Thatta Kedona

Culture is a Basic Need

Pakistan Independence Day 2025 - Pakistan Independence Day 2026

by Omar M. Ali


On August 14, 2025, it was announced—normally the award is presented on the occasion of the Declaration of Lahore on March 23 in Islamabad—unless major political events cause a delay. Dr. Senta Siller was in Pakistan from the end of March until the first week of April; several honors took place, including:

- Event at the Mozart House of the Pakistan-Austrian Society,

- Opening of the new showroom at the Senta Siller Design Centre of the NGO AFA in the village of Thatta Ghulamkha Dhiroka,

- Honor for Okara University with the naming of the doctoral building as Dr. Senta Siller Block.


This year on Pakistan Day, the award was presented at the Pakistan House in Berlin by the ambassador in a celebratory event attended by hundreds of guests and friends.


In the meantime, the ambassador took advantage of Dr. Senta Siller’s birthday at the Stober estate and presented the Ruth-Pfau Medal — the Commercial Counsellor of the embassy opened the booth of the project, Thatta Kedona, at the Bazaar 2025 fair in Berlin.



The selfless promotion and support of the project initiator for preserving the local traditional culture, intangible through the craft skills of the village women and tangible through the preservation of the traditional ambiance, combined with the family-friendly system for the village women through the income-generating measure of making the unique items (dolls in the costumes of the minorities and provinces), an example and contribution to the UNESCO World Heritage Project of national cultural promotion...

Related: At Facebook

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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:45 AM, ,

COTHM Honours Dr. Senta Siller’s Extraordinary Legacy of Women’s Empowerment

 


Read complete Hospitality Plus report here

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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:57 AM, ,

Prestigious Civil Award Conferred Upon Senta Maria Anna Siller

 


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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:40 AM, ,

Honoring a Champion: Dr. Senta Siller's Legacy Takes Root at University of Okara


Dr. Senta Siller is receiving a commemorative shield from the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Sajjad Mubeen of the University of Okara at a ceremony in her honour. Dr. Mubeen also announced to name the first under-construction female Hostel of the university after Dr. Senta Siller.

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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:47 AM, ,

UO pays tribute to Dr Senta Siller’s services

In recognition of the German artist and academician Dr Senta Siller’s services for women empowerment, gender

By Hadia Batool

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.


Speaking at the eve, the VC eulogized Dr Siller’s lifelong services for teaching entrepreneurship skills to the Pakistani women, especially in a small village of Okara, Thatta Ghulamka Diroka. He also asserted that education was the best investment for social and economic development of the society.

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. 


The event was moderated by the Deputy Director (Press, Media & Publications) at the UO, Sharjeel Ahmed.

Also, published in Dawn, April 5th, 2026
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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:51 PM, ,

Thatta Kedona in the University of Okara

 


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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 4:47 PM, ,

Where Dolls Speak and Cultures Embrace - A Tribute to Humanity Through Art

Haroon-ur-Rasheed (Communication & Graphics Designer, Visual Artist)

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.

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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:59 AM, ,

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag Super Senta Siller!

A tribute by Amjad Ali to Dr Senta Siller on the eve of her birthday

There are some people you encounter in life who do not wait for things to happen. They just make things happen.

Dr. Senta Siller is one such person in my life.

My first recollection of Dr. Siller is from the days I spent at the Lette Verein in the German capital, Berlin, some 33 years ago. I had secured admission at Lette Verein in 1984 and it was there that I first met her.

Thankfully, it was not the last time.

Needless to say that Lette Verein is one of prestigious German organisations for Applied Arts. It was founded by Dr. Wilhelm Adolf Lette way back in 1866.

My three-year diploma course in Graphic Design was completed by 1987 but my formal association, which subsequently transformed into cherished friendship, with my teachers and mentors Dr. Siller and her spouse Dr. Norbert Pintsch remains intact till date. I do hope and believe that our friendship will survive until we are present in this world in a physical form.



Yes, as long as we are alive and kicking.
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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:00 AM, ,


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