Indian students prepare a poster for their counterparts across the border. PHOTO COURTESY: CAP
Under the most recent round of the Exchange for Change programme, over 3,500 students from 17 schools across both countries have packed colourful snippets of their culture and history into envelopes which were shipped across the border. The programme has been initiated by the Citizens Archive of Pakistan and Delhi-based Routes 2 Roots in an attempt to build friendships between schoolchildren of both countries. The pilot phase of the programme, which involved 10 schools and about 2,500 students, was successfully completed a little over a year ago.
In the most recent round, students have gone beyond words, preferring to let pictures speak for themselves. So when one Indian student opened his letter, he got a dazzling visual treat: the image of the sparkling green waters of Saiful Muluk cradled by snowcapped mountains.
Another postcard bore a picture of Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum. “Pakistan is a beautiful place. Don’t forget to visit it,” said the message accompanying the picture. Yet another student had sent a picture of himself dressed as the Quaid along with the founder’s famous motto, “work, work and more work”.
Others had gotten together in groups and prepared elaborate poster collages. One of them had an array of pictures of mouthwatering desi treats while another which addressed the theme of weddings had photos of a bride with elaborate henna patterns on her hands as well as a shy groom clad in a sherwani.
The programme is set to end with a student exchange. Though the children crossing the border might not have the chance to physically visit all of Pakistan’s attractions, the pictures ensure that they at least get a chance to see what might not be on their itinerary.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2013.
COMMENTS (27)
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@paki: yes definitely they ruled but they were some family specific and a family lineage mostly mughals and all indian people or subcontinent people were under them....there were also forced conversions(which u maynt agree). converdions due to non payment of jazia,some prevelance of bad habits in hindu culture and conversion of shudras was the main reasons of success of islam in the region and also some good habits of islam was the reason
@indian Muslims ruled India for 1000 years if they have been so cruel like your history says then there will be no Hindu left in subcontinent like in Spain where all Muslims were killed or said to leave country when Spain came under the rule of Christians so be neutral there are good and bad guys in every community you cannot blame all.Muslims contributed a lot in architecture and education when they ruled subcontinent.Accept this fact yes it is difficult for you to forget that Muslims ruled you for thousands years but it is truth and cannot be changed
@Popat: tata's income is not gonna helping the aam aadmi...dont indulge in meaningless discourse
@opler: misintrpretation...there was no such thing like pak before partition, you people were india's part instead
@Xnain: You are right about 68% population. Still it is bigger than yours. How many Birla's or Tata's do you have. Do you even have an idea about Tata Group Revenue. Your country GDP is not that big.
@Polpot: 1- If you have anything which contradicts my point plz bring forth rather then enlightening us with traditional pointless ranting. 2- The problem with common Indians is that they have been looted in the name of nationalism. India's "hindustan motors" "hindustan electronics" "baharat cement" " "baharat telecom" has only added to the coffers of Birlas, Tatas and Ambanis. 68% if population still earns less than 100 INR in Shining India/Risning India.
@Xnain
We also have read some history which is unbiased and true . Unity of Indian subcontinent goes back to Alexander era , when Islam was not born and a community named Muslim was not there . It was the time when Chanakya who united all Kings of Indian subcontinent and defeated or stopped Alexander (Yes , disputed theory might arise , but his adventure came to an end ) . King ChandraGupta had his empire spanned from today's Kandhhar to Myanmar . Then his grandson King Ashok continued his legacy and he set an example for mankind by spreading Buddhism . Then many Kings like Harshbardhan came and gone . Then came the invaders like Ghaznavi just to loot the subcontinent . And you know what kind of example he has set for mankind by looting a mere temple 25 times in 17 years , cutting nipples of women so that they can't feed their child and by destroying religious structures and by putting them on the stairs of Mecca . Neither You are not taught those things nor we . But the difference is you are only taught the glorious past , not the shameful past so that you can take pride . But we are not taught these things because it might offend some community who live with us together . Nobody would tell you who had started the work of building today's Grand Trunk road . Nobody would tell you why Nadir Shah came to India , just to plunder and loot or any reason was there .Nobody would tell you why Taimur Lane came to India , just for a summer holiday or to get some resource to build a mosque in samarkant . Nobody would tell you what Aurenjeb did , Why did he beheaded Guru Teg Bahadur , why did Guru Govind Sigh was stabbed to death or why majority community was imposed Jijzya tax when Indian gov gives Huzz subsidy . We are fed with peace and non-violence even before your religion came to existence when King Ashok taught us humanity . We are taught non-violence by Gautam Buddha and Mahtma .You are fed with only false and untrue or half-true facts . You can't make us fool , but at least don't try to fool yourself. I think the moderators are also not brave enough to publish these facts.
I am sad that many commentators on this site accuse Pakistanis of hatred but if anything positive transpires their comments are full of pessimism and despondency at best. When put on the spot, they will always say that they are not against the people of Pakistan. We here you go, its the people trying to build contacts, friendships and associations.
@David_Smith: So should others too. Even the Ashoka's rule is somewhere around 250-300 BC. As history puts it, the empire couldn't even withstand a century after his death. It wasn't until the rise of Akbar, the hindustan was recognized as a country. And while it is incorrect to see this struggle of power from the perspective of religion. I afraid the point of view from the other side is also unjust and incorrect. If raja dahar had poked a superpower of that time (muslims), there would be every reason to believe that it would have some consequences. So would have been for mahmood ghaznavi. I agree that he did no service to Islam but somebody should also acknowledged that he was able to destroy somnath because he was strong and the conqurer. And history tells us that most often conqurer never cares for the weak and thats that.
@Xnain: "India Was always a political mess never a united entity" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Like Pakistan has been for the last 65 years and continues to be.
Every thing is beautiful when two are friends let us become friends.Friends are for ever . We will solve all our problems and will never hurt each other.
@RAW is WAR: No dear, india was a part of Pakistan before partition. . ! Love pakistan
Peace.
Pakistan is not encouraging tourism as to visit Pakistan it costs 20,000 rupess to just get a Visa.
@Xnain: Actually it was Ashoka and the Mauryan Empire that first gave rise to a pan-Indian identity. You must really read beyond Pakistani "history" text books.
@Xnain: Well said, that is why Indians and Pakistanis can never be friends.
I Pray for a day that Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Middleast the whole muslim block, and their citizens can roam freely on ON Arrival VIsa, an promote tourism in all the countries bordering with each other, with free trade, and cross cultural exchange etc.
I pray to Allah that day will come soon, In Sha Allah
If we can't be friends at least we should not be enemies.
Unfortunately but true there are more things which separate us than which bind us.Our leaders Jinnah and Nehru were not able to agree with each other.India and Pakistan being friends is a "Pipe dream"
Btw I love how Indians flock on such news. Shows the quality of Pakistani new media against their counterparts to the east who publish more comedy than news.
@RAW is WAR: India Was always a political mess never a united entity (except whatsoever is associated with ashoke). It wasn't until the Mughals that India was recognized as one unity. So the Barbarians effectively gave India an entity. Read some history before commenting.
With the recent rise in rape incidents in India, sending these kids over there is not a good Idea. Specially when most of the rape victims are tourists visiting India.
Of course, we know it. It was once part of India before barbarians over ran it and...
Beautiful does not mean peaceful.
It might just change your life for good.
So is Afghanistan....