Connections

Bina,

You have this uncanny ability of expressing emotions through your words. Thank you for sharing this with us.

urstruly,

``Borders may divide us, but land connects us.``

with all due respect, i disagree with you! it is presumpteous to declare that Bina has an agenda to follow. She has done an excellent job by writing this piece. Perhaps you are reading too much into her above statement... please clarify you position!

Very well expressed sentiments!
Although I believe that this was a 7.9 earthquake
(I`ve been through a 7 in the late 80`s in San Jose), the point to remember here is that the forces of nature do not differentiate between Hindu or Muslim when they kill.


Ras

I object to the first line of this article.

Author should have refrained from pushing controversial and sensitive agenda at this time.

People of India and pakistan r in a very peculiar situation.They can`t live together because of historical aminosity between Hindus and muslims but at the same time they can`t live apart.We have common languages,cultures etc.

To me as an Indian relation between India and Pakistan can be brotherly only when 2 things happen.Firstly,Kashmir must be solved in an amicable manner(convert LOC into international border) because if pakistan feels it can get kashmir by covert/overt operations it shows underestimation of us Indians resilience.

Secondly ,Pakistans economic development and political development will make any kind of dialogue realistic.Because pakistan is under the influence of jehadis who don`t even have regard for ahmediyas,shias etc,.

Yes I know common pakistani wants good relations but system there is not allowing good people to come to power.Only feudals and army people have hold on power.I am sure again Bhutto or Sharif will be back in power after the army goes back to barracks.

Bina:

I understand, I understand...I have always called ours a sibling rivalry. A friend in Pakistan, whose letters I had not responded to, was panicky, ``Are you ok?`` and then angry, ``You just cannot take me for granted`` and finally he managed to make me feel guilty, ``Perhaps you are involved with some earthquake relief work``. I was not, am not and, although I have put my name up to be part of a group, I wonder if I will be able to take it. But here was a person across the border, a recently-acquired friend, who was concerned.

I feel guilty about this as well, an individual in a Bombay apartment safe...I only felt the tremors, but there are no cracks on the walls or my psyche. I sometimes wonder if there is a greater pain because Gujarat is where my roots are.

How can anyone, especially you temporal (#1), say that if this earthquake jolts us, then the disaster would not have been in vain? Our PM said much the same thing, that since Gen. Musharraf had offered help, this was a great opportunity to look for solutions for peace. I think it amounts to making use of a specific tragedy. The lack of peace between the two countries should be tragic enough to jolt us. I know that you are not a politician, t, but think about it...

The most sensible solution came from a member of the studio audience during a TV discussion from Ahmedabad: He said if even ten per cent of the funds and manpower that were earmarked for our ``national priority`` (temple construction) went into scientific research, we would be doing a service to the country.

As of now,we can only feel the pain of random images.

Farzana

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Dear Bina:

There indeed are moments when our humanness dominates over all othernesses. I wish such moments coincide more often with somewhat normal times. Thanks!

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

Bina:

This reverberated for a long time, when I read it the first time. And again when I read this now. ``They were all my sisters, in that moment.``

We have so much more in common.

Culture, dharti, mores.

More than what they try to indoctrinate in us.

What do we have in common with those shrouded usurpers pretending to be the guardians of the two shrines?

True, a schism is driven in by our perceptions of different gods. But the core humanity is the same.

Am saddened to see the pictures and read of the catastrophe.

If those tremors jolt us out of our slumber and rekindle our common bonds, perhaps, the destruction and havoc would not be in vain.

If....

Perhaps....

sadly and hopefully,

...t