While the entire twitter universe is talking about the Pakistani Independence Day today and Google has dedicated a rather thoughtful doodle to the occasion, I’m reminded of the times when I took the subject rather seriously.
65 years to the day that our nation was declared independent, but I wonder what has really changed.
Are we really free to do what we like? And even if we are let off the leash, what are our options? To rephrase, how many things are there that the people of our country are not yet aware of? The statement is so general because there is just so much that it can apply to. Education, health care, public administration, infrastructure – you name it. It is not my intention to demean the progress we have made. The soul of India is what brought me here almost 10 years ago – when I had the world to choose from. But today, I find myself gasping for breath. For a sniff of freedom.
I’ve known a few who sit by our borders defending us while we sleep sound. They have their own views but we all agree that patriotism aside, we’re the same people. They have the same lands. Similar languages. The very same rivers that flow from them to us. They grieve, just like us. They love, just like us. The only difference is that now there has been a line drawn to show us apart.
My oldest friend from Muscat is a Pakistani. We grew up together, climbed mountains side by side, fought over leftover flowers at the Diwan flower garbage centre and dreaded 6 pm because we’d have to go back to our respective homes. Asma got married this June and the only reason I couldn’t attend was the border.
I don’t understand how it has been worth the sacrifices.