Both of us speak the same language. We both intermingle English with our national language and transition to and from English as we speak. We both wear the same clothes. We both enjoy the same movies. We both have same favorite singers. We both laugh at same jokes and cry over the same stories. We both use same swearwords in our native language. We both have similar accents. We both have same complaints of our political leaderships. We both watch the same sports and scream with joy on same moves in the game. We both eat the same food. We both dance the same way and on same music. We both have the same favorite actors and actresses. We both read the same writers. We both admire the same poets. We both share the same history spanning centuries. We both are next door neighbors with shared culture.
Yet we both are arch rivals. May a day comes when we realize that we are inseparable soulmates and each other’s alter ego. We are arch friends and not enemies. We have been deliberately kept away and distanced and our hearts have been maligned against each other. Just like in the movies where two lovers are separated and seeds of hate are sown by zaalim samaaj. May we get the wisdom to start building bridges and breaking walls. Art, music, culture, poetry, theatre, films and all other creative expressions are the right media to bring us together. Responsibility lies on all the creative souls to use their art and skill to foster a culture of peace and love while denouncing hate. It’s not unthinkable. It’s not impossible. I can. You can. We can!
Published in Daily Times, March 16th 2018.