Friendship in the time of Uri: Can this Pak girl attend her Indian best friend's wedding?

It's a simple tale of two girls who became friends while studying away from home in the Big Apple. Little did they know that five years later, 'home' would be the reason one couldn't attend the other's wedding.

The girls in question are Purvi Thacker and Sarah Munir, and home is ironically India and Pakistan, respectively. The story started off on happy note, the two met while studying at Columbia Journalism School and became the best of friends.

Few years later, after returning home, Purvi was engaged to be married, and Sarah was to be the maid of honour. The friends couldn't be happier, and as ecstatic as they were, they knew there was a lot of paperwork and visa formalities to be completed. So they got to it, without wasting any time.


When you live in these two countries you know there will be endless calls and countless follow-up e-mails just to visit someone you love across a line. But Sarah had visited India twice on earlier occasions, and the friends were prepared.

Except little did they know, that the growing politics and tension between the nations would impact their lives. So, despite all the papers in place, Sarah's visa to attend Purvi's wedding in December in India was rejected, and they weren't given any reason.

So my Indian visa to attend @purvi21's wedding was rejected. Accepting all help, prayers and good vibes now.

— Sarah Munir (@SarahMunir1) November 1, 2016

Now if you've lived away from home, you know friends are the family you choose. But are these troubled times and indication that we need to ask a person's nationality before they can become family. Should we look at passports before talking to someone?

Let that answer be no! Now, and always.

And that's exactly what these two super-girls believe. Purvi and Sarah have started a social media campaign to #GetSarahToIndia. From Facebook posts to tweeting to Sushma Swaraj (whose reply we still await), these friends are doing their bit to change a situation.

Hoping social media and human connections can help @SarahMunir1 and me!
Cc @SushmaSwaraj pic.twitter.com/tCjoYYkFk9

— Purvi Thacker (@purvi21) November 1, 2016

In a world where politics and war are becoming common, we could use a lot more of these real relationships. So let's leave aside politics, and make sure that this bride doesn't have to walk down the aisle without her maid of honour by her side.




* Join the campaign #GetSarahToIndia