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Love thy neighbour: Indian visitors say borders divide land, not hearts
By Sarfaraz Memon
Published: December 18, 2012
The exquisite balconies of the Sadh Belo temple are adorned with marble panels. The temple, which is spread over nine acres, takes its name from the island that it has been built on. The island - previously known as Menak Parbat - is located in the middle of the Indus River. The temple was constructed in 1889. Hindu pilgrims often stop by the temple, especially to celebrate Baba Bankhandi Maharaj’s birth and death anniversary. PHOTO: EXPRESS
SUKKUR:
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.
By Sarfaraz Memon
Published: December 18, 2012
The exquisite balconies of the Sadh Belo temple are adorned with marble panels. The temple, which is spread over nine acres, takes its name from the island that it has been built on. The island - previously known as Menak Parbat - is located in the middle of the Indus River. The temple was constructed in 1889. Hindu pilgrims often stop by the temple, especially to celebrate Baba Bankhandi Maharaj’s birth and death anniversary. PHOTO: EXPRESS
SUKKUR:
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.
