aman loves asha

aman (ind)   loves ASHA(pak)

Once, they were happily married, walking hand-in-hand, through the sands of Multan and Jaisalmer, and honeymooning in undivided Kashmir. Their kids could be seen effervescently running around the gullies of Chandni Chowk and Lahore. Come, Eid, Diwali, Lohri - they could be seen embracing each other. Their mellifluous romance per se, attracted certain envious relatives and ‘merci a`’ them, here we lie in tatters.

Now, after 63 years of incessant infightings and recriminations, the long lorn

Souls see a hope of re-splicing. The ‘Cause celebre` is “Aman ki Asha”, peace initiative by TOI, India and Jang Group, Pakistan. While, the majority of the populace is still skeptical about the proposed bonhomie; is it really possible for us to make them run around trees, again crooning the love ballad?

That too:

·       When there are mass revolts amongst the hate preachers.

·       When each of our neighbors is a terrorist for us.

Ever since the mutilation, there have been several wars and several contrived peace processes, but they all succumbed.

Reasons:

·       The over-flowing animosity amongst the gullible denizens.

·       Manipulation by the ubiquitous vote-seekers.

·       Lack of cross-border communication.

The third point has somewhat diminished, with the advent of social networking. The neighbors whom we once considered our bete` noire` and sadistic in character, have come alive as our long lost body parts.

The saying- “We look the same, we eat the same food, drink the same water, dress the same way, speak the same lingo, breathe the same air, drop the same tears, shed blood of the same color and are at more geographical proximity to each other than we are to U.K and U.S” has become more profound. The Indians and Pakistanis residing abroad have always been the best of buddies and have tales to tell about each other’s hospitality. Why is it so that we need distances to bridge the gap? Why is it so culpable a crime to toe the border that one has to spend his whole life behind bars?  While, rapists and murderers in both the countries, swagger around in fancy chariot, spitting at our judiciaries.

We come across so many youths in both the countries calling for war as the only solution. I feel pity for their ignorance and ashamed being audience to such frivolities. War has never been a solution, as Mahatma Gandhi once said- “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”. Do we understand how much and many we lose, each time the “sword of Damocles” falls on us? The time is ripe, the clarion has been blown, and it is up to us how we perceive it- ‘Memento mori’ or ‘Cupid’s call’.

The question remains unanswered- ‘Will Aman and Asha ever meet?’  

Kya hai iss dharti ki khubsoorati?

             Yeh Pahad,Yeh samander,Yeh ragistaan, ,Yeh Chand,Yeh sar Sabz Shadab Maidaan,Yeh Khaait,Yeh phool

 Kya hai Iss Dharti main Basne Wale Logon Ki Khubsoorati?

             Yeh rang O Roop,Yeh Geeton Ki Jhankar,Yeh Meethi Boli,Yeh Ragon main Daudne Wala KhOOn,Yeh AsnooN, Yeh Andekhi Khushyan

 Kya Hai  kitaabon KI KHubsooraati?

                              YEh Quraan, YEh Geeta, YEh Bible

 Kya  Hai inn Kitabon Khubsooarat PaaiGham?

                             Yeh  Insaaniyat, Yeh insaaf,  Yeh Aman o Sukoon

 Kisi Bhi rang Main dekh Lo

Har rang Main ik hi Baat kehta hai

Iss Amber ko Saja Lo Aman Se

                                - Zeena Seemi, Pakistan

P.S- This is an assortment of Indo-Pak sentiments; ‘My article’ and ‘Zeena’s poem’ are just the ingredients.