Every August brings with it a fresh reminder of the brutal partition that tore apart families and communities in 1947 as people moved across borders to find safety in India and Pakistan. It is astounding to see how deeply these intergenerational wounds continue to fester, and the volume of partition literature that is unfailingly produced every year stands testimony to this. I try to protect myself from being overwhelmed, but it is difficult, so I direct my attention to stories of love, friendship and connection. They offer a means to craft a new, hopeful future. While formal diplomatic channels seem to be making little headway in improving ties, sports persons from both India and Pakistan have taken it upon themselves to speak of harmony in order to counter hate. The former international field hockey player from Pakistan, who officiated as an umpire in the recent Commonwealth Games, became an instant ambassador for cross-border amity when she celebrated India’s victory against New Zealand. In an interview, revealed that she was praying for the Indian team to win. She said, “Forget the politicians. We are all one. We should support each other. They (the Indian women’s hockey team) are our sisters. They did the whole of Asia proud.” It takes a generous heart to rejoice in the professional achievements of a team that is also one’s rival. Chopra’s friendship with Nadeem is legendary. After Chopra bagged a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, he stood by Nadeem and asked Indian fans to refrain from spreading any hateful propaganda about his Pakistani colleague. Chopra tweeted, “Sports teaches us to be together and united.” He also posted a video, saying, (“We have great affection for each other, please do not do anything that would hurt us.”). They could not compete at the recent Commonwealth Games as Chopra had to drop out on account of groin strain. Instead of gloating over this news, Nadeem made a beautiful public statement. He said, “Chopra is my brother. I miss him here. May God give him the best of health and I get to compete with him soon.” Chopra reciprocated this kind gesture. When Nadeem got a gold medal, Chopra tweeted a congratulatory note for Ar shad and wished him for future competitions. Both are known for setting an example when it comes to respect for competitors. Their camaraderie is palpable in photographs that feature them together. Last month, when an Indian player got a flag for his poor score in a one-day match against England, an England player posted a photograph of them on Twitter, and wrote, “This too shall pass. Stay strong.” He spoke publicly about the need to support and encourage players when they are out of form. Indians fell in love with a Pakistan player, and Pakistanis were proud of him because of the way he conducted himself. The cricketer responded, “Thank you. Keep shining and rising. Wish you all the best.” At the recent Commonwealth Games, Pakistani badminton player Ali spoke about his ardent desire to come and play in India. According to Ali, badminton as a sport is under-funded in Pakistan, and the players find it extremely difficult to participate in international tournaments. He hopes for a day when Pakistani badminton players will be able to participate easily in international badminton tournaments that are hosted in India.
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