A Time of Crisis

Sehr, Lahore, Pakistan

(in response to: Shaina - The Same Twilight)
Hey Shaina,

Really glad to read your postcard. Yes from miles away I can feel the love and warmth of your kind words. It is the month of spring which reminds of innocence and just two days back, this season was attacked. It wasn't just a season but those innocent hearts who don't even know what war means.
In this time of crisis, I hope I can build peace through these words and maybe feel a bit lighter after carrying a heavy heart full of outbursting anger and a whole range of emotions which I cannot describe. Hope we can share our happy times all together but in peace and we fight these tragic incidents and this war with mindset - the most difficult of all time.

Love,
Sehr

The Same Twilight

Shaina, Mumbai, India

Hello!
Miles away we still see
the same twilight of day,
Strong in values,
Rich in culture,
Sharing a glorious history,
But yet divided with
a line called Border
From,
Shaina

My Identity Will Shine Bright

Aon, 18, Lahore, Pakistan

(in response to: Ashmeet - On Identity)

Hey Ashmeet,
    Hope, you are doing fine. I completely agree with you. Individuality and self-identity are so so important. Super important. Unfortunately, in today's world we are told to conform to certain norms of our society. This limits our individuality, and stops us from discovering our true identity. I pledge to protect my gender identity (as I am a transgender woman; and my sexual orientation is bisexual). I will keep on wearing lipsticks and nailpolishes, and keep on making my identities shine bright. Let's not allow our societies to limit our individualities.
Yours, Aon

On Identity

Ashmeet, Mumbai, India

HELLO,
We come into this world as individuals, I believe we should maintain that individuality throughout. We are heroes/heroines of our stories so we should lead it. Having a stand and staying by it is important, integrity is important, our IDENTITY is important and I pledge to protect identity. Let no one snatch it from you. What do you pledge to protect?
- Ashmeet

From Simran to Maarya

Hello Maarya,
I was deeply saddened to hear about the Lahore blasts, I really hope you and your loved ones are doing fine. I will pray for your country and hope that you find the courage to stay strong.
Waiting to hear from you.
- Simran

A World for Children

Rohama, Lahore, Pakistan

(in response to: Darshana - With Heads Held High) 

Hello,

I dream of a world where lots of great things happen: where women are treated as equals to men + we stop looking at each other with suspicious and hate-filled eyes, where education thrives and people pride working hard over taking the easy way out any day.

Most of all though, after Sunday's attack, I dream of a world where children can enjoy time spent in a park with their families - where they can basically have childhoods again.

These days I just hope that when I graduate in a month, I'll be able to do something positive so that we can be one step closer to the world I dream of.

<3 Rohama

30/3/2016

With Heads Held High

Darshana, 19, Mumbai, India

Hello,
I dream of a world without fear where all the heads are held high and even the voices of the minority can be heard. What kind of world do you dream of?
- Darshana

Always Be Happy

Syed, 21, Lahore, Pakistan 

(in response to: Xavier - Keep Reaching Out)  

Front: (in the speech bubble) Hi Xavier, I turned out slightly disproportionate, err...

Back: All is going great with me. How about you? I agree with you that one should live in the present and appreciate everything around them. I will heed your advice - I have taken it to heart.

My name is Syed Shahbaz Gardezi, I'm 21 and enroute to becoming a scientist and teacher. I want to open a university/research institute in Pakistan that is comparable to top institutes across the world. There, that is my dream - will it happen? Hmm...i guess I'll have to go with the proverbial "time will tell". I love playing the guitar and most sports and I'm fond of drawing cartoony figures. What about you? What do you like? What do you not like? What do you dream about?

I'm really eager to hear more from you.

(Always be happy)                                             ہمیشہ خو‎‎ش رہنا

(Syed Hassan Shahbaz Gardezi)                 سید شہبازحسن گردیزی       

P.S. I'm a guy...er...I felt the need to specify in case the drawing made you think otherwise

Do Not Lose Hope

My dear friends in Lahore,
I know this is a time of grief and what has happened is absolutely unjust and hurtful. I am extending my hand to all those who have lost a loved one or have been affected by this tragic incident. All I want to say is do not lose hope. Hope is something which is difficult to have right now but it is something that will give you strength.
I hope that humanity will show a better side. I hope that one day we all will live in a world that coexists peacefully. One day, the world will change for good.
- Teona

Keep Reaching Out

Xavier, 19, Mumbai, India

Hello Stranger!!
 Hope everything is well with you :)
 There is a lot of things I want to speak to you about our lives. We both face similar struggles but our patterns of life are different, We will get failure at all times but will also learn to achieve success. From childhood till now, we only crave as if I was a child. I want to grow elder and become something but as time passes we all want to go back to our childhood days of enjoyment and success. We don't enjoy our present and people around we blame. We need to improvise and cherish life because life is always filled with gestures of beauty. Do connect to as many people as you can that will help you grow whether it is young or old. And a friendly nature will stay and help you grow all the days of your life. Keep helping and reaching out to people.
- Xavier :)

Spring in Lahore

Niha, Lahore, Pakistan

(in response to Pallavi- Reflections) 

Dearest Neighbour,

Happy Holi!! :)

Spring is here and beauty is all around. Lahore is beautifully green, unlike Karachi where I hail from. Vacations have ended and university has restarted, can't believe I have only one year left here.

Btw, congrats on the win against Pakistan. You guys were the better side, let's hope another such face off will be seen soon.

Hope you are doing well, are healthy and in good spirits.

