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5. Pakistan
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As we followed the twisting road approaching the lowlands of the Indus I felt like a whirling dervish, intoxicated with joy to finally return to my beloved India.
I literally whirled down the Khyber Pass and a new companion announced his protection.
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George Zoomar Gould
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"Whirling down the Khyber Pass"
Digital image by Chris De Bié
After a short stop-over in Peshawar I took a bus to Lahore. Here the Indian history was not to be ignored and was over-heard quite frequently. Sometimes you could see the remains of the Hindu culture in the form of temple ruins. A historic example of religious delusions and legacy of one of the many “holy wars", which were led in the name of God and still are going on. After the conquerers, the missionaries came and christianized the so-called heathen in South America. Amongst the pilgrims travelling to the Holy Country were also crusaders going into battle against Moslems. Also Pakistan is the result of such a religious war and its warriors can be very bloodthirsty. The separation from India and the thus resulting mass migration claimed 500
000 lives. Another example is the incident in Gujarat, where Moslems fought against Hindus after an ancient Mosque was destroyed in 2002 to be replaced by a Hindu Temple in Varanasi.
I drove to the Indian border and joined a long queue of excited Freaks. At the gate to the “promised land” we were received by a fragrant sea of flowers and bird songs. I remember azaleas in all possible colors. And I remember also an episode across the roadside. People coming back from India with radiating and sometimes also sad eyes. Some looked very exhausted. One of them was seized suddenly at the genitals by a female indian border-offical. It seemed that she discovered something. Anyhow he was conducted to the station. The border atmosphere then was more peaceful and calmer than in 1974. At that time though, the natives still looked concerned up into the sky, if an airplane were to be heard. The last war happened there, only two years ago.
I drove to Amritsar, with many fellows that day!
further
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Chris De Bié
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