From India to Pakistan with Love

One thing that has become abundantly clear in our efforts to collect letters of goodwill for Pakistan from the students of India is that almost everybody struggles with rendering two hands joined in a shake. Inevitably extra fingers appear, the thumb assumes the position of the pinky, or fingers are shifted so far in one direction or the other that they no longer connect to the hand. It's not for a want of trying that these injustices to the anatomy occur. It's a common sight to see a student adjoining her own hands to serve as inspiration for her artwork. This, of course, is part of the problem as it takes two right or left hands to properly shake, and as many medical marvels exist on the Sub-continent still none have been reported with paired, properly-posable opposable thumbs.

Interestingly, one of Bollywood's leading men, Hritik Roshan, sports a well-formed sixth finger on one hand. This bit of trivia can become a incredible impediment to the carefree enjoyment of his movies. It becomes an obsession to spot the extra appendage. Where is that finger? It is hard for me to imagine a Hollywood star similarly endowed with an eleventh digit (eligit?) that wouldn't elect to have it surgically removed. One can only imagine that somehow the offensive finger would eventually find its way onto E-Bay and make the news-cycle on Yahoo's home page.

Another tangential link between the muscle-bound star and the letter writing campaign is his starring in 2004's Lakshya L.O.C. Kargil. Kargil was the last sight of sustained combat between Pakistan and India in 1999. In the film Roshan plays an aimless high-schooler who finds his focus once he joins the Indian army and is called into active duty. His determination helps his comrades to reclaim an imposing peak from which the Pakistanis are shelling the road below with impunity. Now in 2005 a letter is being recruited from a child who lost his father in the same skirmish. A letter of friendship to Pakistan.

For all the twisted twining of hands the children produce, there are heaps of heartfelt missive being generated. More than once I have been moved to tears in the wee hours of night as I read through the piles of messages from the children of India addressed to their Pakistani peers. Usually my emotional response was less from the writing itself than the sentiment behind it that could be intuited. Three wars and endless exposure to patriotic propaganda not withstanding, the children are still eager and willing to extend hands of genuine friendliness across the dusty, then mountainous border. Lacking the hardened perspectives and grudges of their forbearers the children are eager to get on with a new spirit of camaraderie. A small sampling of the thousands of letters collected from just a few schools in Delhi is reproduced below. The same will appear on Gandhi's birthday (this coming Sunday) in the Times of India, but you read it here first (shhhhhhhhh!).

St. Columba’s School, New Delhi

Dear Friends!

I have great love for you all, and would like our countries to join hands, so that we become one big happy family. I have always wanted to visit your country but due to the political conditions this dream of ours has become impossible. My father is in the ARMY and I know how bad the conditions are in Kashmir. The misery has in some way affected everyone. I don’t know how you feel about all this, but this is really serious and something must be done. You and me, we are the future and all this comes down to us. It is our friendship which will solve this grave issue. There is an immense desire in our hearts to know you, understand you, love you, but all we can do right now is hope! Let us create a bond of friendship which can be cherished and made stronger every second.

Let’s join hands,

Anchit Malhotra — your wannabe friend (from India!)

* * *

St. Columba’s School, New Delhi

12/8/05

To our Pakistani counterparts,

From my heart and soul, I confess that I have always wanted to write this letter. For so many decades, our nations have had a relation that not many our proud of.

Indeed it is the politicians who have to build bridges of friendship on the political level. But harmony and peace has to start with us, the citizens of tomorrow. We have to learn from the mistakes of the leaders of the past and help save this love from the evil elements who have decided to sacrifice their lives for the so called ‘enemity’ between us. But there has never been any enmity between the people of these two sister nations.

God bless you all!

