Sharing his ‘overwhelming experiences’ after his visit to Karachi for the first one-day cricket match, an Indian writes: “Imagine, 39,990 Pakistanis and 50 of us Indians cheering for each other. Quite a few carrying the flags of both countries imaginatively stitched together. Then they all gave a standing ovation to the Indian cricket team.”
He goes on to say that from the vendor selling corn on the cob to the owners of posh restaurants, everyone refused to accept money from him, saying, ‘You are our guest’. And the unaccountable gifts and presents we came back with from those whom we had never met till then and whom we had always called our enemies ... as a result more than 50 years of hatred and negative thoughts injected into our brains. But the reality is completely different!”
To combat the role media has played in the hostile imaging of the two South-Asian neighbours, devoting much of its air-time highlighting divisions and differences, Urmila Matondkar crossed the Wagah border ‘on foot’ a while back as the ambassador of peace. Exploring linguistic, cultural and historical links between peoples across national borders, she was here to co-star with Resham in a documentary film, Moving Closer.
Promoting peace through youth and pop culture, the documentary that goes on air this week does not aim to “gloss cultural and national differences,” but treat them as seen through the eyes of main characters in their capacity of cultural brokers or bridge makers. “Curiosity was killing me once the gates were opened,” says an excited Urmila, wishing her Indian counterparts were here to see the tremendous welcome. She feels very few Indians have been fortunate enough to see the feeling that exists between the two, and hoped, “This effort that we have started doesn’t end with my return.”
“We should work together, understand each other but most important of all, we should have peace,” added Resham in response. “We know so much about them, but they don’t know much about us,” comes a comment from Shamyl Khan, the male artist with Urmila and Resham. Developed by Serendip Productions and jointly directed by Saqib Malik of Pakistan and Indian director Prahlad Kakkar, the documentary also visualizes a song by Fuzon.
“I have been thinking about that moment, the painted line on the tarmac, the guards on both sides of the gate, our similarities and our political differences. When the world is coming closer, why have we not moved an inch?” Huma Mustafa of Serendip recalls her feelings while she waited to receive Urmila at Wagah. “First develop an understanding and then talk of differences.”
SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES
The visit by two dozen Indian delegates comprising Old Associates of Kinnaird Society (Oaks) with young daughters, nieces and grand-daughters also coincided with the Pakistan-India cricket series. Oaks, Pakistan, had invited their counterparts from Delhi (almost all of them graduates of 1940s) for a reunion visit to coincide with the anniversary of the college.
After a 10-day sojourn in Lahore, where the college is located, the group arrived in the Capital to a warm welcome by the Islamabad and Rawalpindi chapter of Oaks. “Every year, we meet twice in Delhi, in March and November, and cherish our memories,” the president of Oaks, Delhi, Priyobala Batra, told her counterparts. “Everyone I come across is working either from home or in office,” observed Uma, pleasantly surprised by the number of working women in the Capital. A graduate of 1943, Kinnaird College, Lahore, it was Uma’s first visit after Partition.
Treated to numerous lunches, brunches, dinners and hi-teas, and entertained by live bands and dance performances, the guests were highly impressed by the sumptuous food (a combo of veg and non-veg); salads and deserts catered by two talented Oaks, Nadia and Gina. “Wherever we went, we were given sit-down dinners and were very well looked after,” said Lalita Narain and Prem Krishnan.
Singing, chatting and reciting emotionally-charged poems, the group of old students and their offsprings also went on day-trips to Murree, Taxila, Wah Gardens and Hasanabdal to visit the shrine of Panja Sahib. Overwhelmed by the hospitality and warmth extended towards them, and already looking forward to the next trip, the group returned to Delhi with rich experiences.
Sharing his ‘overwhelming experiences’ after his visit to Karachi for the first one-day cricket match, an Indian writes: “Imagine, 39,990 Pakistanis and 50 of us Indians cheering for each other. Quite a few carrying the flags of both countries imaginatively stitched together. Then they all gave a standing ovation to the Indian cricket team.”
