Sipping espresso and tracing Noor Inayat’s steps in Paris

Normally one likes to savour Europe slowly, but due to a last-minute flight change I ended up travelling London-Paris Florence-Paris all in one day, including airport transfers and a three-hour stroll around Florence. And though it was a crazy schedule, I have to say it was one of the smoothest journeys I have ever had! It never ceases to amaze me how the EU countries have managed to sort out their problems. And apart from one routine passport check in Paris I was completely relaxed, even though I still possess an Indian passport. When nations which were at war can sort out their problems, why is it taking India so long to resolve border issues with its neighbours. And why can’t a single visa or passport work for at least the Saarc countries? But given the spate of violence against its own citizens in India, perhaps the time is coming when Indians will need passports to travel within their own country.

Walking through Paris one remembered the time when similar divisive hatred had swamped the city — and the Germans had begun their pogroms against the Jews. Less than 70 years ago, France was a country divided between those who supported the Germans as well as the Vichy government during the Second World War and others who resisted and extremely courageously carried out secret missions to vanquish Hitler’s dangerous machinations.

How quickly we forget the lessons of history — if only those who are spreading poison between communities would remember! And so should those who are right now not applying the rule of law in India. The hubris that had made Hitler feel invincible — where is it now? Where is his grand plan of conquest?

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http://www.dc-epaper.com/DC/DCH/2008/11/01/index.shtml