As cricketers, celebrities and leaders attempt to build bridges of friendship between India and Pakistan, The Citizens Archive of Pakistan and the Indian nonprofit Routes2Roots have initiated Exchange for Change, a program that encourages dialogue between students across Pakistan and India.
Students have exchanged letters focusing on their lives and neighbourhoods, their respective country’s history and their families.
The students share their joy for pani puri and are curious to learn about each others’ cultures and the reasons for separation.
Here are a few excerpts:
“My dear friend,
I am an ordinary girl like you from Mumbai, India. I study in the 6th standard in Shishuvan school. Now let me tell you something about myself. I love dancing and singing. Besides that I also like reading novels based on detectives and real-life stories. I also love eating ice cream, pizza and noodles.”
A letter from Pakistan:
“Dear Rajasee,
I’m very much interested in Indian music and shows like Indian Idol. I love watching the IPL and wait for it every year. I support the Deccan Chargers, what about you? I love eating pani puri and I have a strong feeling that pani puri in India is much better than in Pakistan.”
A letter from India:
“India is a very nice and cool place. I love my country as it is very green, beautiful. Gandhi ji was the person who helped us get independence from the British. We got our independence on August 15. We celebrate many festivals like Diwali, Holi, Navratri and Christmas.
I think I have given enough information on India to you. I would also like to know some things about your country, like— which festivals do you celebrate? When did you get your independence? Who helped your country to get their independence?”
A letter from Pakistan:
“Dear friend,
I’ve heard a lot about Mumbai. I loved when you wrote earlier that “Mumbai is a city where your life is like heaven.” I’ve seen Mumbai on the National Geographic channel but I have never been there.”
A letter from India:
“My favourite hobby is football and I play it. My drawing is good. I am a good dancer and I am also polite to others. I am Muslim and I also go to mosque with my father. I celebrate Eidul Azha. I also fast in the month of Ramazan. I want to know about your culture, how you live and much more. I want to know from which religion you are. I will wait for your letter…”
A letter from Pakistan:
“Dear friend,
My grandfather and grandmother migrated from India, they used to live in Hyderabad. People here in Pakistan are very friendly and helpful. We have read about India and its monuments but we are now learning about the separation of the countries.”
A letter from India:
My hobbies are listening music, reading magazines and story books. I am fond of shopping and going on trips. What are your hobbies? Do you like to do shopping or going on trips or picnics with family or friends? Do you know there are many beautiful monuments in India? Some of them are India Gate, Qutab Minar, Gateway of India and one of the seven wonders of the world that is Taj Mahal.”
A letter from Pakistan:
“Dear Drashti,
Our life styles in India and Pakistan are very different. We have amazing places to visit in Pakistan, but mostly we prefer to get together indoors, which happens once a week. You are right about our buses – they are full of interesting colours which add more life to the streets. The nihari, korma and biryani here in Pakistan are to die for and are unique. I am from Karachi and the most famous monumnents here is the Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum. Whenever I visit it, I feel like I am reliving history. Speaking of history, the first thing that comes to my mind is the history of our countries. We have already had lots of fights but now is the time to stop by accepting that we had to be separated.”
Students have exchanged letters focusing on their lives and neighbourhoods, their respective country’s history and their families.
The students share their joy for pani puri and are curious to learn about each others’ cultures and the reasons for separation.
Here are a few excerpts:
A letter from India:
“My dear friend,
I am an ordinary girl like you from Mumbai, India. I study in the 6th standard in Shishuvan school. Now let me tell you something about myself. I love dancing and singing. Besides that I also like reading novels based on detectives and real-life stories. I also love eating ice cream, pizza and noodles.”
A letter from Pakistan:
“Dear Rajasee,
I’m very much interested in Indian music and shows like Indian Idol. I love watching the IPL and wait for it every year. I support the Deccan Chargers, what about you? I love eating pani puri and I have a strong feeling that pani puri in India is much better than in Pakistan.”
A letter from India:
“India is a very nice and cool place. I love my country as it is very green, beautiful. Gandhi ji was the person who helped us get independence from the British. We got our independence on August 15. We celebrate many festivals like Diwali, Holi, Navratri and Christmas.
I think I have given enough information on India to you. I would also like to know some things about your country, like— which festivals do you celebrate? When did you get your independence? Who helped your country to get their independence?”
A letter from Pakistan:
“Dear friend,
I’ve heard a lot about Mumbai. I loved when you wrote earlier that “Mumbai is a city where your life is like heaven.” I’ve seen Mumbai on the National Geographic channel but I have never been there.”
A letter from India:
“My favourite hobby is football and I play it. My drawing is good. I am a good dancer and I am also polite to others. I am Muslim and I also go to mosque with my father. I celebrate Eidul Azha. I also fast in the month of Ramazan. I want to know about your culture, how you live and much more. I want to know from which religion you are. I will wait for your letter…”
A letter from Pakistan:
“Dear friend,
My grandfather and grandmother migrated from India, they used to live in Hyderabad. People here in Pakistan are very friendly and helpful. We have read about India and its monuments but we are now learning about the separation of the countries.”
A letter from India:
My hobbies are listening music, reading magazines and story books. I am fond of shopping and going on trips. What are your hobbies? Do you like to do shopping or going on trips or picnics with family or friends? Do you know there are many beautiful monuments in India? Some of them are India Gate, Qutab Minar, Gateway of India and one of the seven wonders of the world that is Taj Mahal.”
A letter from Pakistan:
“Dear Drashti,
Our life styles in India and Pakistan are very different. We have amazing places to visit in Pakistan, but mostly we prefer to get together indoors, which happens once a week. You are right about our buses – they are full of interesting colours which add more life to the streets. The nihari, korma and biryani here in Pakistan are to die for and are unique. I am from Karachi and the most famous monumnents here is the Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum. Whenever I visit it, I feel like I am reliving history. Speaking of history, the first thing that comes to my mind is the history of our countries. We have already had lots of fights but now is the time to stop by accepting that we had to be separated.”
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