Going from love to love across the border
“It is the land of vibrant colours, rich cultural heritage and beautiful women. The cuisine, nightlife, street art and architecture simply have no parallels. Oh my God! I am absolutely in love with India,” is how Mariam described her recent trip to one of my favourite countries in the world.
Mariam’s narrative reignited my passion to visit India and experience the joy in person, however, my happiness was marred when I realised that for me the Indian tourist visa remains unobtainable.
It is unfortunate that travelling restrictions deprive many Indians and Pakistanis to enjoy the rich culture and heritage of both the countries, however even these setbacks fail to deter people like myself from yearning for a day when it would be possible for Pakistanis and Indians to travel across the border without any limitations or restrictions.
Contrary to the image portrayed by politicians, media and groups with extremist views, the fact remains that a huge percentage of Pakistanis and Indians are extremely fond of each other’s respective cultural heritage, lifestyle and countries. These are also the people who are staunch advocates of relaxed visa policies between the two countries and support the notion that congenial ties will help in abridging the gap that exists between India and Pakistan.
According to a poll conducted by the Times of the India Group and the Jang Group, a hefty 72 per cent of the Pakistani population desires peaceful relations with India, whereas 60 per cent Indians show optimism about building better ties with Pakistan.
It is believed that a fairly large percentage of Pakistanis and Indians interact with each other and meet outside their native countries, whereas there are who have never met a Pakistani or Indian their entire lives. However, hospitality and amicability shown during limited interaction that the residents of both countries enjoy on official tours or even during emergency situations prove the love and respect we share for each other.
Every year many ailing Pakistanis visit India for medical treatments and return with successful treatments. The initial apprehension, if any immediately vanishes with the warmth exuded by Indians. Similarly, Pakistanis are also known to have jumped on every opportunity to appease Indians wherever and whenever possible.
In the beginning of July 2012, an Indian plane with 122 passengers on board made an emergency landing in Nawabshah, Pakistan. The Pakistani officials wholeheartedly offered assistance to facilitate and expedite the relief operation. The hospitality was hailed by the Indian media and triggered a series of positive comments from Indians and Pakistanis who wanted to travel and be able to enjoy each other’s company.
An Indian overwhelmed by Pakistani hospitality commented, “How much I wish to visit Pakistan! What a scene it would be to see Pakistani tourists coming to India on regular trips and visiting the exotic places of India. Just imagine, Indians spending summer vacations in Murree and Pakistanis enjoying the backwaters of Kerela!”
Though I have never visited India, the mere mention of Kerala makes me dream about the picturesque beauty of the state, historical temples, tempting food and ethnic dance performances.
Over a billion people continue to suffer because of a few fundamentalist groups, who do not want us to live in harmony because of their vested interests, political power and influence. And the question remains: what does a common Pakistani or Indian have to do with decisions being made by the upper echelon of state politics? Why should they pay the price for the actions of a bunch of people who hold such extreme opinions? If we can all live together and support each other in foreign countries, why cannot we do the same in our native countries?
It is important to understand that fundamentalists who pose threats to Indian citizens are also destabilising Pakistan.
“Whether you talk about the Lok Sabha attack of 2001 or Mumbai attacks of 2008, being a Pakistani I am utterly embarrassed. Believe me I would do anything to see the culprits behind such terror attacks hanged because killing humans is despicable. No one deserves to die the way they were killed. I cannot describe how sorry and sad I felt for the loss of dozens of lives and I must say that majority would share the same sentiment,” said Adnan Rizvi.
Denying visas to common people or eying those with suspicion and disgust who play no part in these barbaric crimes perpetrated against both countries only helps the motive of these fundamentalists. The bond we share is unbreakable and extremely special because we remain an offshoot of the same tree. How many countries in the world enjoy that privilege?
