A Letter from Veer

Great Article!

I have been told by Chowkies that you are the expert Indian on Pakistan on Chowk.

My parents too came from Pakistan, I was wondering if you travelled in Quetta also as I have some questions that city.

Dear Veer(or should i say Veer Uncle)

I am a 19 year old Malik from across the border..

I have read your articles and find you living in 1999 rather than 1947 unlike most of your age fellows...Most of the college going teenagers on both sides of the divide feel much more comfortable with the two-nation theory and don`t essentialy view each other as potential enemies.

With the new revolution,the Information Technology Revolution,knocking at our doors,it is our chance to make it big....and we can`t miss this last chance to bridge the gap between the East and the West,not at any cost.

So let peace prevail while we work towards a better educated,far-sighted,socially and politically aware populace.Which would be in a better position to decide the disputes between the two nation.

Meanwhile continue finding people with similiar surnames across the line of divide.

peace out.

Taimur Malik,

Lahore,Pakistan.

Someday, it`ll be easier for an Indian and a Pakistani to actually talk politics without having ``a hidden agenda``. Someday.

Zia

Re: Veer ji

This was clearly from the heart and that is very refreshing.

No matter which was you cut it, the plain reality is that our people are actually one and don`t want conflict. It is easy to claim that the ruling class is to blme for all the political horse manure, but the truth is that the real culprit is the STATE STRUCTURE itself, both in Hindustan and Pakistan. If the people of South Asia are to be liberated and live in peace and prosperity, both sides of the border have to be completely ``reorganized``. The two imperialistic centers of power (Islamabad and New Delhi) HAVE TO BE DISMANTLED, their respective defense establishments abolished and disbanded, their government departments shut-down and their political powers fully divested to the level of local municipalities in the name of freedom, justice, peace and prosperity. Borders should be opened, trade and commerce be open, exchange of ideas, people, technology, culture, goods and services and to be free flowing from the Indus to the Brumputra, and from Nepal to Lanka. A common currency wouldn`t hurt either. If this is done, in less than two decades the Commonwealth of Indian Subcontinent`s autonomous city-states could become a great place.

``Imagine....you may say, I`m a dreamer, but I`m not the only one, hope some day...``

...SR

Re: TA

Wasn`t that army officer Nadir Perveiz? Is he not also the same one who was been given life imprisonment in 1974 after a puppet court martial, headed by the newly promoted major general Zia, found him guilty of treason. He escaped the Indian POW but not the Pakistani.

...SR

(He was given clemency a decade or so later.)

Good piece, Veer. I heard of one (Pakistani) army officer who escaped from the POW camp after the 71 war and spent a day in Delhi watching Indian movies and taking in the Delhi scene a bit before moving on to Nepal and freedom. Obviously a man with the right priorities, who knew it is much better to watch movies and enjoy the other culture (and people) than to be a POW (or conqueror or fanatic), I think. I am sure you would have shown him around Delhi in your motorcar before turning him in.

Very good writing here that looks at the problem
from a human perspective. Many Pakistanis feel the
same way about Indians and are concerned when
similar injustices happen in India.

Ras

hear hear!

shandana

Bravo!

Please will someone safe us from this insanity we seem to be drowning of our own free will?

Astounded at your honesty and I dont know how to say it--`being human`?

I AM GLAD you are taking an interest in this. To me it means that maybe we South Asians are learning to be human rather than hindu, muslim, white or all the other etcetras that are society`s ways of keeping power intact and insular.

Most middle-class workers of the world are askance at the kidnap/arrest of Mr Sethi. Frankly too I have never met him. I have read him often though and thought that TFT is doing a great job.

Right now though, there is a sense of fear attached to this whole business of speaking ones mind. I can`t think of too many people who would openly deride the Govt., this action and perhaps that is the tragedy of our nation. The latest news (The Dawn, 8MAY99) is that several NGOS have been forcibly closed down by the GOP in Punjab. On charges of corruption etc. Even the HRCP (Human Rights Commission) is being asked to show accounts etc to check for corruption.

All this because an international news agency (BBC) decided to make a documentary on Govt. Corruption, and people talked.

This is how scared some people have become. It is obvious that the Govt. has much to hide.

The reason why I am taking an interest in all this is because it is my duty as a citizen:) and because Sethi could be anyone, anywhere. I am sorry but I expected much more from the rest of Chowk.

Thank you, Veer. For the past few days i have been carrying around a lump in the pit of my stomach, sickened and wondering who would be next. You brought that lump to my throat. Thank you for speaking up.