From a terror struck Bacha Khan University in North West of Pakistan to one of the world's oldest Nalanda University in East India, I have gone through a rigorous process just to get admission in Nalanda University to pursue Masters in Natural Sciences. As events unfolded, while surfing through the website of the Indian High Commission in Pakistan in the year 2016, I come across an announcement for the admission in Nalanda University. I applied immediately despite my perception that I would not be selected. However, I received a mail from the Nalanda University after a week to appear for the interview. A panel of professors interviewed me. The interview lasted an hour and we discussed many things, from education to culture, and the like. Everything went so well and a glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon. My family also gave me a full moral support. At long last, I received a mail one day, mentioning that I was selected for the admission and was also awarded with Nalanda Fellowship. In addition to that, my tuition fee, admission fee and hostel expenses were also waived off. I and a girl from Gilgit, Pakistan got admission in the Nalanda University. We were so excited that we started planning things and in couple of days we were done with all such formalities as room allocation, admission, documentation and the rest. Some Indian newspapers even reported the same. I, being a Pakistani citizen, brought the same in the knowledge of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Mr. Ayaz Sadiq, former National Assembly speaker). They were so happy to know and congratulated us for this achievement.
Days after this all happened, we applied for the student visa. Initially, the IHC in Islamabad told that it will take a week or more to issue visa. However, when it took more than a month, I and the university administration brought this into notice of late Sushma Swaraj (former Minister of External Affairs of India) but due to political turmoil every effort failed. After two months, I was requested by the Nalanda University to withdraw my visa application as I had already missed half of the first semester.
I neither applied nor studied further but started a job here and Alhumdulilah I am earning well. But the purpose to bring this story in front of all is to put a little effort and to make sure that the same should never happen to anyone from both countries again. We, the people, never ever carry grudges as we all can see in these hours of grief but it's our government system and diplomacy that never allow us to meet and interact with each other.
Now when both Pakistan and India are coming to the negotiation table, they should make sure that political acrimony between the countries never make nations fail. I believe there will be so many untold stories that must be highlighted. I wish we all work together for a better relationship between Pakistan and India.
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