Dreaming Taj Mahal

Haidar, a taxi driver, dreams of going to India to see the Taj Mahal. The choice doesn’t seem strange for a man who believes that “Love is everything”. The only problem is he lives in Pakistan! Why is Haidar's dream so impossible to achieve? Is it because he is a Pakistani, a Muslim, seen by the Indian government as a potential spy or a terrorist? Or is it because he is a common man with no strings to pull? India and Pakistan have a long-standing relationship of suspicion and hostility. They have been to war four times and continuing terrorist attacks in India make Haidar’s quest for a visa look almost impossible. To see how Haidar's dream can be given a voice, and what it means for all of us, I travel from India to Pakistan.

Haidar's solution for peace is simple. If ordinary citizens of both countries are allowed to interact with each other, they will realise not only are they historically and culturally close but they also have similar problems - from potholed roads to corrupt politicians.

But can his dream come true?


Nirmal Chander Dandriyal

Nirmal Chander Dandriyal has worked for the last 12 years as an Editor, Associate Director and Senior Promo Producer. His area of experience is diverse and covers sports, fiction and documentaries. He made his directorial debut in 2008 with 'All The World's A Stage' about an internationally acclaimed performance group called the Sidi Goma. The documentary has been screened at major festivals worldwide and has won several awards. He is currently working on an hour long documentary on a group of Muslim artistes who are continuing the tradition of Ramlila against all odds.