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From India to Pakistan: 'We're not so different'

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From India to Pakistan: 'We're not so different'
By Yumna Rafi

5516879f7d46e.jpg

EFC delegates play a hockey match ‘literally’ between India and Pakistan.— Rida Arif/ The Citizens Archive of Pakistan
“I found that the way Pakistanis hold conversation is very polite and there is a distinct sense of respect or tehzeeb in their conversation,” said Anupama Joshi, a teacher from Dehradun, India while describing her interaction with Pakistanis while visiting the country with a 29-member delegation in January.

“Contrary to the view that women are not seen in public places, I found the Pakistani women to be very liberated.”

The cultural trip was part of the ‘Exchange for Change’ program organised by The Citizens Archive of Pakistan and Routes2Roots. The program aimed at clearing misconceptions, giving youth from both countries a chance to experience life on the other side of the border (the group from Pakistan visited India in February).

The delegation from India was mainly students and teachers who visited Lahore, Islamabad and the archeologically-rich city Harappa and found the entire experience “exhilarating”.

“I think the food, language, the way we dress, especially the women, is fundamentally the same. I felt more at ease in terms of language and food in Lahore than I do at my in-laws place which is in south India and I come from northern India, which shares a lot of similarities with Lahore,” said Joshi.

Most of the students could not find any cultural difference at all, with one student from New Delhi, Agastya Shetty saying, “Visiting the museums made me actually realise that our history is essentially the same.”

Regarding the welcome extended by Pakistanis during the trip, Agastaya said she was pleasantly surprised.

“When the Pakistanis found out that we were from India, they went out of their way to see if we needed any assistance and would regularly check on us.”

During the delegation's visit to the schools in Pakistan, Agastaya said she found uncanny similarities in attitudes and views while interacting with students.

"While visiting Islamabad I had an amazing conversation with a student, we shared the same interests, be it supporting a football club or judging all Bollywood movies... I felt this sense of serendipity, which I would love to have again."

From Lahore to Delhi
Sapna Ali Hassan, a 13-year-old student from Islamabad, was part of the delegation from Pakistan that got a tour through the cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. She said the food she had in India couldn’t have been more similar.

“We had gol gappay, biryani, tikka, and it tasted similar to how it does in Pakistan.”

“I feared they might treat us differently because we were from the ‘rival’ nation or they might not like us, but that didn’t happen at all.”

Another 13-year-old from Lahore, Syeda Fatima Sikandar found the transport system to be better in the neighbouring state.

"The bus system in place was great, that's the one thing I found different."

Apart from a sightseeing tour that included Taj Mahal, Amer fort, temples and other monuments, the delegation also went to schools and interacted with students their age.

"Most schools in India, private or not, had a high education standard. Students there were involved in a lot of practical work and activities," said Fatima.

Mazhar Ali, 16, echoed her views.

"Theatre, drama and extracurricular were a norm in the schools there and it reflected in their confidence levels. I definitely got a boost just interacting with them."

As part of the same program, The Citizens Archive also reached out to schools in both India and Pakistan for an exchange of letters and postcards between students through which they shared stories about local festivals, natural heroes, culture and were also encouraged to ask questions about each other's country.

After 18 months of this exercise, some of the best letters were put on display in an exhibition at Frere Hall.

The initiative brought out feelings of homogeneity between children and dispelled negativity surrounding the two nations. Fatima from Lahore Grammar School summarised what she felt after her trip.

"I think whatever bitterness there may be, it's only on a political level. The way we see the world, the idea of entertainment, and wanting better relations, is mutual in both the countries."

5516769eba220.jpg

Members of the 2013 2015 Indian delegation at the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.— The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
551676b30e7f4.jpg

Pakistani students meet with their pen pals India from Delhi Public School, Sushant Lok Gurgaon. — Rida Arif/ The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
5516769e88a46.jpg

A member of the EFC Indian delegation writes a message of peace while on a visit to the Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust in Lahore. — The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
551676b4524b8.jpg

Exchange for Change delegation visited the Taj Mahal, Agra. — Rida Arif/ The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
551676b3c694e.jpg

EFC delegation from Pakistan ready to cross the Wagah border. — Rida Arif/ The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
5516769d81bca.jpg

Members of the EFC Indian Delegation outside the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore. — The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
551676b39c838.jpg

The EFC delegates sightseeing in New Delhi. — Rida Arif/ The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
 
From India to Pakistan: 'We're not so different'
By Yumna Rafi

5516879f7d46e.jpg

EFC delegates play a hockey match ‘literally’ between India and Pakistan.— Rida Arif/ The Citizens Archive of Pakistan
“I found that the way Pakistanis hold conversation is very polite and there is a distinct sense of respect or tehzeeb in their conversation,” said Anupama Joshi, a teacher from Dehradun, India while describing her interaction with Pakistanis while visiting the country with a 29-member delegation in January.

“Contrary to the view that women are not seen in public places, I found the Pakistani women to be very liberated.”

The cultural trip was part of the ‘Exchange for Change’ program organised by The Citizens Archive of Pakistan and Routes2Roots. The program aimed at clearing misconceptions, giving youth from both countries a chance to experience life on the other side of the border (the group from Pakistan visited India in February).

