Amidst tension; ‘Peepal 918’, shares Indo-Pak bonhomie on IB

Suchetgarh:
While arch-rivals India and Pakistan train guns at each other often along the Line of Control as well as on the International Border, ‘Peepal 918’, located at ‘No Man’s Land’, stands tall since decades and is sharing the bonhomie of two neighbours at Octroi Post in Suchetgarh Sector of Jammu, around 35 kilometres from the town.
This year from January 1 to September 7, as per the Ministry of Defence, there have been 3186 incidents of Ceasefire Violations along the Line of Control in Jammu region and in addition, 242 incidents of cross-border firing have occurred along Indo-Pak International Border in the region from January 1 to August 31.
However, decades of ‘sweet and sour’ relations have gone by but ‘Peepal 918’ stands as a symbol of peace and bonhomie between India and Pakistan.
'Peepal Tree', believed to be sacred in Indian Hindu Mythology and often worshipped as Gods or Goddesses, is also associated with ‘Yama’, the ‘God of death’ and the tree is often planted outside the village near crematoriums but, ‘Peepal 918’, on International Border shares both India-Pakistan boundaries and is a messenger of harmony and love.
Although man created pillars to divide boundaries of both the nations but ‘Peepal Tree’ having marked ‘918’ on it, shares both the boundaries as it is grown at ‘no man’s land’ at Octroi Post in Suchetgarh sector of Ranbir Singh Pura.
The tree, since decades is spreading a message of peace and bonhomie among the visitors’, who remain spellbound on seeing the ‘Peepal Tree’ grown naturally on the boundaries of both India and Pakistan.
The roots and branches of ‘Peepal’ spread on both the sides.
Jammu and Kashmir Government is also planning to promote Suchetgarh on the pattern of Wagah Border in Amritsar to woo tourists and give boost to the border tourism.
“I often come to Jammu to visit Katra for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine but this year due to COVID pandemic, my visit scheduled for May was postponed. When I came to know about the restart of the yatra, I rescheduled it for September 19,” Angad Kumar, a tourist expressed.
He said that he found ‘Peepal’ very fascinating, asserting that he was mesmerized on seeing the tree having no boundary and growing on ‘no man’s land’ sharing love, affection and warmth from both sides.
This is what actually is named as “Kudrat Ka Karishma”, he smiled.
Another visitor while sharing experience, said, “'I never had a glimpse of international border so closely. I am surprised that what divides us and why we have so much of hatred for each other when we look same, wear similar clothes, speak almost same language.”
“Just a barrier, barbwires, jawans guarding border, divides humans and we are carrying hatred for each other since years,” she added.
When birds have no boundaries, even trees (quoting Peepal with 918 mark) are sharing the boundaries, rivers have no restrictions, then why humans are having these man-made divide, why the world cannot live in peace and harmony, she maintained.
In 2016, Suchetgarh faced a decline in number of visitors due to escalated Indo-Pak tension on the border following which, the border guards temporarily suspended the visit of tourists.
From Suchetgarh, Sialkot is 11 kilometres and Lahore is 141 kilometres.
Suchetgarh has a historical significance ever since Dogra rule was established in the state in the mid-18th century. It used to be an important trading point between Sialkot and Jammu before Partition. The border dwellers since decades are demanding the start of ‘ceremonial parade’ between two forces just like Wagah.
Two years after the 2003 ceasefire agreement, the then state (now UT) government in 2005 had submitted a plan to the Centre to develop it on the pattern of the Wagah border and it was in 2014 after years long delay, it finally completed.
However, crores has been spent since 2010 on upgrading infrastructure in Suchetgarh as under the Central project, a tourist facilitation centre, a terraced garden, landscaping and a walkway had been developed to felicitate the tourists
Suchetgarh is surrounded by more than dozen villages
Updated On 9/25/2020 11:22:27 AM