The Letters by Indian and Pakistani
school-children collected by Amitava Kumar
Harper's Magazine, November , 2001
The following letters were written last December by ninth-grade students in Bihar, India, and Karachi, Pakistan. Amitava Kumar, an Indian writer, asked the children to write the letters to their counterparts across the border. Kumar, who teaches at Penn State University, is the author of Passport Photos.
To dearest Indian child,
Hello! I am also a child like you, from across the border-i.e., from Pakistan. I know that we had a very bad impression for each other because of the wars which broke out between us in the past, but sincerely I really like you people and your country. I also watch Indian channels. The best thing about your dramas is that they show harmony and peace in joint families, which is not here in Pakistan.
We all were once part of the same country, so please, for those past times' sake, if there was some misconception between us it should come to an end.
One thing more! Why do you make movies fighting against Muslims like Border? Can't you make films with Hindus and Muslims living with each other?
In the end, I wish that you would also consider that my letter is of right opinion.
Lots of Best Wishes
Dear Sufi.
I would like to ask you about your lifestyle and tell you about our way of living. I think you people are very strict about your lifestyle. Is that so? I believe the girls out there always have to cover their faces all the time. Why is that so? I don't think you all are allowed to go anywhere on your own or interact with a lot of people.
Bye, Rohini
Hi. How are you, hope you are fine. I was feeling really bored, so I decided to write you a letter. We know that Pakistan and India are terrible enemies of each other but don't forget your government was the one who really irritated us and wanted us to establish a Muslim state. Sorry for that but nowadays whenever we have our cricket matches we become enemies again. I want to clear one thing: that we are thought to be friendly with Muslims and other belonging religion people.
With love from, Sara
Dear Friend,
I don't know anything about you, but I think that you are very nice. The only difference between us is our religion, but I still think that you are very nice. You people are very friendly, and I sometimes think how good it will be if we live together again without any differences.
Your friend
Hi! How are you? I hope you are fine. I am writing this letter because I was told to write a letter to someone on the other side of the border and to tell the person what we feel about Indian people.
The thought that comes to my mind by hearing the name of India is ruthless killing and hatred in Kashmir. Frankly I don't really like Indian people. Why can't India leave the poor Kashmiris alone and let them decide about their future?
Well, Hindus and Muslims are two different nations. Muslims are not allowed to eat anything with a Hindu, and I don't have any Hindu friends, so I don't know much about them, but I don't really think the relations of Pakistan with India are very good.
Sareha Rah
Dear Manas,
I am fine. How are you? Here everything is all right now. Few days back there was something wrong that led to an intrusion by some groups of people. I don't know who sent them and what was their motive. Some people said that Pakistan had done it. Some said Pakistan did not. But I think that it has been done by Pakistan itself for Kashmir which does not belong to it.
Now I'm ending my letter.
Yours lovingly, Pushpak
Dear Friend,
I have never had any experience with an Indian my age, but recently when I downloaded ICQ, I bumped into a guy older than me, Manoj. He's twenty-four, and one of the first questions he asked me was "Do you mind me being a Hindu?"
Politics-why should they come in our way and prevent normal people from being close to their neighbors?
And Manoj has come so close to me now. He calls me his behna, and for me, he is bhaiya. He gives me love and respect, and I love him, too. I wonder, is every Indian soooo nice?! Why not reach out to our friends and love them and not be fooled by our "leaders." After all, is land more important or people? So please, be my friend forever.
Love, A friend
P.S. I used to think of India as a rival, but now I love it as well. It's all so sweet.
Dear Friend,
I am fine here and hope you are also the same. You are a person from the country Pakistan, where people just believe in destruction. India has always wanted to be a friend of yours, but we need two hands to clap.
Hello, whoever is listening or reading this letter of mine. I am a Muslim or the most hateful thing. I am saying this cuz I have never had a feeling of peace & love b/w the two countries that is U & me. I want to come to your country, but U know what stops me-it's Kashmir. I love everyone I meet & I hate everyone I see who is cruel to the people of Allah.
U & I are the same, we have the same color, creed, culture, etc., but when I see Indian people say bad words to us my blood boils. I feel very sorry for both of us cuz it's not our fault that our elders hate each other. We are all humans & we share the same heart. Can U see a human die? Yeah, I can't see it too. I think our government should read this & should cry on what it is doing.
Dear Student,
I hope you will be fine and enjoying your life in India. The purpose of writing a letter to you is to tell you some drawbacks of Indian culture which we all see in Indian films. These are such bad films with such bad scenes which we cannot see with our families and children cannot enjoy such kind of movies. There is always the same topic in these movies which is romance. There should be comedy films also which we can see with our families easily.
Besides drawbacks there are also some good qualities of Indian movies. There are very good songs. I hope that you will respond me soon.
Your friend, Zainah Saleem
Dear Children.
Hi! I don't like Indian culture, but I think that India is a powerful country and has some name in the world. I love to see India-Pakistan match but only in those conditions when Pakistan is winning the match. The world thinks that Indian people are really very beautiful, since last two years India won the title of Miss World, but in my view they are not that much intelligent and beautiful to be a Miss World. Bye.
Dear Indians,
First of all hello!! I am a Pakistani Muslim and I want to inform you that you are liars. You blame Pakistan for every issue. Pakistan wants to establish cordial relations with you, but your government is not ready to do that. I never thought of Indian children, but your government is really ... What can I say? You are always ready to fight. Can't we live in peace? You attacked Pakistan two times in 1965 and then 1971. This is really bad, and are you not ashamed of yourselves?
I know a Hindu girl of college age. She is really nice.
Dear Friend,
The culture which you people have is not at all good. The main reason of huge population of your country is the bad culture you have. I hope that you have understood what I am trying to say. The other thing which I want to say is that your country should stop all the tortures which they are doing on the people of Kashmir and solve that issue with peaceful negotiations.
From your ever loving friend
Dear Mustaq,
The letter which I am writing please read carefully. Why don't you all change the attitude of your mind? Why don't you all think in a positive way? This is all due to the wrong thinkings of your mind that the both countries are facing trouble. Why don't you utilize your minds in creating something good?
I hope you will change the attitude of your mind and try to become better.
Yours lovingly, Abhisheik Khomka
Dear Friend,
Pakistan has always extended a hand of friendship and mutual cooperation toward its neighboring countries, specially toward India. But we don't know why India and Pakistan's relations remained strained. Kashmir is a Muslim majority province, and India promised that they will occupy Kashmir for some period but they betrayed.
Can't they see the Kashmiri mothers bitterly crying before their children's dead bodies? Can't they see little children crying and searching for their mothers? Can't they feel the empty stomachs of the children?
Doesn't Indian government have any kind heart? I hope in future India and Pakistan will be best friends.
Bye.
Your ever loving friend, Anumali
Dear friend,
In this letter I will talk to you about "you," your country, culture, etc. I like you, not your prime minister, president, army. Your old culture is very good & interesting. The old way of dressing and jewelry of women is pretty good. I do not like the Indian army because they fight with our Kashmiri friends, and I request you to do something about the Kashmir issue.
I like you but not your country.
Please forgive me if I said something wrong.
