Warm welcome amidst frosty tension

Islamabad : For well over a decade it has become a ‘tradition’ that the famous women rights’ activists, writer and poetess, Kishwar Naheed will host a dinner at her home for every new High Commissioner to introduce him to the leading writers, poets and intellectuals.

Not only those based in Islamabad and Rawalpindi are invited to this introductory ‘Dinner Party’ but some even had been coming from Lahore and Karachi as well, especially for the occasion.

So, keeping in line with the tradition set by herself, Kishwar Naheed hosted the ‘dinner party’ for the new High Commissioner of India to Islamabad, Mr Ajay Bisaria, and wife, Mrs Bharati Chaturvedi Tuesday evening at her place.

Ajay Bisaria appeared no stranger as he turned up in the party and melted with the small crowed without anybody even noticing. On the other hand, Mrs Bharati Chaturvedi was enviously overwhelming, mingling with the guests with a warm smile, sweet tongue and absolute ease.

Since their arrival, Mrs Bharati Chaturvedi had already become aware of some things and sites of importance in and around town. She was aware of the ‘Shah Allah Dita caves’, ‘Monal’ on top of Margalla hills, various malls and shops and whatnot!

The High Commissioner, apparently, had made some friends even before he reached Islamabad! Haris Khalil, the well-known columnist and political analyst and Mr Bisaria were soon in deep conversation even before the dignitary had a chance to sink in his seat!

He was of the opinion that to thaw the frigid relations between the two countries, the leadership on both sides have to take small but meaningful steps. “Nobody should expect any big change in relations between the two countries at this moment. There are efforts continuing at various levels but those will not translate into any meaningful outcomes until we start taking small, small steps, aimed at building each other’s confidence,” High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria said.

The hostess, Ms Kishwar Naheed, was the voice of all the men and women of literature on Pakistan side and who wanted to meet, interact and exchange thoughts and ideas with their counterparts on the other side of the border.

“In the past we were exchanging delegations of writers and poets quite frequently. There had been times when I used to visit different parts of India at least four or even more times a year. Not only me, so many of us (the men and women of literature) were being invited over and we were always overwhelmed with the response that we received there from the people,” Kishwar Naheed recalled.

“On our part, we always reciprocated the gesture and continued inviting and welcoming the guests from India. There was such warmth and affection between us. And then suddenly the ties between the two governments got strained and dark reflections poisoned all segments of the society, including us (the men and women of literature),” Kishwar Naheed added.

High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria remained engrossed in deep conversation with Barister Alize, the daughter of the late Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and former Law Minister, Syed Iqbal Haider.

Once can understand that with her family background in national politics, Barrister Alize must have a great deal to discuss and elaborate while the High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria must have had a lot of questions to ask!

One can’t help but to confess that it was a ‘great evening’ to spend with people like Ms Indo Mitha, the legendary ‘Kathak’ dancer, her daughter, Yamima Mitha, Ms Khawar Mumtaz, the Chairperson of National Commission on Women (NCW), Haris Khalil and Tahira, the renowned architect, painter, poet and writer, Naeem Pasha, the so well known documentary producer, Samar Minallah, Dr Qasim Bhugio, who till a few days back was heading the Academy of Letters and his wife Razia Bhugio, Hassan Abbas Raza the poet, and the human rights activist Ms Tahira Abdullah.

The Indian High Commissioner and wife were accompanied by Avinash Kumar Singh, the Second Secretary (Political) and Akhilesh Singh, the 2nd Secretary (Political, Projects & Culture). It was a sumptuous dinner with the table topped with mostly home-cooked traditional dishes, aplenty for everybody, which was heartily devoured and appreciated by the guests!