What’s the Taj Mahal like from the inside? And Other Stories

Rohit

(We need to develop the maturity of respecting and owning the differences between communities and nations — a recognition of unique identities beyond the homogenous macro picture. There is no point in shying away from these ‘contrarieties’, otherwise there would always be an undercurrent ready to erupt to sweep away human comity and dignity)

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Enjoyed reading.

NHK

``khubsoorat kar key``, janaab, ``khubsoorat kar key! aaho!``
hope your enthusiasm is infectious :D
loved your definition of ``home``
I so wish I was back home so I could see the inside of the Taj Mahal too!

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the next post`s gonna be from Urstruly starting with `Besharam hinduon`; and then jay`ll take over with how many jihad boxes your pathetic eyes spotted in karachi, and then all the rest of the crowd`ll pitch in to make it a nice happy party. Oh well, you won`t the first to stub your toes on the path to peace.

Oh great, another peacenik. Get ready to be torn to shreds, buddy.

So when are you people demolishing Teju Mehal? I mean Taj Mehal

Rohit,
Thanks for an uplifting article. I think India and Pakistan are like two estranged lovers. They know very well that they have an amazing personal chemistry with each other, but for whatever reason, can never be together. There can be sabre rattling at a distance, but at the personal level, Indians and Pakistanis always behave like long-lost brothers. I bet if you put urstruly and jay physically in one room, they will come out with a common memorandum on peace and brotherhood!! This love and hate relationship is really a manifestation of love, because as the cliche goes, the opposite of love is indifference, and we are certainly not indifferent to each other!! It is just sad and tragic that two sets of people with so much affection for each other have been condemned to live apart for ever.

Just wanted to say that similarly most Indians view Pakistani`s as a fairly homogenous lot, which they are`nt. The contrast between Lahore and Karachi, Punjabi`s and non-Punjabi`s is as much as that between any two regions in India. And these two are cities, in the rural areas cultural differences would be more stark. The idea of homogenity is essentially something that nation states are very fond of cultivating, makes life easier for them.

Hey

Thanks for all the comments. Am waiting for the brickbats attacking us ``bleeding heart delusional doves``. (whats the story with doves and peace anyway!!)

Most of the ideas expressed above came after discussions with other members of the group, as well as after reading an article on a similiar theme on Himal.

Thanks for sharing this with us.

One of these years I would like to take a trip myself (in one sweep)

to three countries that remain an important part of me (while I live in a fouth, the USA).

They are:

1) Pakistan, the land of my birth and identity

2) Bangladesh, a land that I spent several wonderful years in and continue to love.

3) India, where my Parents came from (I would love to see their ancestral home).


Just recently I read Sheryar Ahmad`s account (Junoon`s Manager) of his visit with

brother Salman to their ancestral home in Patiala. I would like to do the same

and visit Dilli, Aligarh, Saharanpur and Lukhnow etc etc.

Pray for continuing peace...


Ras

well written.

#7:

Urstruly:

``So when are you people demolishing Teju Mehal? I mean Taj Mehal ``

Unfortunately I have to say that even after so many years on Chowk you are still to learn and understand the Bania mentality of Hindus. Hindus will not destroy Tejo Mahal because many tourists are visiting it and Banias are making money of it. If tourists were visitng Babri Masjid as tourist entity, it too would not be destroyed. But now it is destroyed and when Hindu temple comes up, many tourists will visit that as well.

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random thought: I recently made friends with a Pathan from Peshawar (well, his ancestral village is somewhere else, and as his father was in the army, he`s spent most of his life in different cities)... the first real Pathan I know. Over-turned many of the stereotypes I had imbibed over time - and reinforced some others!
For one thing, it turns out that just as every thing is a Jewish conspiracy or the act of the Foreign Hand for the Pakistani establishment or its ruling class, for the Pathans, the world is divided into Pathans and Punjabis. To the extent that in some circles, being called a Punjabi is the very worst form of insult - it means someone devoid/incapable of honour.
Maybe this has something to do with the Sikh rule in the 1800s... or maybe it dates back further in time.
Funny how each group has its own particular Other to define itself against.
Sunnis for Shias and vice versa, mohajirs and ansaar (sindhis), English-speaking/modrain and mullah, Punjabis and the rest of the world, Jats/Maliks/Chaudhrys/... and the rest of the world, Pathans (esp. from Peshawar) and Kabulis... the two Sindhis I know well are from well-to-do families in Karachi. One of them really resents the Pathans that have destroyed his city with their ugly katchi abaadian and their lack of respect for a place that they consider nothing more than a temporary abode to which they owe no obligations (this is his interpretation, not mine, nor do I lay claim to its validity on his behalf). There is also Baloch and Kabuli trouble (actually, these are specific cases of the mohajir/ansaar relationship).
maslay-masail...
Homogeneity is such a myth.

Great efforts suitably portrayed by the author.

The one point I take serious issue with is comparing Lahore with Delhi. No way. Lahore compares with Amritsar or maybe even Ludhiana as far as food is concerned. But to compare this small semi-rural Punjab town with Delhi is showing a lack of knolwedge about Delhi. The only thing common between Lahore and Delhi, today, could be:-

a) The number of people in Delhi weeping about Lahore and vice-versa.
b) The existence of a suburb ``on the other side of the river`` called Shahdara.
c) Urdu speaking people out-numbering Punjabi speakers.

Otherwise, how does Lahore compare in any way with Delhi? Which factual quantifiable parameters would any ``Hai saadaa Lahore`` type wish to compare?

And nothing, as yet, from anybody about the microfine dust on the Wagah-Lahore Railway line. I can STILL fel it stuck in my lungs.