Purvi Thacker’s Facebook post has gone viral.
A Facebook post of New York based Indian journalist, Purvi Thacker,seeking help in getting a visa for her best friend – a Pakistani national – to attend her wedding in India has gone viral on social media.
Purvi and Sarah Munir attended Columbia School of Journalism together and became best friends.
Sarah, who hails from Karachi is currently working in the US. She was denied an Indian visa to attend Purvi’s wedding scheduled for next month despite having visited the country before.
“For all those who know mine and Sarah Munir’s friendship, you will understand how heartbroken we are that her visa application to India for my wedding in December was denied. That my best friend cannot be there for what will be my biggest day is something that I cannot come to terms with. Forget the hustling, the paperwork, the months of coordination and prayers – we didn’t know that it would end with a rejection,” Purvi wrote on Facebook.
“Sarah has visited India and I have visited Pakistan, where we have stayed with each other’s families. Her ammi and abbu are like my own and her family and siblings are like my own and we have visited mosques, churches and temples together,” the post read.
“We understand that our countries shared history has huge economic and political implications, but it also takes a toll on normal mundane things like human relationships and connections. Nobody thinks about that. Being friends and being there for each other should not be this hard just because we were born on different side of the borders,” she added.
Sarah Munir, who spoke to ‘The Express Tribune’, explained how she was shattered about not being able to attend her best friend’s wedding.
“It was 5 years ago when we met at Columbia Journalism School where we were both enrolled in the graduate program. Thacker didn’t have a place to live so she showed up to my room with her bags in hand and the rest say is history,” Munir said.
“One of the most heartbreaking situations is due in December when I won’t be able to attend Purvi’s wedding because I have not been given a visa to do so. I cant’s imagine not being there for the biggest day of her life,” The newspaper quoted Munir.
In a tweet addressed to Sushma Swaraj Purvi wrote: “I’m Indian. My bff @SarahMunir1 is Pakistani. Who can help get her a visa for my wedding in India in Dec? #humanbonds Cc @SushmaSwaraj”
Purvi now hopes that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will read the post and help them to get the visa.
Earlier this month, Sushma Swaraj helped a young man from Jodhpur named Naresh Tewani to get married to a girl from Pakistan by arranging visas for the bride and her family.
Social Media Updates:
Hoping social media and human connections can help @SarahMunir1 and me!
Cc @SushmaSwaraj pic.twitter.com/tCjoYYkFk9— Purvi Thacker-Vatsa (@purvi21) November 1, 2016
I'm Indian. My bff @SarahMunir1 is Pakistani. Who can help get her a visa for my wedding in India in Dec? #humanbonds Cc @SushmaSwaraj
— Purvi Thacker-Vatsa (@purvi21) October 31, 2016
So my Indian visa to attend @purvi21's wedding was rejected. Accepting all help, prayers and good vibes now.
— Sarah O. Munir (@SarahMunir1) November 1, 2016