Siddharth Pandey, 12 E

* * *

St. Columba’s School, New Delhi
Class 12, Sec D

12th August 2005

To my brothers and sisters in Pakistan,

This is not a paper with ink scribbled on it, but a paper with my feelings and love. Whenever I hear about the wars with Pakistan the first question which comes to my mind is that are we different. The people living in both the countries are the creation of God and if God has made no distinction in us then why are we destroying these wonderful creations of God. Why are we flooded with such negative feeling about one another. Why don’t we forgive and thank God for the day he has bestowed upon us and the happiness he has showered upon us. I ask these people, why are there these walls seperating mankind. These are human made barriers that not only divide us but also divide our love and the urge to care. Then come let us join our hands and live together in peace and happiness, in harmony and brotherhood sharing all our joys of life. Let us make this earth a place of joy and happiness.

With Love,

Gaurav Chandiwala

* * *

St. Columba’s School, New Delhi
Class 12, Sec D

Dear Friends,

When I was young I got into a fight with one of my friends in the neighborhood. That evening my mother told me that I should treat everyone with respect and I was forbidden to fight with or verbally abuse anyone. Then I wondered why there was so much bitterness between us and our neighbors on the other side of the border. I asked my family members and none of them gave me a satisfactory answer. This is when I realised how futile and aimless our fighting was. This was a long time ago and my belief in peace between our two nations has only strenghtened. And this view is being echoed by many of my friends here. It is only because of a few people who think that we are mortal enemies that our two great nations are against each other. However, we the youth have a choice. We can either keep fighting and hate each other or we can live in peace and work towards our mutual prosperity.

Chinmay Garde

* * *

St. Columba’s School, New Delhi
Class 12, Sec D

To whomsoever it may concern,

I am a 16 year old boy from New Delhi, India. I believe we all are not only citizens of our country but are citizens of the world. We are all under the same sun and sky and have the same dirt under our feet. I believe that if we can put aside our past grudges and petty differences we will realise that we are all one, and the the humanity in each one of us binds us together to a common goal of peace, prosperity and oneness of all life. We should keep safe our own personal religious beliefs but we should not use them as an excuse to create animosity between our nations. Instead we should work together for the future of our nations, for the people of the world, and for the growth of human civilisation.

With due regards,

Leon Lu

* * *

St. Columba’s School, New Delhi

12 . 8 . 05

Dear Friend,

It has been a number of years since our countries have been enemies, but I feel that it is high time we be friends now. We are going to celebrate our independence day on the 15th of August. 3 days from now. We were given sweets in school as a treat.

Imagine if we had been one what a strong cricket and hockey team we would have made. We would have been unbeatables. Though I have never been in Pakistan I know that the situation there is just like India. Guests are treated as gods and taken well care of. I heard that when the Indian team reached Pakistan you treated them with great care. I have heard that there are many delicious Pakistani dishes but I haven’t tasted them yet. I hope that you were also honored when you came to India. I would truly like to have peace between our 2 nations.

Yours faithfully,

Aman Gupta

* * *

DPS Mathura Road
Class XII

Hello Friends,

We are people like you and it would be a great pleasure to be your friends. I’d like to have a piece of peace and I’m sure you’de like to have it too!! And trust me its gonna be full of fun and laughter.

I believe in spreading smiles, and then too big ones. So keep smiling and spreading the message. We are the future of the world and only peace can make the future the best.

Take care. Live peacefully. All the best in life.

Loads of love and luck,

Nidhi Jain

* * *

DPS Mathura Road

Dear Friend,

How are u? I hope u know me. Hey, I was ur friend in our last janam. Just kidding. How’s everything? I hope it’s fine. We don’t know each other, but I hope we can create a bond of love between us.

I hope this bond of love between Indian & Pakistan remains forever. United we stand & divided we fall. So we should stand together and work for the development of our countries. The new generation has to make an effort to end the wars which have created hatred among us. Love knows no boundaries and the bond of love created by us should also have no boundaries.

By the way, a belated Happy Independence Day and also Friendship Day.

Lots of Love,

Garima

* * *

DPS Mathura Road

Dearest Friend,

This, my special letter, is for the most special person of my life.

