Bittersweet goodbye: Indian scouts head home

LAHORE:

A delegation of Indian boy scouts and girl guides will be heading back to India today (May 8) after a week long trip to Pakistan under an exchange programme intended to create better ties between the two countries.

The scouts and guides toured various historic sites and monuments during its day long tour of the city. They also met with local scouts. According to Punjab Boy Scouts Association (the hosts in Lahore) secretary Tariq Qureshi as many as 300 local scouts had entertained the 74 member delegation.

Having started their tour from the National Science Museum, the delegation visited the Shalimar Gardens, the Lahore Fort and the Minar-i-Pakistan. The day ended with a dinner at the Government College University. Qureshi said Pakistani scouts had exchanged ideas and experiences with their Indian guests. “We also witnessed an exchange of love, not just ideas.”

Indian Boy Scouts and Girl Guides Association National Coordinator Harish Chandra Srivastava said he was overwhelmed by the experience. “Not only was the visit an eye opener, it has also been immensely emotional for us.” Srivastava said he was mesmerised by the beauty of Lahore and its people. He said the trip was aimed at bridging the gap between the two countries. “We came here with a message of peace and it was great to see it being reciprocated.” Srivastava said the hospitality extended by the people was heartening.

The heads of the scouting associations of both countries said the children related well to one another. Srivastava said the Indian scouts and girl guides had developed friendships with their Pakistani counterparts. “Children were hugging one another and crying as they left,” he said.

“There is lot of love and compassion in the hearts of people on both sides of the border. It’s up to us to take this friendship forward.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2012.