Guest Blog by Vaneet Kundra
THE Partition of India ranks, beyond a doubt, as one of the 10 greatest tragedies in human history. It was not inevitable. India’s independence was inevitable; but preservation of its unity was a prize that, in our plural society, required high statesmanship. That was in short supply. A mix of other reasons deprived us of that prize – personal hubris, miscalculation, and narrowness of outlook.
The bare details of 1947 and its legacy are stark. The territorial partition that created modern India and Pakistan involved the internal division of Punjab and Bengal provinces, which – in unimaginable conditions of collapse of authority, flight, and massacre – resulted in the forced movement of 20 million people (Hindus and Sikhs to India and Muslims to Pakistan) and approximately 1.5 million deaths.
My grandfather used to tell me stories of partition and the emotions attached to it. I was quite interested to know, why the same sons of soil were detached by our founding fathers. He read a small article, which he had preserved.
“This feeling of disbelief is best summarised in the words of an officer in charge of refugee rehabilitation in Punjab, who said: “we in India were only vaguely familiar with the word ‘refugee’ and used to wonder why people should be compelled to leave homes. Even our refugees expressed surprise at the strange phenomenon of exchange of population and were heard saying, we used to hear about the change of rulers but for the first time the ruled are also changing places”.
The partition of 1947 was far more than an abstract line across administrative maps; it sought to create separate enclaves for different religious communities. In August 1947, when the “Radcliffe award ” partitioning Punjab and Bengal was announced, millions of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs now found that they no longer “belonged” to the place they were born in and had lived in forever.
But some questions remain unanswered, even if dwell deep into history to know the real reasons. It was a master stroke developed by British rulers on the policy of ‘ Divide and rule ‘. But the fact remains, that we are two different countries in territory, but not different in our culture, history, values, emotions, ancestors, language, food and jokes, specially the people of undivided pre-partition Punjab.
The imperialists never forgot to play their game of ‘ Divide and rule’, inspite leaving our land in 1947. They kept on pumping arms and ammunition to both us with a double benefit. Their economy thrives on this particular industry. We both pay them for arms to fight one another. They have a win-win situation all the time. Then we give them all the importance to mediate between us all the time. They have become our Super- Rulers again without any cost.
There was a photo published in several Delhi newspapers during the nuclear stand-off of 1998, when popular media discourse was spiced with comment about how the Indian nuclear-tipped warheads could reach all the way to Lahore and Islamabad.
The photo showed a crowd of Hindus and Sikhs dancing in patriotic celebration of India’s momentary advantage over Pakistan in the race for regional military supremacy. What intrigued me was that the revellers were the descendants of Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan; in hard logic, they were cheering the capacity to annihilate the land of their parents and grandparents. Such nationalist intoxication too is the fruit of partition.
After doing my B.A. ( Hons. ) from St. Stephens College, Delhi University, I came down to Amritsar to assist my brother in business as we had a business in Delhi and Amritsar both. For many years, I did not get the chance to visit Wagah border. Our business friends from Rajasthan had come to Amritsar with their family. They were quite eager to go there and see the retreat, as they had heard a lot about it in Rajasthan So me and my wife drove them upto Wagah, one fine Sunday in winters. This was during the time when Gen. Mushraff’ was the President of Pakistan.
While driving past Amritsar upto Wagah, we had thought, specially our Rajasthani friends, we would experience all that should be different. People, food, dwellings, crops, etc. Also, we’d thought everything should look, as between worst enemies, torn and divided: Culture, Community, Ancestry, History and Religion. But that was not to be. It was as if it were an extension of India into Pakistan, with nothing noticeable that tells one from the other.
We had heard about the Drill at Wagah and the sentiments attached to the event. A colleague in my office had once told me, “One is very enthused and enough prepared to die for the country at that moment, Sir”. The Indian side shouts “Vande-Matram, Bharat Mata ki Jai and Hindustan Zindabad”. The other side says, “Pakistan Zindabad, Paaindabad.” Lowering of the flags on both sides is followed by a common drill in which the Border Security Force Men and Pakistani Rangers ‘out step’ each other with overt and aggressive, macho display of strength.
Well we reached the Wagah Border with barbed fencing leading from both sides. The strong iron-gates were painted in tricolor scheme on ‘our’ side and green & white on ‘theirs’. Crowds of people having patriotic blood flowing through their veins had gathered on both sides. Each half was charitable but only to itself in shouting slogans. It was here that I felt there existed two countries, two people, two communities, two entities.
