My Rendezvous with India
"Maybe it were the brutal massacres during partition that became the basis, but it was somehow instilled in the coming generations that India and Pakistan were enemies since times immemorial. Hence despite being very similar, it seems we parted ways with a lot of hate and animosity brewing from the very onset.”
Since my childhood, I have been seeing my father and his elder cousins remembering their ancestral village near Ajnala, thirty miles from Amritsar, with the deepest compassion. Though my grandfather had moved to Lahore for educational and career prospects in 1920, the affiliation with Amritsar was still strong. Fortunately, during most of their childhood, they did manage to spend time in their village before partition.
After partition, he visited India again in the 90’s and fondly recalls the times he spent there. During my school days, India was a distant, mysterious place. In my college days however, I met a few Indians which changed my perspective about them. My relationship with Indians has taught me that we share more similarities, than differences.
In September 1997, I visited India to play club Rugby at the very prestigious All India and South Asia Rugby Tournament held in Bombay. We were a large group of about 25 and were put up at the YWCA in Colaba, close to India Gate and to the wonderful Bombay Gymkhana which was the host club. The electric life in Bombay was thrilling, synonymous to the life in Lahore. There was not a dull moment in our entire trip. From dining at the exclusive Taj and savoring the delicious sea food at the famous Trishna hotel to visiting India gate and riding across the polo grounds, each and every experience seemed memorable. One of my most vivid memories would be those of the gala times we spent at Indigo and at Kala Niketan, where we shopped for ethnic Saris. We further explored the streets of Colaba. The strong bonds which developed between our families with those of our friends in Bombay brings a smile on my face till this day.
Interacting with participants from different clubs of India was an experience in itself. We spent the evenings socializing with celebrities namely Pooja Bhatt, Anu Agarwal, Tara Sharma and last and certainly not the least Suneeta Rao who enthralled the audience with her performances almost every evening. All in all,this has been one of the best rugby tours of my life.
But Bombay had a dark side too. In 1997, the city was crowded with slums extending over miles, and homeless beggars, sleeping on the streets. But by the time I revisited Bombay in 2005, it had transformed for better. There seemed to be cleaner neighborhoods. There seemed to be an overall progress in public lives.
My third visit to Bombay happened in 2007. While my friends planned a visit to Goa, I decided to stay back in Bombay. I just couldn't ever get enough of this city. I remember flying via Delhi to Bombay. That was the first time I saw Delhi. The capital was all dug up for the subway. There was dust and a lot of chaos. The visit though was quite laid back and I enjoyed it in the company of my friend’s father, Omi Mittal.
My final visit to India was in 2010. We were visiting Delhi to watch the Common Wealth Games. Delhi had changed by then. The subway was amazing and the eateries at Chandani Chowk were superlative. I managed to visit an old friend in Chandigarh by train. Chandigarh is very much like our capital Islamabad, comprising of well-planned roads, rich food and lovely people.
India has been my second home. I have found people exactly like us. I wish that in the future we can visit Amritsar or Delhi without a Visa. I hope to see the borders between our countries fade away.