Imali ka boota, beri ka ped
Imali khatti meethe ber
Iss jangal mein hum do sher
Chal ghar jaldi ho gayi der
Chal ghar jaldi ho gayi der
Jis din se tu rooth gaya
Jis din se tu rooth gaya
Teri kasam dil toot gaya
Na jaane kab raat huyi
Na jaane kab saver
I must say that the relationship between Bharat and Pakistan, the two brave sons of Ancient Mahabharat, often mirrors the poignant story of Veer Singh and Thakur Rajeshwar Singh from the iconic Hindi film Saudagar. Once bound by brotherhood, trust, and shared dreams, the partition of Bharat in 1947 tore them apart—just as a misunderstanding divided the two friends in the film. The warmth of unity was replaced by a deep-seated bitterness, born from wounds inflicted on both sides.
Imagine two brothers who once built castles in the air together, laughing and crying over the same dreams, only to find themselves on opposing sides of a border. Their shared childhood becomes a distant memory, overshadowed by conflict. Misunderstandings grow like weeds, nurtured by fear, politics, and the echo of old grievances. With every passing decade, the memories of their golden days slip further away, replaced by barbed wires and mistrust.
But like Veeru and Rajeshwar, their hearts are not devoid of longing. Beneath the frosty surface lies an aching desire to reconcile. It is in the shared culture, music, and food, where echoes of the old bond resurface. The ghazals of Ghulam Ali, the poetry of Faiz, and the shared aroma of biryani are reminders of a time when they were one.
The tragedy, though, lies in how pride and politics hold them captive. Just as the two friends in Saudagar required the innocence and determination of younger generations to break the cycle of hatred, Bharat and Pakistan too need the courage to bridge their divide.
At the heart of this tale is an unshed tear, a hand stretched across an invisible border, waiting to be held. Like in the film, the question lingers: how long before the bonds of humanity overpower the shadows of history? For just as Veeru and Rajeshwar rediscover their love through a shared tragedy, perhaps Bharat and Pakistan, too, might one day find their peace in the shared yearning for a future free of enmity—a future where they stand together, not as enemies, but as family once again.
For no wounds are greater than the deepest wounds of the human heart.
- Love & Peace