Do you see her? The one standing right next to me? She’s a significant part of my life and I adore this part of my life.
The first time we met each other, we were wearing our school uniforms. I was as goofy and nerdy back then as I am now. She was as nerdy as she is today but not as bit as talkative.
The memories we share from school to date are too lengthy to list, the connection we have too deep to describe and the things we share with each other way, way too private. What I can definitely do, though, is to dwell on why I adore her.
Each and every time I meet her, interact with her and see her smile, she makes me wonder how one can be so charming. Makes me wonder how I can go from wanting to crash to my bed and fall deep asleep to being re-energized after simply speaking to her for a couple of minutes. Makes me wonder the quantum of my fortune to have met her and to have her as one of my closest friends.
She makes me wish fervently to be with her to cause her worries to vanish and to partake in each and every moment of joy she experiences. She makes me wish fervently for our bond, our connection and our friendship to last a lifetime and beyond. She makes me dedicate all my prayers towards her and to hope for her to capitalize on her recent success and to have all happiness redirected her way.
Do you see her? The one standing right next to me? She’s a significant part of my life. A part called happiness and I adore this part of my life.
Knowing such an intelligent lady and a wonderful soul from the 9th grade onward makes me happy. Having shared plenty of secrets and having created wonderful memories with her makes me happy. Being with her on 16 January 2020 to share a special moment of her life and soak in the joy made me happy.
CA Nidhi Nirmalkumar Nandawat. Your success made me happy.
There is a thin line of difference between dreams and reality. You become aware of its existence only while you are awake. Once your eyes close, the line gradually dissipates.
As I opened my eyes to the deafening roar of thousands of people around me, I could see two gates of hard metal parallel to each other being pulled apart by two persons on each side. The show had well and truly begun. I was spellbound by the sheer magnanimity of the proceedings before me.
It was at Shahi Qila on the Attari – Wagah border that I, with a few friends from office, had the fortune to witness Indian and Pakistani soldiers put up a show of strength that would make all attendees feel a surge of pride and patriotism.
The entrance to the stadium where the Attari – Wagah border beating retreat ceremony is heldA packed Indian audience awaits the commencement of the Attari – Wagah border beating retreat ceremony
A few minutes ago, we had watched with excitement as scores of Indian civilian women had carried the tricolor close to the border followed up by a dance sequence, reflecting well and truly the free spirit and enthusiasm of our country. All this while, a BSF jawaan encouraged the entire crowd to cheer for the women. On the other hand, we saw an amputee from Pakistan proudly hold the Pakistani flag aloft and spin around in circles, displaying tremendous mental and physical strength.
Indian women carrying the Indian tricolor to the border
BSF Jawaan encouraging the audience to cheer for Indian civilian women and the armed forces
However, once the gates were opened, the show was down to the soldiers who would proceed to approach the border and hold their arms aloft in a display of courage, valor and strength. However impressive the show was, I could not help but have my attention drawn to something I noticed only during our exit.
Full view of the stadium from the Indian side
The fence separating India from Pakistan
As we could see Pakistan from where we were seated, it was apparent that their roads were as clean as ours. The lush greenery on their side was of the same shade as it was on the Indian side. The people shared the same level of excitement on both sides. The looks, the attire and the behavioral traits of the people seemed extremely similar. And yet, everyone was divided into two separate units. And the dividers were the gates. And as we realized later, a fence.
The purpose of art and the intention of an artist is to bring people together in appreciating art, whether by showering lavish praise or offering constructive criticism. The entire basis of fine arts such as drawing and painting is the various strokes including at its inception, a line. And as realization dawned, the fence dividing the crowd gathered at the border was nothing but a line. A simple line drawn by Sir Cyril Radcliffe on the world map more than 70 years ago that made me an Indian and someone just a few meters away from me a Pakistani, a person from an entirely different nation.
There is a thin line of difference between dreams and reality. Normally, the line is inconsequential. But when it is drawn by a man who’s not an artist but an aristocrat and when it results in the division of an entire nation and a state of insurgency for years to come, you fervently wish for the line to disappear in reality.
As the gates on the Attari – Wagah border were shut, I couldn’t help but close my eyes for a moment. I couldn’t help but feel a slight pain in my chest. Not just me but 1 in every 6 people in the world would want the gates to be opened forever.
For a single nation to be formed. For the people of the combined nation to have a feeling of togetherness and live in an atmosphere of peace. For the line to be erased forever.
That it probably never will be hurts. The history of Partition and the aftershocks thereof hurt. That soldiers on both sides have to leave their families behind and be constantly ready to go to war with each other despite their ancestors being siblings like Pandavas and Kauravas hurts.
That the dream of Akhand Bharat would never achieve fruition hurts.
Express feelings in a manner that leads people to empathize with you;
Build bonds and relationships that last beyond a lifetime;
Gather all the magnificent thoughts that run astray and put them forth for the whole wide world to see; and
To bring to life stories hitherto untold.
It is this power of words that fascinates me and gets me to express my thoughts with the hope when that someone located somewhere on the face of this earth comes across my thoughts, (s)he becomes inclined to chronicle her/ his journey and thoughts through the power of words.
Words on a canvas 