The delegation from India was mainly students and teachers who visited Lahore, Islamabad and the archeologically-rich city Harappa and found the entire experience “exhilarating”.

“I think the food, language, the way we dress, especially the women, is fundamentally the same. I felt more at ease in terms of language and food in Lahore than I do at my in-laws place which is in south India and I come from northern India, which shares a lot of similarities with Lahore,” said Joshi.

Most of the students could not find any cultural difference at all, with one student from New Delhi, Agastya Shetty saying, “Visiting the museums made me actually realise that our history is essentially the same.”

Regarding the welcome extended by Pakistanis during the trip, Agastaya said she was pleasantly surprised.

“When the Pakistanis found out that we were from India, they went out of their way to see if we needed any assistance and would regularly check on us.”

During the delegation's visit to the schools in Pakistan, Agastaya said she found uncanny similarities in attitudes and views while interacting with students.

"While visiting Islamabad I had an amazing conversation with a student, we shared the same interests, be it supporting a football club or judging all Bollywood movies... I felt this sense of serendipity, which I would love to have again."

From Lahore to Delhi
Sapna Ali Hassan, a 13-year-old student from Islamabad, was part of the delegation from Pakistan that got a tour through the cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. She said the food she had in India couldn’t have been more similar.

“We had gol gappay, biryani, tikka, and it tasted similar to how it does in Pakistan.”

“I feared they might treat us differently because we were from the ‘rival’ nation or they might not like us, but that didn’t happen at all.”

Another 13-year-old from Lahore, Syeda Fatima Sikandar found the transport system to be better in the neighbouring state.

"The bus system in place was great, that's the one thing I found different."

Apart from a sightseeing tour that included Taj Mahal, Amer fort, temples and other monuments, the delegation also went to schools and interacted with students their age.

"Most schools in India, private or not, had a high education standard. Students there were involved in a lot of practical work and activities," said Fatima.

Mazhar Ali, 16, echoed her views.

"Theatre, drama and extracurricular were a norm in the schools there and it reflected in their confidence levels. I definitely got a boost just interacting with them."

As part of the same program, The Citizens Archive also reached out to schools in both India and Pakistan for an exchange of letters and postcards between students through which they shared stories about local festivals, natural heroes, culture and were also encouraged to ask questions about each other's country.

After 18 months of this exercise, some of the best letters were put on display in an exhibition at Frere Hall.

The initiative brought out feelings of homogeneity between children and dispelled negativity surrounding the two nations. Fatima from Lahore Grammar School summarised what she felt after her trip.

"I think whatever bitterness there may be, it's only on a political level. The way we see the world, the idea of entertainment, and wanting better relations, is mutual in both the countries."

5516769eba220.jpg

Members of the 2013 2015 Indian delegation at the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.— The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
551676b30e7f4.jpg

Pakistani students meet with their pen pals India from Delhi Public School, Sushant Lok Gurgaon. — Rida Arif/ The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
5516769e88a46.jpg

A member of the EFC Indian delegation writes a message of peace while on a visit to the Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust in Lahore. — The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
551676b4524b8.jpg

Exchange for Change delegation visited the Taj Mahal, Agra. — Rida Arif/ The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
551676b3c694e.jpg

EFC delegation from Pakistan ready to cross the Wagah border. — Rida Arif/ The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
5516769d81bca.jpg

Members of the EFC Indian Delegation outside the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore. — The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
551676b39c838.jpg

The EFC delegates sightseeing in New Delhi. — Rida Arif/ The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.


Good work... keep it up... war mongers of both side will hate to see this....
 
There is a difference. Indian Students looks quite Nerdy in above pics.:D
 
Why is ISI letting these RAW agents to enter their country? Their objective is to promote secularism and pull away Pakistanis from Islam.
Buddy Political Islam has Equally Damage Muslims as those RAW CIA has done so its better to promote Stronger Faith which is possible by promoting Social Form of Islam which Talks about Equality, Philanthropy and so many other good things after that we can do Politics on the basis of Islam all we wants. Having those Indian Students in Pakistan is a good Gesture as this can have positive impact on India Pakistan Relations.
 
Nice .
Children - Students should visit each other more often between these two countries .
I'd rather my daughter visit India on a school trip then anywhere else
 
Why is ISI letting these RAW agents to enter their country? Their objective is to promote secularism and pull away Pakistanis from Islam.

Long time no see where have you been, all Indians missed you :P
 
Good gesture but we are not same people. We are south Asians and Pakistan is a Arab country with all Arab descendents.
You are mistaken Pakistanis are mixed and some of us are Lost Tribes of Jews, some are Arabs and lot of us are actually Descendant of Alexander Army. Happy now.
 
Pakistani delegation should have crossed the vindhyas to get to know if we are really same... :agree::agree::agree:
 
Pakistanis have Arab, Central Asian and greek blood in them. This is a true fact. Your trolling wont change that

wat abt marsians blood ?? o_Oo_O u need to leave to pak and lead gazwa -e-hind against India..
 
You are mistaken Pakistanis are mixed and some of us are Lost Tribes of Jews, some are Arabs and lot of us are actually Descendant of Alexander Army. Happy now.
Sorry buddy I was trying to be little sarcastic. :D And please do us favour take this pure Arab @mujhaidind to Pakistan.
 
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