Haider is a Bangladeshi poet who lived in political exile in Kolkata before moving to Berlin.
Revisiting the Berlin Wall: Political and economic divisions continue to haunt Germany
For those of us who saw the fall of the Wall, the history of the fall is not yet in the past, the 30 years in between seem like yesterday because the Wall still exists. The fall isn’t complete. This wall is made of politics, economics, discrimination.
The bloodless revolution came from East Germany, but it was West Berlin which demolished the wall. From November 9 to 11, West Berliners clambered on to the Wall, leapt down onto East German soil. East Berliners, men and women, meanwhile, formed orderly queues at the Bernholmer Strasse checkpoint at Prenzlauer Berg, clutching their passports issued by the East German government. The checkpoint was opened before midnight on November 9, 1989 by the East German police, following which passports were displayed, and entry gained into West Berlin. No hammers or crowbars in sight, at least in my sight. Forget about breaking down the Wall. Post-midnight, four more checkpoints opened their gates. East Berliners walked into West Berlin. West Berliners walked into East Berlin too. Without passports.
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