The Indo -Pakistan Peace March that began from Delhi
on March 23 is now approaching Ambala, the last major "port of call"
in Haryana on the route of the March.

On March 31, the peace marchers
reached Nilokheri, roughly 20 kilometres from Karnal, a major city
of the state of Haryana. Nilokheri is a small town mainly inhabited
by migrants from the Panjab now in Pakistan - most of them being
from Multan, the culminating destination of the Peace March.

It was a night stay at Nilokheri and the marchers were
warmly welcomed by the townspeople. A meeting was organised at the
venue of the overnight stay, a Dharmshala. In a fairly well -
attended meeting ,major Indo-Pakistan issues were raised and
discussed. All were agreed that there was a dire need for the two
neighbours to live in peace co-habitation. The poets Ahmad Faraz
(from Pakistan) and Ali Sardar Jafri ( from India, who says in a
nanazm - Tum aao gulshan-e-Lahore se chaman bardosh / hum aayen
subah-e-Banaras ki roshni le kar / Himalaya ki hawaaon ki taazgi le
kar / aur uske baad poochein ki kaun dushman hai) were quoted as a
pointer to the deep sentiment of the people of the two countries
for each other. There was, however, a muted reference to the
political statements that vitiated the atmosphere off and on but the
overall feeling was that peace was the need of the hour.It was,
though, agreed that the combined sustained pressure of the people on
both sides of the border would make the ruling establishments see
the light of day.

Sandeep Pandey, leading the marchers, said that armaments,
instead of providing a sense of security produced, rather,a sense of
insecurity. He pointed out that it had already been proved that the
Atom Bomb was no deterrent - Kargil would not have happened had it
been an efective deterrent. The bomb is, indeed, a weapon of mutual
destruction, a white elephant rather than a weapon of defence.He
also made the point that both countries beware of the U.S.A. - what
sort of a friend is this who supplies F-16s to both the countries,
thereby further vitiating the environment in the sub-continent,
buttressing thearms race rather than limiting it. He reported about
his meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan along with peace
activists from Pakistan some time back - and how the P.M. had made
the point that Pakistan wished not the containment but the solution
of problems, that he recognised the role of civil society and social
organisations in furthering the interests of peace btween the two
countries and that Pakistan wasready to talk on all issues. Sandeep
Bhai also made the point that the common Kashmiri had been the worst
sufferer, sandwiched between the terrorsists and the army, and that
their point of view needed a sympathetic hearing.

The night was studded with informal inter-action, the
atmosphere reverberating to the sounds of Panjabi and Multani folk
songs aung by the hosts and thoroughly enjoyed by all present.

There has been warmth for the Marchers all along the
route. As we moved from Nilokheri the next morning (April 1) towards
our mid-day destination, two motorcyclists met us on the way,
nodding their heads in greeting. They came back after a few minutes,
accosted us, and when they realised what the purpose of this Peace
March was, spontaneously invited us to their village Raipur, 3
kilometres from Nilokheri. An impromptu welcome was organised for
the marchers who informed the small group of villagers gathered on
the outskirts of the village about the purpose of the March. Songs
were sung and the marchers had a cup of tea each - everything done
within a matter of minutes, without any previous preparation !

Samaana Bahu is a village about 3 kilometres further down
the road. Again, a hearty welcome in a gurudwara, lunch, rest and
then the marchrs went on to kurukshetra. On the way to Samaana Baahu
we were offered tea gratis by a wayfarer when he came to know who we
were !

Kurukshetra, the city famous for its links to the gret
epic Mahabharata, was another pleasant experience. It was a long way
from the mid-day stop, and the marchrs reached the heart of the city
in the evening, singing songs, raising slogans, addressing people on
the way through the city. Again a meeting , attended by some
citizens of Kurukshetra, including a couple of professors from the
Kurukshetra University and some students.Two of the marchers, Monica
Wahi, a social activist who has been working with the victim-widows
of the Gujrat riots over the last couple of years , and Puttan Lal,
who teaches children from the deprived sections of society in U.P.,
expressed their viws on the significance of the March and they were
followed by Dr.Karmjit Singh from the University, Mr. Rajvinder
Chandi, a student activist and the host Mr. Malik.

The hosts were all enthusiasm and met us on the outskirts of the
town, welcoming us with water and oranges, walking all the way to
the place of stay for the night. They accompanied us the next
morning ( April 2) right up to the next mid-day detination, village
Dhamtori. The path to Dhamtori was through the villages, with the
wheat fields on both sides, harvesting on in some of them on both
sides of the road. On the way, we were again welcomed by villagers,
first in Kheri Colony of the city, then at village Sirsila (where we
had an open invitation to feast on the sugarcane being harvested
from the fields) and Kanipla. Here we met a couple of youngsters who
related how they too had gone on a cycle yatra for peace from Delhi
to Wagah in 2000A.D. In Kanipla we had a meeting with the village
folk in the school, bringing into focus the demand charter being
used for a signature campaign amongst the people. The demands were
read out - as they are everywhere : we demand a stop to the arms
race, including a dismantling of the nuclear establishments in the
two countires ; greater people-to-people inter-action leading up, if
possible, to the abolition of the passport-visa regime between the
two countries ; and we say that the wishes of the people of Kashmir
should be taken into consideration in the course of talks on this
issue.

Dhamtori village once again gave us the taste and moving
experience of a 'langar' in a gurudwara - and one was reminded of
Iqbal's couplet that alludes to the principle of equlaity in Islam -
the 'namaaz' prayer brings the King and the slave( Mahmood-o-Ayaaz)
on an equal footing.

Starting from Dhamtori around 3 P.M., we reached Shahbad, about
15-20 kilometres from Ambala, in the evening around 6 P.M. - and we
were witness to another warm welcome here.

By Ramneek Mohan, member of the March

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