Pakistan, 1-7 April 2026
Sunday, April 26, 2026
The recent week-long visit of German artist, designer, and social worker Dr. Senta Siller was a truly memorable journey of creativity, connection, and purpose.
From Lahore to Islamabad, Okara, and most importantly the heart of her decades-long mission — the village of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka — this poster captures powerful moments of her engagements, meetings, and interactions with communities.
Her unwavering dedication to empowering rural women through art, design, and sustainable livelihoods continues to leave a lasting impact. Each image reflects not just visits, but meaningful exchanges, shared visions, and a legacy that keeps growing.
A week that once again strengthened bonds, inspired minds, and celebrated a lifelong commitment to social change.
Labels: Dr Senta Siller, Germany, Pakistan
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 3:09 PM,
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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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Where Dolls Speak and Cultures Embrace - A Tribute to Humanity Through Art
Thursday, April 2, 2026
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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Thatta Kedona is more than dolls and toys
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
When the article "German Connection" by Asgher Javed appeared in Nation, Sunday Plus, April 27, 2008, p. 14, readers were probably unaware of the connections between the three women in the village project; among other things, Ruth Pfau had a connection to Mango-Pir near Karachi with the workshop for leprosy patients there, and Annemarie Schimmel had a connection to TGD because of the vibrant local, traditional culture.
In one case, the Ruth Pfau Basic Health Unit was created, and in the other, the Annemarie Schimmel Cultural Complex, where theater performances, film screenings, and village music concerts took place!
Senta Siller's work was not only that of a -researcher (fieldwork in the Five Provinces), -designer (dolls based on village life), -producer (marketable items), -teacher (training village women), -marketing strategist (museums at home and abroad), -networker (Schimmel-Pfau-Kenoyer-Salima Hashmi/Ex-NCA Lahore, DSFestival, Expo 2000, 2005), but she is rightly considered an anthropologist. All of this demonstrates the visibility and awareness of local village culture, bridging the gap between science and culturally informed consumption, while also creating sustainable measures for village women.
Incidentally, village dolls are housed in the Lok Virsa Museum in Islamabad, and thanks to the IWSA Prize, village toys found their way to the Children's Museum in Izmir!
It all began with the production of the film "Amjad's Village," a 24-hour glimpse into village life in TGD. An interesting article by Maqbool Malik, "Planning of a Model Village," was published in Dawn in 1994. Numerous articles by journalists have praised the project, which, through Senta Siller, has received several awards, including one from UNESCO in 2007, recognizing it as the outstanding doll project in South Asia. Ultimately, it's all on the path to UNESCO World Heritage status.
Labels: Amjad Ali, Annemarie Schimmel, BHU, Dr Ruth Pfau, Dr Senta Siller, Germany, Pakistan, TGD, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:08 AM,
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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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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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2023 - A Year full of joy, and surprises
Sunday, December 24, 2023
as well as
Greece-Iceland-Italy-Switzerland-Austria
and
Germany
Meetings of volunteers, friends, and acquaintances
on the occasion of
Exhibitions, Workshops - ZoomConferences
new publications and movies!
Greetings also to the friends in Cameroun and Colombia, who face further challenges!!!
Many thanks to everyone
Friends - Sponsors - Supporters
Dr Senta Siller and Dr Norbert Pintsch
Labels: Cameroon, Colombia, Pakistan, Volunteers
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 3:57 PM,
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Dr Norbert Pintsch in Pakistan
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Called on S A J Shirazi at Lahore School of Economics, Lahore, Pakistan
Labels: Pakistan, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1:16 PM,
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The Last Bell
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Labels: Handicrafts, Pakistan
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 5:12 PM,
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Happy Independence Day
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Labels: Pakistan
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:02 AM,
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Dolls of the World - Pakistan
Monday, May 12, 2014
Labels: Dolls of the World, Pakistan
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:00 AM,
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New Social Movement
Monday, June 17, 2013
The first encounter with people in a traditional Punjabi village in Pakistan took place in the autumn of 1990 at the invitation of a former student. There are over twenty thousand such villages in the densely populated Punjab province of Pakistan. To put it generally, the first impression was the following: a poor village, a poor region with no roads, no sewers, no schools, no electricity, no toilets. Shooting a documentary film, setting up a public health service, establishing an NGO, building an NGO-financed school were the first measures towards creating a village development project, which was followed from 1993 on by projects that generated income for the rural population. Ten years of Pakistani-German co-operation at NGO level have provided a clear view and have increasingly shown that Pakistan is a rich country with traditional, cultural, natural and social resources.
Read more »
Labels: Dr. Senta Siller, Pakistan
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:30 AM,
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Pakistan Pavilion
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
By Jyoti Kalsi, Gulf News Report
Authentic Shahi Haleem from the famous Kausar restaurant in Karachi, a variety of delicious sweets, hand-embroidered salwar suits and shawls, trendy leather jackets and handbags, traditional handmade shoes, glittering jewellery, intricately carved wooden furniture, beautiful carpets and entertainment by well known performers — you can get all this and more at the Pakistan pavilion in Global Village.
The façade of this pavilion is modelled on the Baba E Khyber Fort in Peshawar, while the interior is a recreation of a typical Peshawari bazaar with over 80 stalls offering a taste of Pakistani culture, cuisine and creativity. While all the people managing the stalls and the items on sale are Pakistani, visitors will be surprised to find a German manning a stall here. Roman Laube is a media designer from Berlin and is spending his annual vacation as a volunteer for an NGO called Thatta Kedona. He has flown down to Dubai especially to help manage the organisation's stall at the pavilion.
Labels: Dolls of the World, Pakistan, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:00 AM,
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German Connections
Saturday, May 12, 2012
German Ambassador Dr. Gunter Mulack meets on Mar 1, 2007 the Afghan students who have been nominated for a scholarship.
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 2:15 PM,
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Save Our Heritage
Monday, February 21, 2011
Labels: Fine Arts, Heritage, Pakistan
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 6:00 PM,
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Pak German Connections
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Pakistan will make its presence felt in every football match of the month long FIFA World Cup beginning June 9 in Germany.
"Pakistan will almost be in every match through their footballs," the Dawn quoted German Ambassador Dr. Gunter Mulack as saying while addressing a press conference at the German Embassy.
Mulack said that despite exporting quality footballs, the Pakistani manufacturers needed to make efforts to promote the game within the country.
The ambassador said that if ever there was a serious initiative from Pakistan seeking German assistance in football, it would be considered positively. "We can look into the possibility of sending a trainer," he added.
Labels: Pakistan
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:28 AM,
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