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CNN Live Saturday
India Reaches out to Sick Pakistani Child
Aired July 19, 2003 - 12:46 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: She is not a politician or a diplomat, but a sick Pakistani toddler has become an ambassador for peace. Our New Delhi bureau chief Satinder Bindra profiles the little girl who has melted hearts and tensions between rivals India and Pakistan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This radio disk jockey is the latest to be smitten by young Nu Fatima (ph). She talks to her audience about the Pakistani toddler, whose heart surgery earlier this week lasted six hours, keeping this country of one billion people on the edge of their seats. Doctors say Nu Fatima (ph) is expected to make a full recovery. The little girl has become the media's young heartthrob, and the editor of one of India's largest newspapers says he'll continue running Nu's (ph) story on the front page.
VIR SANGHVI, EDITOR: The people of India, the message we are sending out is that we want to help, we love ordinary Pakistanis, we don't want children to be caught up in this crossfire between political leaders.
BINDRA: All this media attention is putting pressure on Nu's (ph) doctors. They say they advanced the date of the life-saving surgery by a day because of concerns they would be mobbed by journalists covering this heart-stopping story.
This video was provided by doctors. It shows the Pakistani girl and her family in a relaxed mood, confident and willing to trust the life of their daughter to Indian doctors, even with the leadership of both countries barely on speaking terms.
Over the past 50 years, India and Pakistan have fought three wars, but none of that mattered to these Indian doctors who won their nation's gratitude by saving Nu Fatima's (ph) life.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We really pray that she does well and I hope that she comes through.
BINDRA: Touched by all the media coverage, school children have been offering special prayers. Others continue sending cards and donations to Nu (ph) and her family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I'm feeling great, I'm very, very happy. I'm satisfied with the job the surgeons have done so far. BINDRA: Nu's (ph) family says they want to use all the money they have received to set up a special trust fund.
(on camera): Called the Friendship Fund, Nu's (ph) parents say it will help poor children, especially young Pakistanis like their daughter get life-saving treatment in a country whose people they say have welcomed them with open hearts.
Satinder Bindra, CNN, New Delhi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 19, 2003 - 12:46 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: She is not a politician or a diplomat, but a sick Pakistani toddler has become an ambassador for peace. Our New Delhi bureau chief Satinder Bindra profiles the little girl who has melted hearts and tensions between rivals India and Pakistan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This radio disk jockey is the latest to be smitten by young Nu Fatima (ph). She talks to her audience about the Pakistani toddler, whose heart surgery earlier this week lasted six hours, keeping this country of one billion people on the edge of their seats. Doctors say Nu Fatima (ph) is expected to make a full recovery. The little girl has become the media's young heartthrob, and the editor of one of India's largest newspapers says he'll continue running Nu's (ph) story on the front page.
VIR SANGHVI, EDITOR: The people of India, the message we are sending out is that we want to help, we love ordinary Pakistanis, we don't want children to be caught up in this crossfire between political leaders.
BINDRA: All this media attention is putting pressure on Nu's (ph) doctors. They say they advanced the date of the life-saving surgery by a day because of concerns they would be mobbed by journalists covering this heart-stopping story.
This video was provided by doctors. It shows the Pakistani girl and her family in a relaxed mood, confident and willing to trust the life of their daughter to Indian doctors, even with the leadership of both countries barely on speaking terms.
Over the past 50 years, India and Pakistan have fought three wars, but none of that mattered to these Indian doctors who won their nation's gratitude by saving Nu Fatima's (ph) life.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We really pray that she does well and I hope that she comes through.
BINDRA: Touched by all the media coverage, school children have been offering special prayers. Others continue sending cards and donations to Nu (ph) and her family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I'm feeling great, I'm very, very happy. I'm satisfied with the job the surgeons have done so far. BINDRA: Nu's (ph) family says they want to use all the money they have received to set up a special trust fund.
(on camera): Called the Friendship Fund, Nu's (ph) parents say it will help poor children, especially young Pakistanis like their daughter get life-saving treatment in a country whose people they say have welcomed them with open hearts.
Satinder Bindra, CNN, New Delhi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
