Perspective transition at Wagah Border
This is about the change in my patriotic perspective rather than a travelling experience
Some experiences of our life help us to breakthrough the existing belief system and establish the base of our new belief system. Something similar happend with me while I was sitting in the premises of Wagah border.
I moved inside sitting area, everyone was running here and there to get a front seat; somehow I managed to get a seat near to the border gate and the program started. After seeing the other Flag outside, I was filled with curiosity rather than excitement. Curiosity to see the people of Pakistan and being well aware of the fact that it’s not possible but still want to talk to them and figure out the differences between them and us. Almost everyone of us has heard about Pakistanis or Pakistan only in movies, news or speeches. The image which is portrayed in our mind, if I will write it in 2–3 words, it will be - Pakistanis are inhumans. Each and every Pakistani hates each and every Indian. But at that time I realised that they are nothing but in the same mental state as we are. Victim or carrier of someone else’s developed hatredness. People sitting on other side have also same set of priorities as we have. To get proper shelter, food and other baisc amneties. Masses which were living together from prolonged time how come just a geographical distribution changes the sentiment of both the audiences. Though I was watching the program but this is what was running through my mind. A person who is struggling with his/her basic chores or dream in life doesn’t even care about those things which our media and so called “Leaders” forces us to be concerned about. Because of those few set of people who are governing both the countries the definition of Patriotism has totally changed. Your level of patriotism will be measured by your hatredness for the neighbouring country and its people rather than your love for your own country and its people.
I moved inside sitting area, everyone was running here and there to get a front seat; somehow I managed to get a seat near to the border gate and the program started. After seeing the other Flag outside, I was filled with curiosity rather than excitement. Curiosity to see the people of Pakistan and being well aware of the fact that it’s not possible but still want to talk to them and figure out the differences between them and us. Almost everyone of us has heard about Pakistanis or Pakistan only in movies, news or speeches. The image which is portrayed in our mind, if I will write it in 2–3 words, it will be - Pakistanis are inhumans. Each and every Pakistani hates each and every Indian. But at that time I realised that they are nothing but in the same mental state as we are. Victim or carrier of someone else’s developed hatredness. People sitting on other side have also same set of priorities as we have. To get proper shelter, food and other baisc amneties. Masses which were living together from prolonged time how come just a geographical distribution changes the sentiment of both the audiences. Though I was watching the program but this is what was running through my mind. A person who is struggling with his/her basic chores or dream in life doesn’t even care about those things which our media and so called “Leaders” forces us to be concerned about. Because of those few set of people who are governing both the countries the definition of Patriotism has totally changed. Your level of patriotism will be measured by your hatredness for the neighbouring country and its people rather than your love for your own country and its people.
This level of hatredness is equal on both the ends. But, is it possible to have a thinking irrespective of what is happening across borders ? This was my perspective to see this, irrespective of its range of acceptance. Because I know it might be difficult for many of us to observe this because of the prolonged wiring of our subsconscious mind with the hatredness.
