Love thy neighbour: Indian visitors say borders divide land, not hearts
You can take a person out of Karachi, but not Karachi out of the person. Indira Wazirani, 76, who left the city even before Partition has been unable to forget the neighbourhood she spent the early years of her life in.
Indira is part of a Hindu delegation from India that came to Pakistan to attend the three-day festivities organised at Shadhani Darbar in Hayat Pitafi village, Ghotki, to celebrate the 304th birth anniversary of Saat Guru Saant Shadharam. The Indian delegation, comprising 27 men, four women and two children, crossed into Pakistan at Wagha border on December 11 from where they headed straight to Hayat Pitafi village. After a three-day stay at the Darbar, the delegation left for Jarwar and then to Mathelo Momal Ji Mari. On Monday, the group went to Sukkur to pay respects at the historic Sadh Belo temple.
Indira could hardly contain her excitement as she soaked in the sights of the temple, which was built in 1889 on an island in the middle of the Indus River.
“I was born in a three-storey building on Burnes Road in Karachi. I still remember there was a girls’ college in our area, a dispensary and of course, the stall of a man called Papoo who used to sell fireworks,” Indira told The Express Tribune. “Though I was only a little girl at the time, I still remember everything. I was born in Sindh and I love the province as if it were my motherland.”
People celebrate the arrival of visitors from India with song and dance. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Indira said that she had been yearning to fly across the border and visit her birthplace. “Whenever people would come from Karachi to Mumbai, I would ask them about Burnes Road,” she said. “I hate these borders - they are such a hurdle in our way. Let the people of both the countries cross border and meet each other. I love Pakistan and its people!”
Her younger sister, Chanda Virani, a journalist who works for Sindhu Darshan Television Network in Mumbai said that this was her third trip to Pakistan. “The people of this country, particularly those in Sindh, are very loving and caring. Believe me, I always feel at home when I’m in Pakistan,” she said, with a huge smile on her face. I don’t see any difference between Mumbai and Sindh.”
Chanda said she was very happy that artists from both countries were frequently crossing the border. “The media is also very powerful and can help bring both countries closer.”
The leader of the Hindu delegation from India, Sativan Das Shadhani, told the media that he was very impressed with the hospitality they had received. “I would definitely like to visit the country again. Love knows no boundaries. Frequent cultural exchanges will help bridge the gap between the two countries.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2012.
COMMENTS (15)
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@True Picture: If u had just said " Indian guests are always given warm hospitality with security in Pakistan, so don’t worry" it would have had sent a very pleasant message .
@Not Pakistani: Your comments have shown that you are certainly 'Not Pakistani'.
@Vishnu Dutta: Really? Pakistanis DIED protecting the Sri Lankans, so shut your trap.
The Express Tribune staff is dominated by the people of Karachi. This article seems to be a propaganda for showing a positive image of Karachi and Sindh. If people from Sindh are as much loving and caring as everyone brags about, how can you explain 10-30 people killed in the loving, peaceful city everyday?
@ True Picture yes yes, you have showered us with your warmth, in places like Kashmir daily and in bombay, delhi and other cities occsionally, I hope we can return some of that warmth in some small measure, someday.
"Who slaughtered the innocent Muslims in Godra ?"
Ah..I thought that only innocent Hindu pilgrims were burnt alive on a train in godra. Who did that?
@True Picture: "Indian guests are always given warm hospitality with security in Pakistan, so don’t worry :)"
Reality has no impact on your views. You almost make Pakistan sound like gandhian pacifist country. :-)
Who errected the Great Wall of India along the entire border with Pakistan,when the Wall of Berlin was being demolished ? Who slaughtered the innocent Muslims in Godra ? Do we still expect some miracle to happen from our neighbour ?
@True Picture:
All the more reason to not allow Pakistanis in India. They are in danger!!
Possibly that is the reason US strips searches almost every other guy with a Green Passport. UK and EU is almost off-bounds. Pakistanis are in danger everywhere, I guess. It is for their safety that visas are rejected for most Pakistanis for the US.
It's pure torture to stop someone from visiting their place of birth or the place where they grew up. Millions have been deprived of this over the past six decades, both the governments should be ashamed.
P.S. A terrorist or a spy doesnt apply for a visa to cross the border, they have other ways of doing that.
Sindhis paying a visit to their country of birth/ancestors is what is being written about. Nothing to do with neighbourly relations.
@True Picture: Really?? Sri Lankans done approve of your bragging.
The land is divided only when the hearts are divided. Reunification takes a lot of sacrifices and most of it has to come from the senior. Wishing a safe and pleasant stay for all the visitors.
@politically incorrect: There will be nothing like "Samjhota express" incident nor like the missing Pakistani cricket fan in India whose dead body was returned to us after he was arrested, Indian guests are always given warm hospitality with security in Pakistan, so don't worry :)
Hope every thing goes well for these tourists. There are spoilers around.