Enchanting Kerala

KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER

ISSUE: 219 NOVEMBER 2011 HOME WHERE TO GO VIDEOS Newsletter Archives SUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTER

Fatima Bhutto

Noted writer from Pakistan, Ms. Fatima Bhutto, also the granddaughter of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was recently in Kerala - her first visit to the State - to attend the Kovalam Literary Festival.

Following is an interview that Ms. Fatima Bhutto gave to Kerala Tourism.

To the first question on whether Kerala was known to her, she replied with a smile: "I was aware of certain things, of course the incredible rateof literacy of Kerala is known around the world and I knew Kerala was a place of literature, of knowledge and of great history."

What Ms. Fatima Bhutto felt soon after coming to Kerala was that the people here were so warm and hospitable. And as a Pakistani, she felt as if she was being received by family. The landscape was beautiful and wished that she could spend more time to experience Kerala.

And after a couple of days stay in Kerala, this is what she felt: "I was like, as if at home. There is a kindness amongst strangers that one feels in Kerala instantly. People were very helpful, very curious, and very willing to cross these boundaries, we have had imposed upon us for so long, in order to make new connections and create new understandings."

During her brief stay and hectic schedule in Kerala, Ms. Fatima Bhutto really didn't have enough time to explore and experience Kerala; yet her impressions on Kerala as a travel destination were interesting. She said: "I experienced the beach very briefly as the tide was quite high and it seemed no one was swimming. But I took a book during a short moment of rest and went to sit by the water to read and it felt like a beautiful, idyllic spot. What really makes Kerala a tourist destination are its people though, they are the reason I would like to return."

When asked, whether Kerala was a must-see travel destination, Ms. Fatima Bhutto said: "Of course, its a beautiful spot on earth and its people are open to people from countries far and wide. I wish that there could be more people to people contact between our two countries, so that we can experience new things about each other. I would recommend it to ordinary Pakistanis and certainly to those I know."

Before winding up her talk with Kerala Tourism, this is what Ms. Fatima Bhutto had to say: "I would like to see more of the State, especially the less urban areas. There are too many to choose from, ideally I would like to see it all. It is an inspirational place, I'm sure it will find its way into all its visitors' dreams and thoughts."