A note from an Indian Philanthropist
So on my way to India, I decided to visit LUMS Univ and Acumen friends among others in Lahore Pakistan. This Christmas. Had a lovely time and would like to share with you my experience. When I landed, had someone told me I was landing in a north indian city - I would not have blinked. Same sights, smells, samosas, chai coffee, glucose biscuits, women in salwars, men in kurtas and shawls. Same chatter….same cheeky kids. Just fewer women in western garb. But otherwise all very similar.
Did not realize that I was landing the same day as Modi did on his surprise visit !! The mood in the city was highly positive and I could feel an almost tangible longing in the hearts of many of my friends and colleagues …something like … could it be….? is it possible that maybe our two governments might see our common humanity and heritage ? could there be a bridge in the making ???…...
I hung out with friends, went shopping, visited LUMS (where I am setting up my second Fablab in the region - first one being in Ahmedabad) and met with several tech entrepreneurs (as good as any in Palo Alto).
I hope that slowly but surely young entrepreneurs in India, Pakistan, Srilanka and our subcontinent in general collaborate on the common idea that if our region ever forged a unified economic bloc of our size, our English speaking capacity, our chutzpah and our youth we could give not just China but the rest of the developed world a run for its money.
Good news is youngsters there are as forward looking as youngsters in India and don
t seem to have the same visceral reactions to our sad history of partition - as people who are 60+ - on both sides. Plus there is of course the internet - the great gorilla walking our planet with a unifying force that no one can slow down any more. Those who try will become history very quickly.
All that said, I visited only Lahore (which is a short drive from Amritsar). Don
t know about other cities. But will share more if I get to see other parts. For now - Lahore was stunningly beautiful with warm hearted people, great cuisine, richly cultured social fabric. And chocolate naans - not to miss !!
Asha Jadeja Motwani
http://www.dawn.com/news/1202540A note from an Indian Philanthropist
So on my way to India, I decided to visit LUMS Univ and Acumen friends among others in Lahore Pakistan. This Christmas. Had a lovely time and would like to share with you my experience. When I landed, had someone told me I was landing in a north indian city - I would not have blinked. Same sights, smells, samosas, chai coffee, glucose biscuits, women in salwars, men in kurtas and shawls. Same chatter….same cheeky kids. Just fewer women in western garb. But otherwise all very similar.
Did not realize that I was landing the same day as Modi did on his surprise visit !! The mood in the city was highly positive and I could feel an almost tangible longing in the hearts of many of my friends and colleagues …something like … could it be….? is it possible that maybe our two governments might see our common humanity and heritage ? could there be a bridge in the making ???…...
I hung out with friends, went shopping, visited LUMS (where I am setting up my second Fablab in the region - first one being in Ahmedabad) and met with several tech entrepreneurs (as good as any in Palo Alto).
I hope that slowly but surely young entrepreneurs in India, Pakistan, Srilanka and our subcontinent in general collaborate on the common idea that if our region ever forged a unified economic bloc of our size, our English speaking capacity, our chutzpah and our youth we could give not just China but the rest of the developed world a run for its money.
Good news is youngsters there are as forward looking as youngsters in India and don't seem to have the same visceral reactions to our sad history of partition - as people who are 60+ - on both sides. Plus there is of course the internet - the great gorilla walking our planet with a unifying force that no one can slow down any more. Those who try will become history very quickly.
All that said, I visited only Lahore (which is a short drive from Amritsar). Don't know about other cities. But will share more if I get to see other parts. For now - Lahore was stunningly beautiful with warm hearted people, great cuisine, richly cultured social fabric. And chocolate naans - not to miss !!
Asha Jadeja Motwani
http://www.dawn.com/news/1202540
