I am sure every one has seen the you tube video of Mr Shahrukh Khan talking about the controversy of the former Air Chief Marshall's picture in some Indian Ads and Pakistani players not being choose in some other incident. I agree with his statement that we should not let politics come into sports, the way I think we should not let political rivalries come into anything and in fact it is us who have the power to change the political climate if we change our views.
I think it is human nature to distrust anything that we do not understand. All our lives as kids we have been told over and over how India is not a good neighbor and they are out to get us and don't want us to survive as a nation, as a child I used to think all Indians are bad people, than one day I remember in Pakistan we were visited by two south Indians from Singapore. They were the guest of one of my uncles and I remember being truly fascinated by them, it was only on Doordarshan before than; that I had seen ladies in saris with bindis on their heads and being young and naive I had asked my mom how come they are in our house are they not bad people and she had said no beta, no one is bad; all people are good.
Cut scene to 2004 when I had moved to Montreal to pursue my studies, according to the rules at university no students were allowed to stay on campus during the summer and being the poor church mouse of a student that I was back than, having very little money and knowing no one in a new place I had no where to go to. I remember going to a lecture on dinosaur remains where I had seen a desi sitting amongst the crowd, just seeing someone who looked like me was such a relief for me. I think only a person who has had to go and live some where completely foreign where you know no one can understand the feeling of joy that comes with seeing some one whom you can relate to. During the course of the lecture I got to know her and found out she was a student from India studying biology as well. I had mentioned how I was searching for summer housing and missed home and my mom's cooking. A few days later I saw her again and she invited me to her house as she did not live on campus and cooked me a delicious meal complete with hand made rotis I was completely blown away here was someone I hardly knew who was showing me such a lot of generosity she told me that I could stay with her during the summer and wont have to pay any rent or utilities just split the grocery bill with her I had remembered being skeptical at first but having no choice had taken her up on the offer. She had helped me acquire a summer job and had gone to lengths to celebrate my birthday by baking me a home made cake and inviting her other friends. I was missing home so much that day, it was my first birthday away from home and having some one who went to such lengths to take care of me was a great feeling.
When I had moved in with my desi friend I had had some distrust and I remember her joking with me one time, hey i am not going to kill you I promise. Over time living with her and meeting her friends I had realized how much I needed to learn about the Indian culture and its history and it was not at all what i had seen on TV for so long. So Mr Khan I agree with you, lets keep an open mind and not let politics color our judgement we folks who are fortunate enough to live in countries where we have the opportunity to meet people from other nations should use this opportunity and try to break down the barriers through communication. Friends let us embrace our neighbors and let go of our preconceived ideas.
No comments:
Post a Comment