| Photo Information |
Copyright: Subhash Ranjan (sranjan)
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 14 W: 1 N: 48]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/s-n-s.gif) (286) |
| Genre: Places |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2007-12-22 |
| Categories: Daily Life |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2007-12-26 0:48 |
| Viewed: 418 |
| Points: 0 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
What you see here is people across the border from Pakistan from India at Wagah border. Wagah is an Army outpost on Indo-Pak border - between Amritsar and Lahore. We had the opportunity to witness a ritual at this border post recently.
The border outpost is an elaborate complex of buildings, roads and barriers on both sides. The daily highlight is the evening "Beating the Retreat" ceremony. As we waited for the ceremony to begin, quite a crowd gathered on both sides. It was a holiday scene.
There was an air of excitement. And then it began. Soldiers from both countries marching in perfect drill, going through the steps of bringing down their respective national flags. But the striking feature of the occasion was not the smart drill, but the attempt to outdo each other in showing their anger and contempt against each other. Soldiers raised their boots to show the soles to others across the border, chests were puffed out and touched others’ when they came face to face, and feet were stamped so hard that the road must require weekly repairs! The soldiers adopted every conceivable gesture to show their hatred in a most unsoldier like manner.
The crass shouts of joy from the crowds on both sides were even more disheartening. People were cheering the soldiers as if they were gladiators. Ordinary men and women were turned into ferocious warriors wanting to rush to the defence of their respective countries. Faces flushed, the people behaved as if in a tantric trance. Each shout of command, louder than the previous, further enhanced the atmosphere of hatred.
Finally it was over. The crowd fell silent, drained of energy. What it left behind in the minds was sure to last a long time. What was the purpose of the entire proceeding ? It bred nothing but intolerance between two neighbours who could surely do without more animosity. Two peoples who have been brothers till recently are separated by artificial borders and daily events like these are only helping those wanting the relations to remain sour. Courtesy: Mridula Kapur |
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