I had gone to Pakistan as a part of the student delegation for the 6th joint convention of PIPFPD (Pakistan-India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy) in 2003. The convention took place in a hotel in Karachi and there was a small STD/ISD phone booth opposite the hotel. On the second day, I called my parents in Kolkata, India from the same booth. The owner of the booth was a tall, clean-shaven, well-built man in his mid-thirties, dressed in a brown Shalwar Kameez. I finished the call, came out of the booth and paid him the money for the call. He took the payment, smiled and asked me if I am from India. When I said yes, he grinned cheerfully and said, ‘Welcome to Pakistan!’ I thanked him, quickly realized that he can be a man of great help, leaned over and asked in an undertone, ‘Sir, would be knowing where Student Biriyani restaurant is?’ Even though it was a peace convention, I had done my homework well. ‘Of course,’ he smiled even more and added, ‘Do you want to go there?’ ‘Yes’, I said, suppressing my excitement. ‘Come, I will take you there’, he said warmly. ‘But Sir, my friends want to come with me too. And you have to take care of your phone booth’, I said. ‘Please bring your friends along!’ He never bothered to ask how many of us were there, and added, ‘You are my guest, you are from India! I will keep my booth closed for a day, it doesn’t matter!’ I was so touched at his gesture then. Sixteen years have passed and today, when my country is burning for all the wrong reasons, I am remembering him even more. To use brute force of batons, guns and tear gas against harmless students by pulling them out of their universities and injuring them will never, ever mean anything else but a cowardly, fascist act of violence and bigotry in the name of law. India is India because people of all religions stay here together, share peace and love with each other. It is the worst of times and it is for us to see if we can change it to the best of times. Whoever is joining the protest, see you at August Kranti Maidan today. Please protest peacefully, be safe and keep the grounds clean! #iopposecaa #caa #nrc #npr #jamiamillia #aligarhmuslimuniversity https://www.instagram.com/p/B6PvpCYDeC0/?igshid=sa60hn2e3if