But still carried away by my fondness and respect for our mutual bonhomie with Pakistan, the tales of which I had heard from my father and grandfather, I began cheering even the ‘other side’ when they sought response to their sloganory exhortations. Suddenly then, I felt a tapping on my shoulder by ‘someone’. I turned back and looked someone with whom an argument ensued reflexively.
“Why are you cheering them?”
“There is nothing wrong in that”
“Are you one of those?”
“And are you someone different?”
“Don’t know they’re separate now?”
“Do Rivers stop entering this side?”
“Political rhetoric is long dead”
“So will be peace-willing generations!”
“Khushwants, Nayyars, Asma Jahangirs?”
“Yes. Precisely. So let’s cheer each other.”
“Don’t hear they swear by Allah?”
“Large number among us also does that.”
“They’re under seize and are tensed.”
“That’s why they deserve our cheers!”
“Emotional fool! Go your way”
Having been thus ticked off, I realized that ‘Someone’ was none else than my own flawed self. But what I had been looking in that crowd, even after the event of retreat drill, was the face of a child called Noor. Remember she had a successful heart surgery in Hindustan some years back. I am sure the likes of her would be the new generation of peace-willers in Pakistan. The retreat left me more hopeful. Emotional fool. Did you say that? No. Now it is ‘someone’ again at it. Damn him and hail peace!
Comments
183 responses to “The Partition of Territory, Not Hearts”
Pakistan was not created in one night. It was a long chain of events that led to the creation of Pakistan. You said, "The Partition of Territories, Not Hearts.". I would find the sequence the other way round, The Hearts Divided First, Then It Came To the Territories.
Someone would say the same about the Creation of Bangladesh.
Pakistan was indeed a blessing. We are proud of it and it is our motherland. Yes we have problems, so are the problems with every nation. That does not mean that creation of Pakistan was a tragedy. If it is so, then Independence of India was a tragedy too, because India faces more or less the same problems as we do, though may be in a different magnitude.
Creation of Pakistan may well have been a tragedy in the larger context, but you cannot ignore the situation that was prevalent in the subcontinent at that time, and that the creation of a separate Muslim state had become necessary. It would have been nice if things were the other way around, but that is just a dream and will stay one forever. Pakistan was made on the noblest of grounds, but unfortunately we never quite cared for it like we should have. You only need to pay a visit to India to instantly feel the difference between the two countries. Yes, our cultures are more or less the same. BUT there is a huge difference – religion. We cannot thank Jinnah enough for what he did for us back in those days.
To Ms.Fatima-you are right India faces same problems.So does Bangladesh.Except for the fundamental fact that Pakistan manufactures terrorists like Kasab and thousands of others with its religious hatred.Pakistans problems are same but are self created in the name of religion for itself and its now an "international migraine" for the world.And by the way please know that Taliban is now in 40 percent of your proud country's territory-do not blame the outside world for this please!
@Akbar Khan
…just to add, extremist hindus are 100% of India's territory too, they can burn train in north-west to kill thousands in Gujarat to massacre of Christians in India's eastern corners.
"Taliban is now in 40 percent of your proud country’s territory"
– LOL…why not 38% or 44.5%? Who did this calculation? Please quote at least some reference to support your point of view.
India cannot handle 10 boys who could kill hundreds right under their nose. The best they can do is to blame Pakistan for all their failures. We can easily blame India for feeding terrorists in our country (which it is actually doing) but that does not make any difference. You are right…it is our problem and we are dealing with it…not like Indians who would only play blame game rather than solving the issue.
Let me add some well known Indian celebrities like Proheet, Sarabjit Singh, L.K.Advani, Baal Thakray, and the entire RSS outfit too.
Let me show you the dirty face of Indians…when Pakistani cricket team plays in any of the stadiums in India, there is a tall fence installed between spectators and playground. No such fence was ever needed in Pakistan when Indian team played. Happy enough?
…and then you guys talk of myths like united hearts!
@ Unaiza Fatima,
myself being a born free, with my own flag,
national anthem,territory, language, religion,
rights, respect, I D E N T I T Y, but my parents
who were not, Brit tyranny was enough……….
in addition to Brahman barbarism ? no way,
one can see how Iqbal and MAJ were RIGHT.!
sufferings, racism, discrimination, hindu/Brahman
injustice, CASTES system, unbearable poverty.
