This refers to the news report that the Pakistan Rangers will continue their parade at the Wagah border in the traditional style. Some years ago, I had the opportunity of witnessing the ‘traditional' flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagah post. The dramatic scene enacted there left a bitter taste in me. The entire procedure is full of gestures, actions and boot-stomping which are highly aggressive and hostile. Every day, thousands of tourists who visit Amritsar make it a point to include the Wagah ceremony in their itinerary. The gestures and actions of the jawans of the two countries excite the crowd on both sides, driving them into a frenzy. Slogan-shouting has become routine. With the crowd behaving like this, it is only natural for the jawans on both sides to become more belligerent. Do we really need such a ceremony at the border post everyday? Would it not be sensible to mellow down the tenor and include more friendly gestures?
K.V. Ravindran,
Payyanur