Karthik Naralasetty, Chief Executive Officer of Socialblood, said, “As an Indian I have a special bond and respect for the people of Pakistan. I believe we are divided today just because of a few ignorant politicians. I have lived in the US for a while for my education and for the first time in my life I had a chance to meet citizens of Pakistan. We bonded better than people with other nationalities just because of the fact that we hailed from India and Pakistan. We shared the same food, music, movies and we thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company.”
Karthik fervently hopes that one day he will be able to visit Pakistan and taste sewyan (vermicelli) in Lahore and other food items served especially during the month of Ramazan.
I hope and pray that one day the rulers of two of the greatest South Asian countries will understand that many citizens of both the nations deeply oppose the hatred that most of them propagate. I wish to see the day when the silent majority overtakes the hate mongering minority and brings about a revolution in which India and Pakistan work harmoniously for the welfare and progress of human rights. That they act on behalf of those thousands of people who are sacrificed in the name of this hatred.
Mahatma Gandhi very rightly said, “We shall go from love to love and peace to peace, until at last all the corners of the world are covered with that peace and love for which, consciously or unconsciously, the whole world is hungering.”
We must not give up this hope that love and peace will indeed one day reach all corners of the world. Instead, we must continue to spread this message until all that remains is love and peace.
The writer is a Reporter at Dawn.com
It's quite easy to get comments on such articles regardless of it's quality. Truth is relations between the two countries will never become better as both have different rather opposing whims and agendas. Stats are quite misleading, I don't think 65% of Pakistanis want good relations with India rather 100% of them want good relations with India but everyone of them has his/her own conditions. With conditions come impossibility of anything reverend between the two. There remains a big misconception among many that Pakistan will be divided among multiple states and India is bullet proof to that phenomenon. Indian government is expert in controlling her media and has been quite successful in hiding above 10 freedom movements currently going on in India. I feel pity when all of a sudden poor Indians will be informed about "segregation of their bharat mata".
@Indians who write so negatively – Put a lid on it, will you please? You would never speak that way if you met a Pakistani in a drawing room, so why do you do so on a forum? Try to imagine a real person with real feelings and you will realise that you are no better than the terrorist you condemn when you speak with contempt. In the Bible it is written that anyone who hates his brother is guilty of murder. As for me, I am an Indian and consider Pakistanis my brother/sister/neighbor and friend. I have seen whenever you get an Indian and Pakistani together in a room, most of the time they will strike up a conversation and become really friendly within minutes. That should tell us something surely? If only we could get rid of the slimy politicians and mafia and those religious nuts on both sides, we would have that peace and friendship both sides desire.
There is another inhuman storey of relations between India and Pakistan. Some Pakistani girls are married to Indians and are living in India for decades but are not granted indian citizenship. There are living on visa for which extentions are sought by husband and wife from time to time. These girls can not take up jobs and take part in local activities beside being haunted by intelligece agencies. There is no such examle in the world. Where are Human Right Commission. With this state of miund, there is no hope of easy visits between the two countries for a century. Leaders of two counties are fooling people.
People of Pakistan should thank Indian National Congress and Nehru for handing them Blochistan and NWFP on a silver platter. India could have easily taken these provonces in 1947. Khan of Kalat wanted to be part of India. Nehru rejected his surrender documents on the advice of Jinnah and sent the Kalat docs to JInnah. Congress would have won the refrendum of NWFP, but congress and Lal Kurti group of Badshah Khan boycotted the refrendum. Still Pakistan could only get 51% of the votes cast. Please study these in detail. Being nice to Pak Leaders never pays. India should know by now.
Dear Anoop,
Badshah Khan not only boycotted the referendum, he didn't hide his disappointment with the Indian National Congress leadership for thier acceptance of partition. His parting comment to the INC leaders was,
"You have thrown us to the wolves."
I ask Human Rights commissions of India and Pakistan to let public know their stand on union/meeting of the members of divided families and what steps they have taken to persuade/pressurise the two governments to remove artificial hurdels in the issue of visas to divided famikies starting from seniors and children The two commissions should inform public if the visitors in this category have ever been involved in dangerous activities, Their numbers in the last 64 years.