Yesterday I was going thru the cultural book and I was left breathless to see how much this rivalry has cost us down the ages. It seems as if it has been ages since this ice last melted. My eyes damped as I read how millions of people got killed during the partition of the 2 nations. And the result? Years of hatred, 3 wars and endless waiting in the hearts of people on both sides of the border.

We cannot afford to go on like this forever and have to stop it now or never. I render my hand of friendship toward you for the above cause. I am 13 years old and a ‘reading buzz’ residing in Delhi. I believe this letter ‘will’ make a difference!

Anonymous

* * *

DPS Mathura Road
New Delhi

My dear Friend,

I am Olivia from Manipur. You know Manipur? I think so. It’s in the Northeastern side of India. Our state is terribly underdeveloped — there are resources but they are not utilized. There is gross unemployment. This results in drug addition, and many, many social crimes.

You may think this does not relate to us. But yes, a very big YES. Our country and your country spend a lot on wars and security arrangements. So the Govt. is not able to set up industries or develop infrastructure or give good education to the citizens of our state. We are suffering, you are suffering. And you know we will not suffer if we walk together HAND in HAND.

Peace be with us,

Olivia

* * *

DPS Mathura Road
Standard X - F
New Delhi

Mother please forgive them
For they know not what they do
Looking back in history’s books
It seems it’s nothing new
Oh! Let my mother live

Father, of all creation
I think we’re all going wrond
The course we’re taking
seems to be breaking
And it won’t take too long

Children of the future
Watching empires fall
Madness the cup they drink from
Self destruction the toll

I had a vision, I saw the world burn
And the seas had turned red
The sun had fallen, the final curtain
In the land of the dead

Mother, please show the children
Before it’s too late
To fight each other, there’s no winning
We must all fight the hate

Bring the Peace,

— Vigyat

* * *

DPS Mathura Road
VII - B
New Delhi

Boundaries divide the land
Humans share the land
Can you hear my call
My heart sings the song
Sweet, loving and of friendship
Bitter division of 1947
Pangs of suffering and disaster
Oh! my friend lets unite
My Lata and your Zafar
Sing the tune of one song
My countrymen think the same
As your people do of us
My temple and your mosque
Teach the message of
Love, peace and brotherhood
Then why are we waiting
Let’s share hands
Become friends forever

— Kritaka Anand

* * *

DPS Mathura Road
VII - B
New Delhi

Plant a seed of peace
Water it with love and happiness
Don’t let evil in the world destroy it
Keep away tresspassers
Scare away the birds of prey
Harvest peace
Now a beautiful Blue flower
of peace, joy and love becomes:

P-oplars swaying in the cool breeze of Spring
E-vergreens shaking the snow off their bushy branches
A-spens tall and straight with gnarled bark and sturdy limbs
C-ranapple trees leaving blossoms and sour fruits
E-lm trees whispering PEACE

Anything war can do, peace can do better. War is expensive, peace is priceless.

— Parul Sabharwas

* * *

DPS Mathura Road
Standard VIII
New Delhi

Let there be peace shared among us
Let there be peace in our eyes
May peace now sweep the nations
Cause us, O Lord, to arise
Give us a fresh understanding
Of neighborly peace that is real
Let there be peace shared among us
Let there be peace

— Nikhil Gupta

* * *

Jornal Parival Memorial
Senior Secondary School for the Blind
New Delhi

We all are one. Whether we are Hindu, Muslim, or Christian — we all have red blood. We should not fight with each other. If there comes any difficulty, we should try to solve it peacefully, and we should believe in humanity because humanity is the best religion in the world. Though man has divided God — some call him “Rama,” others “Allah” and “Jesus” — they are all one. We should not believe in the different names of God but in one word — God. We should remember God in our joys and sorrows. If we will help ourselves, then God will help us forever. We should never lose our faith in God. Sometimes, when man feels troubled, he says, “Oh God, help me!” But when man becomes happy he does not remember God. We should remember God in all situations and this is the message I want to convey to my friends.

Kuldeep, Age 16