It's good to learn about plans to restart the Delhi-Lahore bus service. It brought to mind the journey we made on May 14 this year, across another border — the eastern one. Thirty four women from different parts of India crossed the border at Petrapol in West Bengal and arrived in Bangladesh. We were missionaries of peace who wished to appeal to people on both sides of the border to uphold South Asia’s rich tradition of pluralism and tolerance.We made this journey by bus. The Peace Bus started its journey from Kolkata in the early morning hours. By late morning we had crossed the border and stepped into Benapole, in Bangladesh. At the border areas, we were subjected to rigorous passport and visa checks. It was painful to see how pieces of stamped paper had created such huge barriers between people who share a common history and culture. We were accorded a warm welcome at Benapole, and in keeping with tradition, offered fresh coconut water and flowers. The Peace Bus passed through the breathtaking countryside of Jessore, Magura and Faridpur districts, roads lined with jackfruit trees in full bloom, coconut palms, orchards, neat mud thatched houses, dainty villages and greenery. Many eyes became misty in remembrance of childhoods spent in these places. Before we knew it we entered the Rajbari district on the banks of the Padma river. The river, calm and serene, with the sun half way through the western sky casting its brightest colours into the waters beckoned us to explore the other part of Tagore’s “shonar Bangla”. We rode through the heart of the river on a ferry from Daulatdia ghat to Aricha Ghat. From here, we drove through Manikganj district and Dhaka district before we reached Dhaka city at 8:30 pm after a 13-hour journey.The welcome we received from our Bangladeshi sisters at the bus station was an emotional high point for us. We spent the next five days visiting the people of Bangladesh — artists, writers, academics, peace activists, human right activists, women’s rights activists, journalists. At every place, we found commitment for peace and concern for the growing communalisation of politics that inculcates hatred for the “other”. Our banners, which screamed that “we want peace in South Asia not pieces of it”, seemed to find reflection in the aspirations of the common people there.This initiative planned and organised by WIPSA (Women’s Initiative for Peace in South Asia) in partnership with the local hosts is the beginning of a long drawn process. The visit was made at a time when human civilisation is standing at the brink of nuclear disasters, militarisation of nation states and growing communalisation of communities. It was made to reiterate the women’s movement’s stand against “Bushful” unilateral decision making, which has destroyed one of the world’s oldest civilisations. From such visits will emerge our cherished dream of a just, equal and violence free South Asia. As women, the world is ours. As women we know no boundaries.(The writer is a member of Jagori, a Delhi based women’s group and resource centre)
