The Hindu Business Line : Push for friendship

"I love India," the Pakistani declared, his eyes glistening with tears, overwhelmed by the at-home-ness he is experiencing across the border. But apart from his "love for India," Usman Masud Khan also believes that it is now or never to mend relationships between the two countries.

Khan, an Executive Director in a cement company headquartered in Karachi, was among the handful of Pakistanis who received the team led by Sv.Rm. Abhirami Ramanathan, Rotary District Governor from Chennai, across the Wagah border on December 11. Khan, speaking at function here, was making the return visit.

"It was a memorable event," Ramanathan told Business Line, reminiscing the eventful border-crossing. Eventful it was, involving a mad scramble for a `special permission' from the Indian External Affairs Ministry when the team was already sitting on the border, a tense tour of Lahore and the disappearance of four women-members of the team when the deadline for crossing back was about to close. (The deadline was met in the nick of time, the women having been retrieved from their shopping.)

But the Wagah-crossing was memorable for more reasons. Rotarians on both sides of the border have agreed to work, pooling funds and manpower, on community development projects in both countries.

The projects are yet to be identified but combating illiteracy appears to be one in the making. "As long as illiteracy is there, a democracy cannot function well," observes Khan.