PARTITION CONFIRMED NOT ONLY SEPERATION OF TWO
RELIGIONS, BUT REVEALED THE REAL FACE OF
HINDU/BRAHMAN ANNIHILISM OF OTHERS. INDIA SEPERATED
E.PAKISTAN FROM PAKISTAN, SENT 14 ARMY DIVISIONS TO
CONQUER WITH THE HELP OF ITS TRAINED TERRORISTS
MUKTI BAHINI, NO PAKISTANI CAN EVER FORGIVE THAT
TO INDIA.
READ CHANAKAYA'S THEORIES.
@ Reza,
NO FREEDOM ON EARTH CAN BE A TRAGEDY, BOTH LARGER OR
SHORTER CONTEXT. JUST GO AND SEE YOURSELVES THE
CONSEQUENCES OF NON-FREEDOM SUFFERED BY
450 millions of Dalits
380 millions of minorities on the verg of extermination.
230.000 muslim Kashmiris slaughtered by Indians
seculars, raped, amputed, butchered by Hindu
fanaticism and racism. Rule by Martial Law
run by 700.000 Indian regular soldiers.
@ Akbar Khan,
please stop repeating anti-Pakistan and anti-muslim
bullshit manufactured by the most notorious
INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM OF TERRORISM run by
American neocons, CIA
Israeli Mossad
Indian RAW
Brit Mi6
Afghani Khad
Takfiris and Tehrikis are their latest product,
recruited, trained and brainwashed thru 21
Indian/Israeli
consulats in Afghanistan and expedited to Afghanistan,
Pakistan and used against Indian muslims.
International " migraine" is not the only headache
the thick fat cows have, they also have
" creutzfeldyakob " disease, and play too loud their
Impostor's baaja.
Kassav is an Indian Sikh called AmerSingh Kassav
from Gurgaon. Certainly you have read during your nights
the new novel called " Mumbai Dossier Express" by a
well known ever.shrinking Mr. Parnab Mukrooji. keep
amusing yourself. Khan Sahib
@ Raza,
what is common between a Pakistani and Indian,
– The food is different, spices are used by the world,
– Vestimentary is different except the stupid Saari,
nobody ever solved the problem of Indian women rapped
up in 12 tours of eight meters long cloth.
– Religion and cultures are absolutely different,
Pak culture is already a developed culture with
sobriety, dignity, discretion, and simplicity,
the only Indian ressemblance is our Khanqahs, Gaddis
Urs, Dhamals, and Kufr-o-Shirks that we comit everyday
in borrowed religious rituals from Hindus and Sikhs.
In Pakistan though the seculars are trying to Indianize
Pakistan but in vain,
The Pakistani Seculars are for me :
Pro-Indian Gandhiist, so called Brahman "seculars"
Anti-Islam, anti-muslims,
Acceptance of all anti-Islam religions & ideologies.
Promotors of Suffism as alternative to Islam,
Alcoholics, Mader-Pidar Azaad,
Free sex, free mix living, total freedom,
Sexual perversity under "tolerance",
No moral obligations, towards parents, Children,Society
perfect harmony with zionism.
Three Political parties have the above trend and
are promoting them vigorously, the are
ANP
MQM
PPP
PTV and other medias, journalist, tajzia nigars, and
other CHAPPER-KANATIAS (definition withheld)
in spite of bitterness in the hearts and minds of pakistanis related to extremly painful process of creation,
i believe if india resolve the core issue i.e kashmir and take some good care of the minorities then there is a hope for the good relations.
the complexity of indo pak relations is not that hard to overcome if there is a will to avoid future wars.
fighting with india will make pakistan disabled for the inevitable wars with the jew and christian zionists.
@akbar khan!
"international maigraine"??????
1200 innocent muslim civilians women and children killed in just 20 days by israel.was that messacre not enough to relieve that migrains?
@unaiza fatima!
surprizing posts from the supporter of MQM.
i bet if you share your posts with the leaders of MQM they will disapprove and disown themselves from your comments.
@ Dr Jawwadkhan,
But India is already cooperating with Christian Neocons
and zionist Israelis, muslims, around the world, have no
choice but to fight all three, which was the case all
the times since the advent of Islam.
