It has been one week since the peace march started from Nizamuddin and so far the Government of India has yet to give visas to Pakistanis wanting to join the march. On 28th, the embassy in Pakistan said that visas would be granted – however, it continues to tarry claiming every day that visas would be given ‘tomorrow’.

As the marchers wind their way through Haryana, time and again communities receiving the marchers have expressed disappointment that the Pakistanis have not been able to join in. One group of rural women who received the marchers at Arpana Ashram in Karnal said that they had come from far to meet with people from Pakistan. They wanted to meet and speak to Pakistani women about how they lived and find out what was different. At other places, people have walked up to the marchers asking them if they were from Pakistan and expressing disappointment at hearing that Pakistani members of the march have not been able to join the march thus far. This ashram was a religious place that focused on worship and tolerance for all religions.

Later in the day, the marchers met at a center that is also a memorial for people from the region who have been killed by terrorism during the days of militancy in Punjab as well as those who died during partition and the independence struggle. This meeting was hosted by poets, political thinkers and progressive groups from the region.

In a telephone conversation, Sandeep Pandey said that the march has been warmly welcomed across the board. Earlier efforts on issues of communalism and denuclearization were often met with indifference if not hostility. Often, organizations would shy away from hosting such marches. In this march, organizations have vied to host the marchers. There has been no resistance to the idea of peace and love. The march has been welcomed by diverse groups and peoples – from government employees, to business people, to professionals, teachers, students and housewives from rural and urban communities.

In rural communities, people from villages miles away from the route have come to welcome the marchers. Members of Jaycee club welcomed the marchers about 1.5 KM outside the town of Gharonda in Haryana and hosted them. Even though they had reservations about some literature that the marchers carried that criticized communal violence and the role of certain groups, they unconditionally supported the march and feted the marchers. Dr. Pandey said that we have not seen such a climate for peace.

The marchers also met with some school children. They addressed the school and spoke about peace and denuclearization of South Asia. While not too many questions were asked during the general meeting, numerous students came up to speak with the marchers and discussed the impact of nuclearization, and the absence of stable peace on poverty and the lives of people in the two countries.

Meanwhile, the enthusiasm of the marchers has continued to grow, feeding of the warmth of the host communities and the openness to the idea of peace. Now, they wait for the Government of India to give visas to their counterparts from Pakistan so that they may join in as well.

- as told to Sanat Mohanty by Sandeep Pandey.

Related Links
Day 2 – Nizamuddin to Kingsway Camp
Day 5: Indian Government to Give Permits to Pakistani Participants
Route of Peace March
South Asian communities to organize peace events
Pakistani Organization Working for Needs of Indian Prisoners