Nov 2004. Back from Hong Kong. Lounging around. Tori emails. Kartik calls. ''Would you like to go to Pakistan, to help the AIESEC extension initiative?" India helping extend into Pakistan, that simply cannot be passed up! Hardly a moment of hesitation. "Of course I'll go"!
Bit disappointed that 'the system' crushed my hopes for a two week visa. But hey, one week visa is better than no visa, right? How many Indians get the chance to go to Pakistan afterall?
Dec 10, 2004. 50 minutes on the flight from Delhi to Lahore. Bit funny when I think I spent 3 hours just flying from Chennai to Delhi : ) Arriving at Lahore International Airport is quite an event. You can tell the immigration officials are a tad more excited when the flight from India lands. They're full of curiosity, and of course, they're wearing their best smiles. Obviously the novelty of the Indian visitor in Pakistan has far from worn off.
As I walk out the exit, I see hoards of people. Camera flashes, hysteric screaming. Takes me a moment to figure out that I've just walked out behind Bollywood homeboy Aamir Khan who's being received by Imran Khan, and in the middle of all this subcontinent-style-Khan-mania, I spot them... Nida, Adeel, Ammar, Hasan (?) with their little AIESEC board. My heart sings. Yet another magic AIESEC moment. What was that - "There are no strangers in the world, only friends you haven't met"? ; )
In the car, there's much excitement. Nida and I can't shut up about how we saw Aamir Khan, and "GOSH WHAT HAS HE DONE TO HIS HAIR???" The short car ride goes by in a flurry of loud yak-yak-yak. I like these people already!
The week floats by in surreal fashion. On one hand, I can't believe I'm in Pakistan (Wow, I'm in Pakistan. Wow, I'm in Pakistan. Wow, I'm in Pakistan) - it's more than the usual heightened sense of awareness that goes with the experience of a new country. And on the other hand, it feels just like home - it's so easy, as an Indian - to relate to these people, to strike up conversation, to get the jokes. Sometimes I have to remind myself I'm in a different country!
Highlights of the week in Pakistan:
-Meetings to sell AIESEC exchange to companies & NGOs - an encouraging response!
- Being part of the AIESEC delegation at the Pakistan-India IT Summit at Islamabad
- The most delicious biryani I have eaten (no kidding) made by Amber's wonderful mom!
- A crazy party full of crazy LUMS people (sorry, LUM-inities?) and margaritas even!!! : )
- The view of the city from the majestic Lahore Fort and the beautiful Badshahi mosque
- Bhatti Tikka Shop and the greatest meat extravaganza (thanks Adeel!)
- Post-dinner strolls, fantastic desserts and great conversation with really cool people at Hotspot, Hobnob & Jammin' Java!
- Discovering dirt cheap pirated music. Can you believe: Sasha GU San Francisco double CD for $ 1.50????? Wooooohooooo!!!!
- Card games at R'pindi bus station with Emad : )
- Watching the Mekaal Hasan Band live with ex-Junoon guest drummer 'Gumby', what a dude!
- Ahsan Saeed Kirmani and his non-stop questions ; ) (sahi aadmi hai!!)
I have great memories of Lahore - the people, the warmth and hospitality, the food (just the best!), the language... so much that I've vowed to work on my Urdu...
The idea of AIESEC looks promising in Pakistan, and from my experience, it's been quite well received there. Almost all the 30 or so businessmen we spoke to at the IT summit were very encouraging of the initiative. With such a great set of people out there, it's only a matter of time! And Tori Anderson, m'gurl, POWER TO YA babe. You rock, and we're all watching on in eager anticipation - good luck with AIESEC in Pakistan!
Needless to say, the trip provided plenty of food for thought. On being Indian, on being Muslim even. On the past, present and the future. Yes, the future - there can and must be peace and co-operation between India and Pakistan. For all the misconceptions, alienation and suspicion that we've fostered on either side - I cannot help but question the Partition. Why did colonialism triumph in its 'divide and rule'. Why didn't our leaders the see the potential catastrophe, and if they did, why did they not try and avert it - surely they could have been a more stable and prosperous South Asia sans Partition. OK, enough rambling, or it'll never end.
Well, if there's one thing this trip gave me, it's plenty of hope.
So here's to the future. To Pakistan. To India. To AIESEC.
Thanks Nida, Ahsan, Ammar, Adeel, Amber, Ayesha, Batool, Manal, Emad, Ali, Saleha and all the cool people I met at LUMS! You folks are fantastic and I look forward to seeing you again... : )
:: naazita ::
Saturday, January 29, 2005 at 06:29
Seven Days in Pakistan
Devrim said...
This is really awesome Naaz. For once I'm forced to say something nice to you without any sarcasm. To me it says a lot that India is the one trying to reach out and open up AIESEC in Pakistan.
You should post pictures if you have any. :)
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Anonymous said...
Hey Bachcha...
I know the trip meant lots to you personally as well... AIESEC is such an amazing thing...
Love
Twatty
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eMad said...
Aloha!
pretty darn neat blog babez!
Respect!
I have a lotta pics of ur time in lahore.. will get back to u in more detail by mail.
keep it cool.. n while ure in columbia.. trade in em powdery compounds? ;)
heheh.
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Drake said...
Good Afternoon, Naaz. Hey, It's Drake..an old alumni from @ Michigan in the US. I really liked your blog about traveling to Pakistan...it brought back a lot of memories of my time spent in India and Pakistan (and my flight from Delhi to Karachi on PIA) and all the wonderful people that reside in both countries!! What an experience! I know I was the only white guy on the plane, and perhaps the only one without a turban! ha! At any rate, I echo Digs' comment: post pictures if possible! Sounds amazing!
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Jennifer said...
Hey this is Jen from AIESEC USA (orginally from AIESEC Australia and then AIESEC Egypt). We are looking to set up AIESEC in different countries this year through the Salaam program - http://salaam.nomadlife.org - contact me and we can try and see how our paths can fit together. jenniferH@aiesecus.org
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Primadi said...
heloo my name Primadi , iam from AIESEC In Indonesia and aim a moslem , so nice to see that AIESEC taken apart in a way to increase relationship between a nation divide ( India ,pakistan and bangladesh was a one nation right ) it is so tragic that the unity of India , bharat or hindustan ( anyone can give other name to the sucontinent ?? ) was in the hand of the foreign ruler . anyway i just wanna realize that what u've done had achieve part of aiesec vision . ok c u and regards .u can contact me at kamarastra_foxx@yahoo.com or kamarastra_foxx@hotmail.com for both email and messenger .
AIESECly YOurs
PW
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Syed Hissam said...
hey naz, u got my name wrong, not hasan but hissam, khair, i was looking for aiesec stuff on the net and i happened to drop by ur blog, yeah i was the one driving the car the day u landed in lahore. I left pakistan and no joined aiesec germany, cause well i'm studying there, keep up the partying! nice blog!
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