Me too, I am surprised, how come Unaiza's comments
have become softy like her name.
To Ms Uzma-the fact that those ten boys CAME your nation to my nation tells every thing -isnt it? I guess you need to read newspapers to know that KASAB is your dear country man-you train these rogues and ask us why we could not handle ten terrorists?????You need some education to know the difference between Taliban and political outfits!If you cannot see beyond color of religious hatred-can we expect that mullah on the streets to going to behave sensibly.Apart from your guts to compare a terrorist nation to democracy and feel good and cheat yourself-I cannot pity your nation and its future.You will need ask Mr.Zardari on why it took 1 month to accept Kasab as your national-that will explain the what your nation is good at!!!
Mr.Asad-do you know what war crimes are??????The rape of 100000 thousand bangladesh women during 1971!!!!!The killing of another half a million!!!!!!Your army could have been erased for those crimes -if not the mercy shown by Indians -and you will take of Kashmiris?????Your nation needs to learn how to vote a democracy that lasts for 5 years-the world is laughing at you-why blame the indians.By the way try using this energy to close your terror factories-you may not see another bangladesh!!!Well without Hindus and christians-you folks are buthchering your selves-I guess whom your are going to blame this time.By the way how mant christians and hindus live in your nation???? 2 percent????-sorry I did not realise you erased them.Just ask Mr.Durrani who Kasab is Mr.Newsmaker.
Uzma and asad-the question that you need to answer is why your nation is the epicentre of terrorists? Everyone knows Kasab is from pakistan as his DNA tests have shown the evidence.When you ask for facts-u need to follow what news is saying.No one is asking why pakistan is unstable inspite ofbeing homeland for 98 percent muslims???thats your internal matter.You will lose respect when you train terrorists for harming other countries.By the way Taliban cannot be compared to BJP.If thats makes you happy thats fine!Peace.
While blaming India-know that Pak army has ruined Bangladesh in 1971 and those crimes are still yet to tried in International courts.Just because muslims killed muslims does not mean those crimes are less.Those crimes are worse than Bosnia or Gaza anyday.Do you know that maximum number of rapes were committed in any single war in 1971 by Pak army??
By the way-no one is praising India for its situation but it is way better than the situation of Pak.Indian muslims are still fighting for rights but that does not mean we are tortured.Bangladesh is a self created mess of Pakistan as no country can seperate nation externally-not even US can do that-just like the mess created by pak rulers today.There are many power centres -ISI runs its own country,army its own,Zardari his own.Any doubts why Pak ends up in trouble.Indians want s stable pak-by the way kashmir does not explain why pakistan cannot have a stable government since 1947.The point is to understand not blame others for messes.let peace prevail.
No, NO AND NO to AKHAND BHARAT
I'm sick and tired of these indians who even today are not ready to accept Pakistan. They take all kinds of disguise to tell Pakistanis that its not worth to have a seperate country and all our media is hell-bound to be their bitch.
Dear Vaneet Kundra, Pakistan came into existence the very moment when first Hindu reverted back to Islam. So if you are so loving-nature, then just accept Pakistan as a sovereign country and secondly if you don't want more Pakistans coming out of India then accept the Muslims in India, whole heartedly.
Whatever has had happened in Past we should forget that and think for the future which is black for both of us.
No army from abroad are invading us 1st and foremost we've been subverted from the hands of our politicians and military rulers. we've to identify our real enemy who aren't Talibans nor OBL no Muslims nor hindu rather an [international financial elite] who are behind 9/11, 7/7, 20/11, 26/11 and war on terror. They've created enmity between us on religious issues, on border issues, on racial issues etc etc
we are coming towards an end of civilization which will occur in year 2012
2009 is a year of recession worldwide and in 2010 many metropolitan cities will be uninhabited like Damascus, San Francisco, LA possibly Mumbai due to ice-melting and sea-level gettin up and we will see clash of civilization in 2012 and in 2016 there'll be Armageddon.
2nd coming of Jesus is imminent and we are in the process of this transition. fight for errors within yourself and world would be benign place rather finding errors in other religion becuz all religions talks about to worship one deity known as Omnipresent
Vedas talked about same what Bible and Koran talks about but we are an idiots who are committed to our destruction from our very own hands.
