Now is the 75th anniversary of Khan’s tragedy. And both countries celebrated their independence in victory – Pakistan on August 14, India a day later. But Khan wasn’t going to celebrate, perhaps sitting outside his room on a charpai, the traditional bed of the region, thinking about his lost family.
Tense relationship
The separation has left the region – one of the most densely populated in the world with nearly 1.4 billion people in India and about 220 million people in Pakistan – unequal. In public perception, India is a country that is struggling out of developing country status. Pakistan is seen as a country with a poor economy, weak democratic structure, and security concerns due to many extremist groups.
Nevertheless, Pritam Khan wanted to go exactly there, to Pakistan, where the descendants of his dead brothers lived. But he can’t. Due to strained relations between neighbors, he would not be able to get a visa, he said. His family only learned that Khan was still alive seven years after their separation from distant relatives.
Almost 40 years ago, Khan first heard from the son of one of his brothers in Pakistan – Shahbaz’s nephew wrote to him. Since then, the two have been in frequent contact, now via video chat. Once separated families were able to see each other in person – at a Sikh memorial in Pakistan, which was a ray of hope for many families separated because Indian relatives came there without visas. Shahbaz’s nephew said: “I hope we don’t let him return to India when he visits.”
Khan’s neighbors in India are also hoping he can stay with his family. They lent a cell phone to make video calls to Pakistan. They cooked for him and brought him medicine, but he was still lonely. The 86-year-old man hopes for friendship between neighboring countries. “In this way, people can live in peace and prosperity.” His 54-year-old nephew emphasizes that India and Pakistan share a common culture and language.
Youtube as a glimmer of hope
Khan is also currently hoping for a Youtuber. Nasir Ali Dhillon from Pakistan is contacting separated families via social media, helping them meet again – mostly at temples in Pakistan – and telling their stories on video platforms. A story about love and friendship, about the past and hate.
Memories of his grandfather, who hails from the same Indian state as Khan, changed his perspective on relations between India and Pakistan. “We were told in the media that the Indians were the enemy. But what our parents said sounded very different,” he said.
He has helped more than 300 families meet over the past six years. His YouTube channel has subscribers in both countries. Not everyone thinks it’s good. He had been interrogated by the authorities on his way to the temple, and it was even said that there were death threats against him. However, he wanted to continue and also help Pritam Khan to get a visa. “75 years of war have brought us nothing,” said Dhillon. “If we want to move forward, we have to change something.”
