New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi today assured lawmakers in Kabul that India will stand with them at every step of their journey to peace and prosperity. He was addressing legislators in Afghanistan at Afghanistan's newly reconstructed Parliament that was built with Indian assistance.
Many memorable characters from films to mythology found its way into his speech as the Prime Minister underscored how Indians view Afghans as true and magnanimous friends.
"Yari hai imaan mera yaar meri zindagi, (friendship is my faith, friend is my life)," PM Modi reminisced these famous lines of a song from a bollywood film Zanjeer, striking a common chord between India and Afganistan and how Indians have always perceived Pathans as honest and brave.
This song was filmed on Pran portraying the character of Sher Khan, an upright and brave Pathan, in whom the protagonist Vijay (Amitabh) found a true friend who stood by him when he needed him most.
Kabuliwallah, another name that figured in PM's speech, was written by Tagore and later adapted into feature films by Tapan Sinha (Bengali) and Hemen Gupta (Hindi). It's a touching story of a poor Afghan who leaves his family behind to earn a living as a dry fruit vendor in India.
The PM also mentioned Gandhari in his speech, a character from the Hindu epic Mahabharata, famous for her supreme devotion towards her husband Dhritharastra. The reference of Gandhari, who blindfolded herself to lead a life similar to her blind husband, was to strike a deeper and spiritual connect with Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister was also deeply touched by Afghanistan's gesture to name a parliament block in Bharat Ratna and former PM Atal Bihar Vajpayee's name and thanked the Afghans for their gesture to name a block after the former Indian PM. "This house brings together our two nations. Atal block unites us. We are deeply touched that you have chosen to name this building the Atal Block," he said.