The Hindus have a term for the Matrix. They say our lives are governed by Maya or illusion.
Ostensibly, democracy is an illusion created for rubes to uphold their slavery from their very own hands.
India has largest democracy means largest Rubes. its all threater put on for the Yokels.
be cute rather rube
Vaneet
First of all this is your guest blog ,thanks for trying to reach out.
Secondly agreed that British at the time of division were in a hurry and played a typical role of wittnessing silently huge massacres.
Lahore was burning ,so was Amritser and rest,indeed it was catastrophic for everyone whichever religion they belonged to.It could have been avoided but British did not try to handle it.People suffered on both sides of the border.
Divide happened looking back I am glad it did because I feel if it had not Muslims of Bengal and Paksitan both will still be fighting.
Leaving that behind when I visited Wahga Border I had the same feeling actually I laughed as well , I was a teen ager and seeing an Indian apart from Doordarshan TV was such a big thing.I realised they are just human beings like me,nothing so special.
Can we be friends ,yes we can and we are,on human to human level there is no problem.
This manic hysteria of War Hate is not one way and not media created only.People on both side do have this anger.I would be a hypocrate if I would say when I read anti Pakistan comments I do not feel bad .It will take ages to calm down.After partition we have whole history of wars,both sides of the borders have whole history of scars ,pain and anger, until both armies are casual ,it does not seem likely.
Unless we are free of border tension,visa requirements and interogations at both sides of border i do not see a lot of light.
Pakistan Independance movement started in 1857,one century later Pakistan was created.
Religion is the the focal point of everyone in Asia,so yes when people will loose this fear that they will not be prosecuted or murdered because of their faith,this border will will evaporate.
So I do apprecaite your post and do keep posting.
@ Akbar Khan,
1 you are fake,
2.your source of info is Indian Bajrangdal or
Nerinder Modi/Bal Thakeray.
3.With 18 division of Indian army invading from
three sides against two division Pak army helped by
20.000 loyals Pakistanis, with traitors Mukhti
Bahini of 300.000 Indian trained terrorists, have
raped executed, butchered another one millions of
E.Pakistanis in and around Dacca,
your numbers of 100.000 raped, is a lie and
fabricated in India, you are such an idiot, can not
even lie properly, to rape hundred thousands, two
division ? During whole 1971 Indian army of
18 division ( 600.000) with 300.000 Mukhti Bahini
were playing Hare Rama Hare Krishna with Bangladeshis ?
You are one of those rare Indian ninkumpoop I have ever
read in a stupid comment like yours.
Akbar Khan, Kasab (an Indian Sikh AmerSingh Kassav)is
according to your "Mumbai dossier" :
"comming from punjab "
" raised in Pakistani village "
" 4th grade dropout "
" does not speak Punjabi "
" but speak fluently Marathi "
" can not locate his village,
" but knows by heart Mumbai"
" list of 9 wanted by Indians "
" 5 with only first names "
" without normal identity"
" without finger prints "
" without DNA particulars "
" Pak PPP Govt.called Sikhashahi Govt".
Normally, the Donkeys have
two long ears,
two large nostrils,
always in grey shades,
always wondering with neck lowered
has four legs
and a long………. when envied
and what is the difference between an Indian donkey
and a mukti Bahini ?
" one is with and the other without" ! but what ?
contd……
Asad bhai
Wake up.I hope you know what DNA tests are????Do not tell me you are so ignorant!Well we in india did not force you-it was US which warned your president about Kasabs nativity.It was UK journalist who conducted the proof test of Kasab.In your dumb hatred for India and blind idioitic love for your version of religious ideology,you cannot see the truth.You do not have to bang your head against wall when told the truth.Relax and watch your beliefs tumble.Which idiotic pak channel told you that Kasav is sikh????What kind of mad newpapers are u reading?????Do not write too much-your version of idiots are not much.Looks like you personally lost in 1971.You can turn me to a sikh or jew or hindu -such is your hatred for other religions!!!!The more you write the more you are showing your religious ideology.Islam is everyones and it is about love- not your fathers or talibans version which you have inherited!!!!
@ Akbar Khan,
religion is not a joint stock company
where Impostors are ceo and his Khalifahs
are major shareholders, and the rest for the
ninkumpoops followers !
who cares if you are a Hindu secular, its not a
religion !! the reality, you call hatred !!
since when you have started venerating nazis ?
