Yeah Dosti!

<div class="section0"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="">LOC. That one line drew blood and tears in torrents. But nearly six decades later, all it stands for is a physical boundary between two nations. For the border between India and Pakistan failed to divide the hearts of people, their culture or language.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">After a trip to the estranged part of the Indian subcontinent to perform Border Border, an initiative undertaken by children and thespians of the two countries to promote amity, citybased theatreperson Harinder Sandhu brings back a flood of memories. Remembering the happiness tinged with pain, she shares some treasured moments with Chandigarh Times. "The experience has been exhilarating, a learning experience everyday.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">For, working with so many children teaches you about an insight and resilience that only the pure of heart possess," Harinder affirms. She recalls the three-day separation between the departure of children from Madeeha Gauhar’s Ajoka to Pakistan, and the arrival of Amritsar-based Punarjot’s kids in Lahore. "It was like a reunion I’ve never seen before. The fact that they have been involved in an effort at friendship between the two nations seemed to make them fonder of each other," she reasons. So much so that a 10-year-old remarked to Harinder, "Maam, agar India Pakistan ki dosti ho gayee to woh hamari wajeh se na."</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">It took the adults quite an effort to get the children down to work. "They were enjoying being with each other so much that no one seemed in a mood to rehearse," she smiles. But the purpose was too strong to lose touch with. "Their sincerity was evident in their involvement, their willingness to better their performances," Harinder remembers. Aptly titled Border Border, the play focuses on the need for cross-border harmony despite the divide. It uses humour and verse to relay a message not unknown to the mature citizens of both countries. "Staying in each others homes was an eye opener for all the children, for nothing was different. Even the language was the same," Harinder explains.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">As director of the play, she made it a point to mix roles given to each child. "At the end of the play, no one knew which child belonged to what nationality, they all behaved exactly like children would," she reveals.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">After their performances in Lahore and Islamabad, the team even visited Taxila. The common thread that runs in both countries could not be exemplified better than in an exchange she overheard between the drivers of the two countries.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">"Both seemed to be complaining about the sorry state of the roads," Harinder laughs. With the warmth of heartfelt hospitality, she admits that the experience was like being at home. "Though I have to admit that people there are very particular about maintaining queues and keeping the traffic uniform," she states.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">With the promise of staying in touch, the two teams finally parted ways a few days ago. As Harinder says to the proposed friendship, Inshallah!</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">nikita.singh@timesgroup.com</span></div> </div>