By parinaz gandhi

Article by Parinaz Gandhi Parsiana. Shalimar Gardens at Lahore Photo: Wikipedia. Immigration was smooth for the three of us from India crossing over of the Wagah border with four officials in attendance! We were happy to learn that the border gates are open all day and only close for the evening flag lowering ceremony. The trade border just yards away remains open 24 hours.

Visiting Lahore, 37 miles from the India-Pakistan border, was not just something on the bucket list.

By parinaz gandhi: Photo by Parinaz Deep Amin✨

It was a dream. And a promise made to my mother 30 years ago that I would definitely see the city of her birth. Our drive in from Wagah was along the famous Lahore Canal which stretches for several miles right down to Lahore. Thanks to an invitation to the Lahore Literary Festival and Fakir Aijazuddin, a friend from across the border, the visa came in two days flat!

This being the centenary year of yesteryear scribe Khushwant Singh, Lahore wanted to commemorate a son of their soil with a small Khushwant Singh Literary Festival KSLF that we created with the help of friends in the mountains of Kasauli.