Akbar Khan
I read Kassab is dead?Isnt it a shame Why somebody dies in a police custody ?
Particularly in such a high profile case?
First of all, let me thank Awab to have put my article across the border. I am deeply honoured. The motive of writing this article was to say, that hatred be shown the door and peace enter through the same door. If we keep on harping on our past, deeds and misdeeds, we cant move forward. The essence of life is to leave the past and think of the future. By the way, common man of both the countries is never involved and is not taken into confidence, when every govt initiates any move, right or wrong. The logic says, when a common man is not involved in govt;s decision making, why should we put blames on each other ? You and me are not responsible for any misdeeds of our respective govts. Then why should we indulge in mud slinging ? Govts. have their own agenda, which we are not aware of. What goes behind the scene in India and Pakistan, is not visible to both of us. But one thing is very clear in my mind and that is crystal clear. Whenever govts of both the countries are in trouble in their internal affairs, they raise a bogey of war, create war hysteria which is fed to us thru media. When we listen to the media, our opinions are made out of those inputs. i hope you are aware that most of the media houses in under-developed countries are owned by vested interests, who feed us, whatever they want us to know and then begins the chain reaction of hatred. Why should we all be at the mercy of our govts or media ? Govts. divert the attention whenever there is an internal strife. Should we forget, what hospitality and love you give to Indians, when they visit Pakistan and visa-versa ? No one entertains a stranger, that too an enemy. If we are enemies, why we show all love and affection when we visit each other's countries ? Govts always take us for a ride and we provide them, what they actually want from us. Set aside the govts. for a while and think on rational basis. We both can prosper only, when we shed this govt. created hatred. Let us not allow our govts. to hijack our love, friendship and brotherhood. Move on for peace, as digging graves will lead us nowhere. Stand as one to defeat the imperialists hidden plan which comes thru our govt's by imperialist's arm twisting our govts." No aid to you, if you dont implement our policies ".
Forget the past? why should we?
Because trains full of fleeing Muslims were massacared by Hindu and Sikh Mobs?
Because Muslims were and still are treated as second class citizens in India?
Because India keeps stabbing Pakistan and did successfully break Pakistan into two?
…and now you are telling us to forget?
@Vaneet Kundra,
your comment can be considered as alternative, for
present times, an advice, sagesse !! I was born
years after freedom, not known the atrocities inflicted
on muslims because they opted for Pakistan, even those
did not were treated alike !!, 5 millions of muslims
around India exterminated by Hindu Sikhs only in three
months of june july august 1947.
My own family members, took refuge in the local mosque
were burned alive inside the mosque, others hacked to
death in their own houses by their very neighbours with
the very religious "kirpans" the neighbours of 100 years!
This was India and is today ?
BhulleyShah is not wrong !!
its very very difficult to forget and forgive !!
I happened to witness and assist on TV the genocide
in Rwanda,and Bosnia. The butchers were Politicised &
used religion, but vice versa is perpetrated somewhere
else as well.
Vaneet
I am glad that you posted further to make your point of view clear.I agree with you hundred percent;
"We both can prosper only, when we shed this govt. created hatred………… Stand as one to defeat the imperialists hidden plan which comes thru our govt’s by imperialist’s arm twisting our govts.” No aid to you, if you dont implement our policies “.
I agree:
1.That India and Pakistan should settle Kashmir dispute once and for all.
2.We should have stronger business and trade ties not only between India and Pakistan but accross with China and Iran.
3.A mass movement for better human rights,to improve human condition should start,which will give rise to mutual common interest and understanding of people.
4.Unless women accross Asia resist rape,torture and working conditions ,no change is possible.
5.Poor will only progress if the oppertunities are available to everyone and on mass level.
6.No prosecution in the name of religion,cast and creed.
the comments written are the true feelings from the heart.The heart will feel what it has observed and been told.Bitterness if the experience has been bitter, as would be during the partition.Much bloodshed had been done in the past and is being continued even now. What for??I can understand the anger of Bulley Shah, but being angry is not the solution.I agree with Vaneet that we have to forget the past and move on. The common man has to get involved in the peace process of the two countries.The common man in both the countries want a peaceful life,his day to day activities in raising the family and his work keep him so busy that he does not get time to think about the neighbouring country as an enemy. His mind is bais by the media and what the Goverment feeds it.It is time to build friendships across the border. Experience teaches us when to wait and when to move on. We have waited enough and it is time to move on towards a peaceful relationship in this subcontinent.Let us all the educated people move in the direction of peace.May God be with all of us.
