Vacation Highlight

This fall saw us make a trip to Wagah, the village that sits astride the border of India and Pakistan, to view the spectacle put up by the forces stationed on either side.     And an impressive spectacle it was.     While the soldiers marched around in a very aggressive (almost warlike) manner, an announcer on both sides exhorted the assembled crowd to shout out patriotic slogans.     A veritable competition was in progress with each crowd trying to out-scream the other.

While watching the proceedings it was hard not to notice the differences between the Indian and Pakistani sides.     Differences that illustrated India's more secular position when compared to Pakistan's religious stand.     For instance, men and women on Pakistan's side were made to sit separately.     While the Indians shouted out the standard 'Vande Maataram' or 'Hindustan Zindabad', the Pakistanis would intermittently break out into frenzied chants of 'Allah... Allah'.

All-in-all the "show" was very impressive and I walked away with a sense of awe and deep respect for the troops that guard the border.

Pictures here