Dear Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan,

I am writing this letter to you as an ordinary and proud citizen of a great nation, India. The aim of writing this letter to you today is simply to make you shift your focus at some real issues. I can see that those issues have taken a back seat now amidst all the bomb shelling plannings you do on the border. Sorry to say, sir, but you have now become like a kid in a school, who after seeing his crush, forgets the real reason why he is in school. Maybe, now it’s time for someone to make you remember them. Sir, the issues, the real ones in front of both of our countries are the ones you have long forgotten – roti, kapda aur makaan (basic needs: food, clothing, and shelter. Include internet to that too). These are the real things on which we must be focusing on and must move forward on the path to eradicate them once and for all, just like a few developed nations already have long back.
While both our countries are busy fighting (you keep on pushing us to fight and we are left with no option other than to respond to it), a huge part of our population is living a life in the scarcity of these basic amenities. Sir, don’t you think we should put our energy and money on those matters rather than what leaders of your country have always been doing, and that is to put their focus on things, just like what vamps in our Indian television soaps do – always trying to put the protagonist down.
The other day I was wonderingΒ how is it that two nations, who started together from scratch look so different more than half a century later?Β How is that we sit on the table with global leaders, while Pakistan isn’t even allowed in the room?
Okay, although the whole world knows about the terrorism thing and Pakistan’s relation to it (except for a few of your countrymen who know this but are not willing to accept the fact. I can understand. They cannot), I don’t want to focus there. Because that exactly is the whole point of this letter- to shift the focus. Let’s see if this helps: for a few brief moments, let’s become like the pigeon who closes his eyes pretending and assuming that since he cannot see the cat in front of him, the cat too cannot see him. Let’s pretend that Pakistan has no relation to the terrorism going on anywhere in the world. Now, sir, do you know most of the top positions in some top-notch global companies/organizations are filled by Indians. Pakistan too is said to be a country with brains (after all, a huge number of masterminds of bomb attacks in India reside in your country). Just think, what could happen if these brains and a large amount of money we put in fighting are put to use in something constructive.
Sir, being an Indian I want to say that I don’t hate Pakistan or every Pakistani out there. I believe that since once we both nations were one, we are a lot alike. I have some friends from India in Dubai and their best friends are Pakistanis. I have seen people from your country loving Virat Kohli just like they love Shahid Afridi (although there’s no comparison between the two. Virat Kohli is a living legend. Still!). All of this makes me believe that yes, citizens of Pakistan too don’t want any bloodshed and this scrapped philosophy of fighting over a piece of land, which took a toll over real life.
Having said all this, I want to talk about the magic wand that can cure all of these diseases, which happens to be a nine letter wordΒ – education. Let’s take a moment and think about the huge debts our countries are under. The superpowers who don’t want to lose their business of arms would very much like that we continue our fight. If the same money is invested in our countries’ future, by the means of education, both our countries will see a better day, sooner rather than later.
Sir, in case you forgot, amidst obeying orders of your strict teachers – the Pakistan army, that the thing which can make our countries a golden bird once again is education and jobs so that everyone can live a flourishing life. Education is the gateway to all the prosperity in life, sir (education will also open eyes of some of your country’s news reporters who, time by time acts like one out from a circus). Sir, why not shift the focus from learning how to make bombs to how to make our countries a prosperous place to live in?
You know what made me write this letter to you? It is the thing that even some of my countrymen (a joke in our country floated for days- we would have happily exchanged them for our hero, Abhinandan Varthaman) too praised the way you have talked on some occasions (only talked and not walked on it. Again, ONLY TALKED). I couldn’t help but think – the new Prime Minister of Pakistan just like our Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, wants a new and a positively growing nation (again, I’m making some bad comparisons here. In this case, even Kohli-Afridi comparison doesn’t apply. Sorry, Mr. Modi).
I want to let you know that we the citizens of both the countries don’t want any fight (I am taking this liberty of including the residents of Pakistan too here. Dear people from our neighboring country, correct me if I am wrong). We just want to focus on real issues like why are we still called developing nations? Why are people helplessly sleeping on the streets? Why is a kid forced to live without his father, just because some lunatic learned to make a bomb and become a suicide bomber instead of learning how to bring a smile to the face of the highest creation of Allah- Mankind.
Sir, do you realize that the money we both the countries are forced to invest in our arms, ammunition, and army each year due to the unnecessary fight we have is equal to the money that can feed helpless and needy people of our countries for years. I have no data records but what I know is in countries like America and UK, unlike ours, a negligible amount of people sleep on the streets and no one is left to die on the roads due to hunger. I have no data to support this but what I know is when a Muslim is in pain in our country, a Hindu prays for his well being and when a Hindu is sick, his Muslim friend offers a chaddar (holy bedsheet) to be spread at a dargah (the tomb of a Muslim saint) for his well being. If this can happen in a country with a countless no. of religions, why can’t it happen between two neighboring countries?
Sir, we want more of Bajrangi Bhaijaans and less of Gadar. We want to celebrate artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, instead of having to ban them. We want to feel the pain for each other instead of rejoicing over bloodshed of the other. As much as I want war with your country to clear the terrorism that’s happening from your country for once and for all, I hate to even imagine the sight of a child living a life with only his mother by his side. I hate to think about the massacre a war can cause.
History says we are a peace-loving nation, sir, and just think if you make a change today, you will be known as a man who redefined the course of Pakistan (and the world). Trust me, sir you would hear the loudest claps from my country if you end up receiving a Nobel prize for the same.
I have no interest in your politics, sir. I am a common man who’s happy sitting with his family at home, watching sports, sometimes doing things which could help humanity by some constructive criticism if needed.
Hope you understand the real aim of this letter and make all of the optimistic people like me see the daylight of a prosperous and constructive Pakistan when I open my eyes. Please make it a country where every Malala Yousafzai is safe and where we as your neighbors, feel proud to call you as our brothers from the same mother (earth).

Regards,
A common man from India

Rohit Dawesar is the author of the much-loved book, The Stupid Somebody and upcoming book NO MATTER WHAT.. I will always love you!