Asad Bhai-please don't strong words of hatred. Calm down, think practically. None of our futures can be secure and happy without peaceful co-existence. Being healthy and peaceful nations is in the interest of both India and Pakistan. By invoking hatred and remembering avoidable violence committed by both sides during partition is not going to help any of us for the future.I agree with Vaneet and Farrah,k.raja that we should plan for a better future for both countries and let bygones be bygones.
I thank all of you for your comments, specially, Farrah,k.raja, Rajiv arora and dr. Manchanda to have put things in right perspective. It is my desire and probably all of us want peace, prosperity and love for one another. Shun The Hatred and start a new blog of friendship, co-authored by one indian and one pakistani. We dont require visas and govt. permissions to start a new blog which shows love, peace & brotherhood amongnst us. Let Awab take the initiative and i am prepared to co-author it. This new dawn in shape of blog will send signal to our respective govts. to shut up ( being crude ) and talk how to set up a mechanism, where common people can become a part of this new peace inititiative. One to one talk.
farrah k raja ,how told you that kasaba is dead ,are you sleeping just go to timesofindia.com and you can see that pakistani is alive,your media is sick,did your god come and tell the media.
When you think of Pakistan u think of sucide bombers,terorists,degradation of rights of women, a failed economy ,surviving on doles handed over by USA andSaudi Arabia, the list is endless !! This country is slipping back to stone age. The thinking of the people is so badly warped up and indoctrinated by the govt .that it is pathetic. Talkig about culture ,HA! there are only two cu
ltures present in Pakistan, agriculture and gunculture.Lies,deceit and backstabbing is the favourite pasttime.Pakistanis should wake up before it is too late!
@ krs sobti,
are you working with RAW ? as your comment is
India's official Bhimpalasi, very fake and defective,
and on 1949 78 rpm His Master's voice.
@ I love Porkhindustan,
who knows ? Indian Police has aleady liquidated
Kassab, as they did Karkare and two others and many
more who discovered the truth on the wrong day,
wrong time, and watched a swine faced,ninkumpoop
of AkhandBaharatajackass.
Good day to you
My dearest Vaneet, I have read your blog. It is wonderfully writtem with very pious and noble thoughts. I have read the adverse comments also. Dont care for them. Keep the flasme of love burning. All noble souls have been criticised but the stuck to the path. I feel proud of U. I have written the comments but doubt it has passed through. I have forgotton how to despatch it. I have saved the same. Pl.let me know how to send it. What is URL, I could not understand. With love , PAPA
As the British were adamant for their Divide & Rule Policy, they decided to partition the country into India and Pakistan. In spite of the best efforts of Mahatma Gandhi to keep the country undivided even at the cost of making Mr. Mohd Ali Jinnah, the Muslim League leader as the first Prime Minister. But he did not agree and wanted to have Muslim Homeland known as Pakistan, a Muslim dominated area.
This is the story of how the division of India into two nations came to be enacted at the local level in the small and peaceful town of Bhalwal in 1947. The author, then a 20-year old young man, and his family were witnesses as well as targets of the movements and events that steadily unfolded into an irreversible migration of the town. Hindus and Sikhs to India, ending centuries old sojourn of their families in Bhalwal. This segment of The Long Journey covers the post-1946 strings for Pakistan in Punjab, the rapidly deteriorating conditions for Hindus and Sikhs in the Rawalpindi region and elsewhere in western Punjab. The growing concerns of the town Hindus and Sikhs for their own security and future in area soon to be formed Pakistan.
My family home in which we were living was encircled by hundreds of fundamentalist youths of Muslim League, with the intention of attacking us. The miscreants also gathered to burn our business place, cotton ginning & Pressing Factory. My father was the President of Municipal Committee of Bhalwal and had good rapport with the officials.
