“People were there earlier and border came later.” Well, that was the reply I got from my German friend when I asked him, “What would it feel like to be in the then East Germany” We were standing right at the border (you can say no man’s land) of the then divided East and West Germany in March 1987.  And that was in Goslar a small town, about hundred kilometers east of Hanover.

I was looking for some sign of emotion (triggered by poignant memories) from him as he was replying my question. But he didn’t betray any. He meant the Germans on the east are no different from them on the west. They (East Germans) accepted their lot, went about their business as if nothing happened.  He spoke like Spock in the Star Trek episodes, matter-of-fact, business-like and driven by cool logic.

Earlier in the day he invited me to his house. I was going through his bookshelf and picked up a book (illustrated) on German history written in English.  He was feeling embarrassed and requested me not to read any further. When I said a few words of praise for the Germans: their discipline, their devotion to perfection, their patriotism, he offered to take me to some place I would be interested to see. So there we were at the border.

Actually I was the one who became emotional, sympathetic to the people locked behind the Iron Curtain. I could see houses so close to the border, if I had waved or yelled ‘hi’, someone would have seen or heard me. I was tempted to taste the forbidden fruit. I wanted to see what was on the other side, even though everything was there in plain sight for anyone to see. I was looking to see if any souls were moving around in the neighborhood and say ‘hello’ to them. I got closer and closer to the barbed wire fence, ignoring the watch tower.


Suddenly my friend yelled at me to stop, else I will be shot from the other side. I knew enough to stop, for the Germans always meant business. Remember even President Reagan made his speech at the Brandenburg Gate on the 12th June 1987, in front of two panes of bulletproof glass protecting him from potential snipers in East Berlin. I requested my friend to take a snap of me near the border. Lucky I am alive to tell you the story now, after more than 20 years.

I didn’t know at that time that in a few months this separation will become history and history will be made.  And that people will be clamoring for a piece of the German Wall to keep it for posterity as a souvenir. Some will be sold on the EBay making a neat profit for their owners. Had I known it then, I would have taken a piece of the fence with me. If only they had allowed me to take my piece of rock. What do you say?