Much love and best wishes,

Niha

Reflections

Pallavi, 19, Mumbai, India


Hello,

I dream of a world where people will reflect more on themselves. I feel when that starts happening everyone will start working and improving themselves and not wait for their surroundings to change.

They will be more compassionate and kind, not only towards their friends and families but also all living beings.

Pallavi

Under One Sky

Izza, Lahore, Pakistan

(in response to Darshana- Sailing In One Boat)

Hi Darshana,

I like how you explained your love for the sea. I agree with you. I believe, under one sky, we are all the same whether I be living on the highest peak or you in the deepest valleys, I on an island or you on a coast, whether I be a Pakistani or you an Indian. :)

There are no borders for me. Nothing separates us than the belief that we cannot be reunited. And I don't believe that. 

Do you believe the same?

Izza

Sailing In One Boat

Darshana, 19, Mumbai, India



Hello,

I wish we could all said in one boat.

The reason why I like the sea is because there are no lines to tell me where I belong.

Are there any borders that you would like to break?

Darshana 

Where Does One End, And Another Begin?

Maarya, Lahore, Pakistan

(in response to Simran- Unseen Borders)

Hi Simran,

Borders limit us, but they can never define us.

When you look outside the window of a plane, flying above, you can't tell where one country ends and another begins.

Perhaps we could look at people the same way, from a distance, all differences would look superficial. Overcoming fear and ignorance means indulging in our curiosity.

So tell me, what are the things you hold dear?

Maarya

Unseen Borders

Simran, 19, Mumbai, India

Hello,

I wish we could break this border and also many of the unseen borders of racism and casteism. I really hope we can rise above caste and recognise all people as one, barring their race, caste, gender. 

Which are the borders that you wish to break?

Simran

The Greatest Illusion

Zahra, 24, Lahore, Pakistan

(in response to Pallavi- To Live As One)

Pallavi,

I recently watched "Avatar: The Last Airbender" with my little brothers (I wonder if you have seen it?). They said something in the show which reminded me of what you wrote. "The greatest illusion is separation." I am sure the creators took it from somewhere but I feel separation is an illusion and it is an illusion created and maintained by a few for their benefit.

This world is full of separation: class, gender, religion, race, ethnicity- and these separations are maintained by violent systems of oppression which beat the humanity out of those who are victimised under them. Weakness and strength are illusions as well because whoever seems weak might actually be the strongest if we listen to them.

We are all connected by real, human experiences and a lot of our pain is the result of experiences and lessons we were given as youth which some bury inside and others try to heal their wounds with incredible strength. 

We can all live as one when many people commit acts of love, courage and care towards ourselve and each other in a world threatening every trace of vulnerable love and naive kindness. 

When many people resist, these systems of violence will break apart, the illusion of separation will float away and we will be able to live as one.

Thank you for taking a step towards that world. My name is Zahra and I am glad to meet you. :)

To Live As One

Pallavi, 19, Mumbai, India

Amidst the deathly hallows and bloodshed world, when the weak shattered peace to disguise themselves as strong, the "heroes" rose and took out their mighty swords to reinforce hope, courage, kindness and peace. The world and all its people are but one.

Do we have the courage to live as one?

Love, Pallavi

From One Stranger To Another

Salmann, 21, Lahore, Pakistan

(in response to Xavier- Stranger Talks By)

From one stranger to another,

Sitting here in my room looking out of my window.  Who knows about me, my dreams, my emotions, my individuality and my values regarding life? Sometimes I still find myself misfit, awkward and misunderstood. Still I try to emphasize and look on the brighter side of life. I Salmann Ali, an ordinary random boy flooded with my own thoughts with the aim to make this world a better place for living..

I believe every individual can contributes towards humanity. For me even small things matters, I believe in serving others, as humanity comes first than any other thing.

Let’s be the human first than being a selfish random man, and break the stereotypes that come between friendships of two individuals. 

From stranger to friend :)

I’m overwhelmed by the poem you wrote I wish I could be that creative.

I’m 21 year old, youngest in my siblings, majoring in biotechnology and hope that one day I will become a good scientist. 

 As far as my general interests are concerned, I like reading books, cooking, travelling, introspecting, spirituality, get to gathers, taking part in cultural festivals, participating in international science conferences and learning about new cultures, people and places. To fulfil my need to serve others I do volunteer works at different NGO’s, teach at orphanage (sometimes) and try to give as much time, love and care, as I can to my family, friends and less fortunate.

You talked about being hurt, I think it’s a nature’s way of teaching us things and how we mend ourselves from that experience. Shams said “God is busy with the completion of your work, both outwardly and inwardly. He is fully occupied with you. Every human being is a work in progress that is slowly but inexorably moving toward perfection. We are each an unfinished work of art both waiting and striving to be completed. God deals with each of us separately because humanity is a fine art of skilled penmanship where every single dot is equally important for the entire picture”

This was me my friend. How are you and what you do??? Looking forward to your reply.

With love from Lahore,

Salmann Ali :)

Stranger Talks By

Xavier, 19, Mumbai, India

Stranger...
Wear a smile of joy, of happiness. Stranger, life is going to get better, people really look at you like a ranger.
Stranger... nothing is going to be sweeter than this world.
Stranger... I think we connect some way or another.
Stranger... we can make life lighter by helping outsiders.
Stranger... even though he/she might hurt us, or we hurt them. We need to forgive and forget and be a generous heart.
So, stranger who's talking by, let's do it and make the outsider an insider,
By breaking bonds of living as a stranger life to the other.