My ancestral village is in Haripur (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), my great grandfather was a sepoy in Baloch Regiment, we speak the same language, we eat the same food, we share common history, we even play the same sports. Only if the Britain had chosen a better peaceful exit plan, it would have been a different story today!
Whenever I see the mistrust in our subcontinent and the bonhomie in Europe, I am very jealous of Europeans.. Europeans were once not so long ago bitter enemies of each other.. England and Germany fought 2 World Wars.. apart from Europe, USA dropped atom bombs on Japan at the end of World War 2.. but all these nations quickly learnt to forgive and forget and became best of friends.. however we South Asians could not do so.. the difference was EDUCATION.. their society was and is highly educated, so they can use their minds to analyse right from wrong, think above Propaganda and come to the right conclusion.. so my friends, our society needs good education to overcome our hate
Agreed, one hundred percent.
spot on
Good piece indeed. unfortunately the debate, like always, has gone to typical narrative of Hindu- Muslim, India -Pakistan, better – worse….peace – terrorist and so. Guys we are here to bring change. if we are to go by with old traditional narrative against each other how we would bring peace and harmony on both sides. mistakes were made on both sides, accepted, but we should realize the loss in between. humanity should prevail above religion,cast, creed or etc. we can only be good citizens/nationals once we are good human beings to respect each other rather spreading venom.
extremists and fundamentalist (factors) are present both in India and Pakistan. we together as educated, balanced and sincere national can be of help than just being another (radical- having bad for others)
please give faiza's thought a way to live !
There is no DIRECT way of acheiving peace and love between the two countries.
We need to go from love to love within our own borders, this is more relevant and valid for Pakistan currently given our going from "depth" to "depth" in the recent years.
Once this is acheived India/Pakistan question becomes irrelevant.
It is sad to say that even in the USA Indian do not buy anything from pakistani stores. Pakistanis are broad minded that they are customers to indian stores. Recently an indian 'Brahman Lady' working for a perfume manufacturer in New Jersey refused a summer postion to my daughter, because she is a muslim. There are many more stories of hatred by the indian hindus against Pakistanis in the USA too.
I was in San fransisco with my 3 other hindu friend and 1 indian muslim friend. We enjoyed biryani from a pakistani restaurant.
And many many times I have loved mediterinean food. Hammus and Falafal being my favourate.
And pakistani too love indian food and restaunt in USA.
It is you guys sitting in pakistan who are taught hatred from school days which makes you believe in whatevr you are told. and is against muslim.
Not surprised at the venom and spitfire from those who were brought up to hate India. Where b (be) is for bandook and K is for Kafir in the school books you do not expect better. God bless Pakistan.
India is taking revenge for the partition. And Pakistan is afraid of immigration from India.That is why a very harsh visa policy.There is no humanity left.
Very nice writing. I am sure this writing represents the views and wishes of majority of south Asian community on either side iof the border and all around the world. Thank you for writing such loving and caring toughts.
Whoa, look at the number of comments. Emotional topic this! But seriously, both countries have internal issues to tackle, before they can look at their neighbours. If we combine the two regions, we probably will have the worst:
- Illiteracy rates
- Terrorism
- Rapes
- Child abuse rates
- Hunger and poverty rates
Let's first resolve to weed out these horrible things from our societies, and then lets look towards building bridges. It seems to me both are living in their own wells.
iam not gonna play the politically correct statements here . I don't want to see any pakistani in my beloved mother India .we are better off staying away from each other . Having said that , Happy Independence day
.
Pakistanis are useless.
A very good article, one of the best I have read in recent times. People like you makes me believe that there is still Hope For Us. Kudos to you Ms. Mirza!
And please ignore negative comments from our fellow Indians, they are naive. Although they love India, they are not able to see who our real enemy are.