Published on: 11/23/2015IST
8 Heartwarming Stories Pakistani Citizens Have Had To Share About India
No matter how much religious extremists try to create tension and differences between India and Pakistan with their dubious political agendas, there will always be something that unites the two neighbouring countries. For only those who can see beyond hatred know that we are the same people, just separated by a border. So while the haters and the trolls carry on hating, here are 8 beautiful stories Pakistani nationals have shared about India.
1. A story of gratitude from a Pakistani father
Thirteen-year-old Nalain Rubab Imran, or Abeeha as she was fondly remembered, once resided in Chakwal, Pakistan.
Abeeha had gone through a liver transplant in Saudi Arabia back in 2011 when her father was posted there. But due to some complications, the doctors had advised another transplant. Realising it would cost a lot of money in Pakistan, Imran decided to bring Abeeha to Apollo Hospital in New Delhi.
Imran was a student of a government high school in Chakwal, which was built by Sardar Chet Singh Kohli in 1910. Sardar Chet Singh, a nobleman born and brought up in what is now Pakistan, is remembered to this day in Chakwal. He had built schools and hospitals for the locals before migrating to Delhi after the partition. Call it a random coincidence, but Sardar Chet Singh's grandson, Mr. Rattan Deep Singh Kohli, had recently visited the school in Chakwal to celebrate its 100th anniversary. He was completely blown over by the love the residents there had bestowed upon him.
One of the students from the school had given Imran Kohli's contact number in case of an emergency. So when Imran, his wife Sajjda, Abeeha and a donor Manzoor Hussain reached Kohli's home, they were greeted with nothing but warmth. Abeeha was successfully operated on, on March 16, 2015. Sajjda later had to leave for home, but she left assured that Abeeha would be taken care of by Kohli's wife, Paramjit, as her own child. But sadly, Abeeha passed away on May 7, 2015.
Even though Hamid didn't return with his daughter, he did not forget the love Rattan Deep Singh and his family had given him and his family during their stay. Imran later said, "When our ambulance stopped at the border, a soldier rushed to the vehicle and put a piece of green cloth on it so that the body could be saved from the scorching heat. I accept my fate. As a father I did whatever I could, with whatever resources I had, for my daughter. As a Muslim, I accept Allah's will. Neither can I forget the pain caused by the sudden death of my daughter, nor the love which I received in India. My daughter was meant to take her last breath in India."
2. A story of humanity and harmony
Quora user Monie Ahsan recalls an experience that she calls not just a story on India, but on humanity itself:
"I visited India back in 2004 with my family to visit some relatives. Our trip of 1.5 months went pretty well. Our return flight was from Mumbai to Karachi and my uncle's house was in Rajasthan. So, we hired a jeep to travel from Rajasthan to Bombay. We put our luggage on the top of the Jeep, tied it to a rope and started our journey. It was a long and tiresome journey, and it was Ramazan. I, along with my family, was fasting and we had just entered in Mumbai. It was almost sunset time. We were very thirsty and hungry when suddenly a guy came to us and said, 'You guys must be Muslims, it's time to break the fast and you probably don't know much places in here' (maybe he knew from our luggage). He not only invited us to sit in his restaurant where I had the best pineapple juice of my life, but he even offered us the place to pray.
But the best part is, he was a Hindu. He didn't charge any money for the food and drinks of 8 people, and that was the best fast of my life. I still pray for the well being of that guy."
3. A story on the beautiful gift of life.
57-year-old Zafar Ahmed Lali weighed over 125 kilograms, had five blood vessel blockages, and a defective aortic valve - escalating surgical risk to about thrice as much as other patients. In layman terms, he was incredibly sick. Unable to get proper treatment in Pakistan, Lali found that the only cost-effective place for surgery would be Mumbai's Asian Heart Institute. He was not only given a new lease of life by the Indian doctors within 5 days of arrival, but his recovery was also near perfect. After everything, Lali had only one thing to say, "I find myself lucky that despite being a Pakistani, I could get through very easily and seek the best care."
4. A story built on childhood memories
Quora user Aqsa Tariq's paternal grandfather was always a little hostile towards her father. Even though he did the most for her grandfather, and respected him more than his other sons, he was never seen in a good light.
All that, until her father got her grandfather a visa for India to visit his cousins. On his return she could vividly make out how her grandfather's attitude in life had completely changed. He praised his cousins and their loving children for their hospitality. His attitude towards her father had also seen a drastic change.
Later, on asking, Aqsa found out that her grandfather saw a well that he used to play around in his childhood in Mewat and he burst into tears. Sharing memories, for the first time he looked at ease with her father. Aqsa and her family love India and wish to come visit soon. We hope they come.
5. A story of a home away from home
Pakistani Quora user Seemal Zaman loves India so much that she has been here five times. Recalling her experiences, she says she gets more excited than ever each time she crosses the border. She doesn't have family in India, but it feels like her home away from home. She feels her heritage as much as she feels it in Pakistan. She says, "The feeling of being awestruck each time I see Taj Mahal, the grandour of Amer Fort, the heart fluttering with spirituality at Ajmer and Golden Temple, the beauty of Lotus, the hustle bustle at Mathura, the high and mighty Qutub, I could go on and on. That's the best story I, as a Pakistani, can tell people about India."
6. A story of a Jaadu ki Jhappee
Pakistani Quora user Usman Qazi recalls the time he was given a 'Jaadu ki jhappee' by an inspector at the Indian customs. He was on a trip to India with a relative visiting his ancestral home in Punjab. He was pleasantly surprised to find most of his ancestral memories still remained intact. Everywhere he went, he was witness to some incredible 'khatirdaari' by Indians. At the customs, he was greeted with a 'Jaadu ki Jhappee'. A police ASI treated them to milk and jalebis. They wanted to see the building in which his grandfather worked in Patiala. Although the ASI on duty refused to let them enter, they were treated to some local goodies as an apology. He says that the list could go on, and on. "I have never experienced so much goodwill anywhere else in the world," he says.
7. A story of best friends united by a border
Quora user Adeel Azhar is a part-time radio presenter and a full-time business manager in a Pakistani logistics company. Work made him travel to Chennai to attend the inaugural session of South East Asian Leadership Academy. He says there are many stories to share, but the best one is when his best friend from India tunes into his show every morning. He recalls, "My friend Navneet from Ajmer, whom I met in Chennai, has become a familiar name among my listeners and many of them are connected to him through social media. The beauty is that no matter how bad things go between the two 'governments' nobody ever gets abusive or angry at him. Yeah some friendly rivalry during cricket matches. This tells you about the power of relationships which goes beyond borders."
Adeel and Navneet keep chatting over the phone so often that it doesn't feel like they live in different countries.
8. A story of a budding friendship
Quora user Pervesh Maheshwari is a Pakistani who was completing his studies in India. Although he says he's got a lot of stories to tell, there is one that stands out. He recalls the fights he would have with his best friend over cricket. They would have their own word battles everyday about who was better, India or Pakistan. She would also apparently get scolded at home by her mom for befriending a Pakistani. But having said that, her mom would invariably pack lunch for Pervesh. In fact, she would even cater to their whims and fancies. He says,"We talk, we laugh, we fight not as an Indian or a Pakistani but as two friends who are separated yet united."
11/23/2015 | | Permalink