at the Landgut Stober project with artists
April 28th: Meeting in Leipzig / Grassi Museum
May 1st: Meeting at the Kolbow exhibition with former student and artist from the DGFK Claudia Becker-Jung
May 2nd: Commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Berlin capitulation, together with GreatGrancChildren
May 3rd: Visit to the Anne Guetzlaff exhibition in Wasserburg
Heraklion-Souda-Kolymbari / Visit of Dr. Papaderos regarding the memorial for the civilian victims of Crete between 1941 and 1945
Meeting with Anna Papaderos regarding the contribution in the DGFK INTERNATIONAL booklet
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Athens with a visit by the artist Spyros Kardamakis regarding the contribution in the DGFK INTERNATIONAL booklet
Visit regarding Greece doll project volunteer Dorit Savidou in Korapi
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Tirana-Durres / Albania
Labels: DGFK, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 6:05 PM,
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Designing for coalescence
Friday, August 9, 2024
in Pakistan’s craft for empowerment system
by
Dr Gwendolyne Kulick was a volunteer in the TK project since 2004
and also a helper at the doll stand in the Ethnology Museum in Berlin .
until 2017. She was a professor at the BNU in Lahore and
since 2015 a professor at the University of Cairo.
In her doctoral thesis she also dealt with the doll project in TKD.
Important passages from the dissertation are listed in the appendix,
e.g. who said what and why.
Labels: Dr Gwendolyne Kulick, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Farzana Zahoor, Joachim Polzer
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:20 AM,
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Salt and fish MEMORY
Friday, April 12, 2024
GERlit202406-58
Time with a friend
When mobility decreases, memories increase and reveal special experiences with a friend in Pakistan.
Driving through the landscape together again - it would be nothing compared to the past, the experiences.
He drove with us to Khewra in the Salt Range. The mine was not accessible at short notice due to an official guest. So we climbed the mountainside, which took some of the air out of our friend, who was smoking at the time. The three of us reached the plateau and enjoyed the beautiful view of the flat land in the distance.
Another time we visited his home village and saw his friend and mother in the rural atmosphere. We dined together and slept in a small room - the sky was starry and the air was pure and clean. The place - we forgot the name.
Through a friend who had written a lot about special tourist regions, we came across a hydraulic structure from the British period on one of our tours that provided water supply to the southern Punjab areas.
A trip to a majestically flowing watercourse was unforgettable; On the shore, a fisherman invited people to eat fried fish. It was so delicious - we rarely had such a wonderful lunch.
How nice would it be to get together and share memories...
Labels: Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Memories, Pakistan
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:12 AM,
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Dr. Norbert Pintsch in Pakistan
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Dr. Norbert Pintsch from Senior Exert Service, (SES) Germany (also Dr. Senta Siller), arrived in Pakistan this morning (16 March 2023). They will be here for a week. Their whirlwind tour includes a dash to Islamabad, Dolls Village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka, and a lot of meetings with friends of Dolls here in Lahore. While in Pakistan, they will also complete work on a proposed publication.
Labels: Dr Norbert Pintsch, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:10 AM,
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Governor Award Conferred Upon Dr Senta Siller
Saturday, February 19, 2022
Later in the afternoon, Friends of Senta Siller Design Centre arranged a reception in Alhamra to celebrate and acknowledge the work of Dr Senta Siller that spans over three decades.
View the video on Twitter, also read in the News
Labels: Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:40 AM,
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Dr Norbert Pintsch in Lahore School
Thursday, January 13, 2022
Labels: Dr Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:00 AM,
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Dr. Norbert Pintsch in Pakistan
Monday, November 29, 2021
Dr. Norbert Pintsch from Senior Exert Service, (SES) Germany, has arrived in Pakistan this morning (29 Nov 2021). He will be here till 3 Dec 2021. His whirlwind tour includes dash to Islamabad, Dolls Village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka and a lot of meetings with friends of Dolls here in Lahore. Please stay tuned for more on activities in Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka.
Labels: Dr Norbert Pintsch, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:29 PM,
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Corona doesn't stop anywhere, so lectures are limited in places
Friday, February 5, 2021
Labels: Communication, Dr Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:58 AM,
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