At the time of partition of the country my father Bahri Phiraya Lal Kapoor was the sitting President of Municipal Board of Bhalwal. He was given the honour of unfurling the Pakistan Flag on the Municipal Board Building at Bhalwal on 15th August, 1947. Previous to him his father Bahri Hem Raj Kapoor held the chair of the Municipal committee. This family was the prominent family of Bhalwal in pre-partition days. In spite of that we were force to leave the country of our birth and came from there completely penirest. In spite of it I had absolutely no entifilling and when I started my business here in Kashipur I made full incharge of my Agriculture Farm a Muslim and made his son the Manager of my Hotel. My entire accounts are also taken care of by a Muslim and all other staff belongs to the same community. India is proud to have to Muslims presidents, one Chief Justice of India and so many Ministers. Rather the muslim population in India is three times more than Pakistan. Hindus by nature are not fundamentalist and have a big heart to create peace in country and have regard for all revision.
I suggest dear Vaneet that he should keep the flame of the peace and love burning to have better values of life.
With Regards,
(papa)
@ Akbar Khan,
Bhai jan, US informed Pak President about Kassab's
nativity ? and British conducted test? oh really ?
DNA results are normally matched with the parentage ?
are you sure ?
India does'nt have DNA facilities unlike Pakistan
which had them since four years probbably !
Yes, US informed Zardari, but only, about jesus's
nativity with exact address 24 shahra-e-maryam,
1232 Bethlehem (Palestine)
My American/Brit friend confirmed that Kassab
is given poison in the prison.
@ Rajiv Arora,
I appriciate your concern over Pak-India situation,
I don't believe in hatred, I have no hatred, I am
defending my country against"hatred",there are only
three things in my life that I have hatred for,
1. today's Bollywood film dialogue's style !
2. Singing in the nose! with horrible Urdu pronunciation.
3. Desi Politician's speaking on TV.
Otherwise I am a peaceloving, part-time ecologist,
anti-pollution, meloman militant, harmless citizen.
Mr.Prem Kapoor
Thank you for taking time out to write about the true tragedy which people suffered and went through at the time of divide.
I feel it was easier for the people who died maybe but it is difficult for the people who lived with the pain.
I can understand your pain of longing for the place where there are stories of your grand parents all around.
The debate about Jinnah,Gandhi and partition can go on for ever ,I do believe Jinnah did the right thing,what followed however was not right.
Why people had to migrate?Why houses were burnt?Why friends became foes?
Oppertunists and anarchists are found in every part of the world.
The biggest question is however can we save oursleves from future wars?
Can people travel freely and can people trust eachother?
Media definitely needs to open up debates,mutual interest ,joint business ventures are a good way forward.
Vaneet
I appreciate your idea of starting a joint blog.This dialogue is extremely important.Until I met Muslims of India I was sure they are poor victims living in India ,but was surprised to see that they are staunch anti Jinnah and Pro Gandhi.Meaning if they stayed in India it was their willful choice.They are still against creation of Pakistan.That is why they serve in Indian army,airforce etc because it is their homeland.
I could never understand this until I witnessed a debate between Muslims and Hindus of India,all Muslims were advocating Gnadhi and some Hindus were appreciating Jinnah.
There is huge mis-perception in both countries regarding the people and societies .
So yes go head,what is the harm in dialogue.
It is time we should question and find our answers towards our history and than see the future.
Mr.Prem Kapoor
Isnt it that there is something special about the places ,no matter where ever we go the memories keep haunting us.If your health allowes you,you must plan a visit to Bhalwal.
You must pay visit to Pakistan,tell your story ,visit Bhalwal.It maybe difficult at present but keep this in your diary.
Ask the Newspapers or TV to fasicilitate your visit,they spend millions on stupid stories why cannot they cover your visit to your childhood place.
I strongly applaud & welcum Mr vaneet kundra for writing this kind of column..As a true indian after reading such harsh words about my country i can also go blah blah…against pakistanis. but our culture & our good upbringing teaches us to be peace loving & noble citizens . we are intelligent people who do not believe in fanaticism & spit on other religons. we respect sentiments of all religons & know how to respect them. Past is past, watever happened… happened. we cannot keep living in the past & disturb the future generations of both our countries…so plz i sincerely request people of both nations to stop spitting venom & strongly promote peace & brotherhood.
Dear papa ( Prem Kapoor ), my father-in-law, I am proud of your comments. I would have written your story on this page, but i wanted you to write your own pain, during partition. I am just back from office at 7.15 pm and i went thru your comments. I am really touched by your comments. You are writing your book about the events which took place during partition. Please put that book on the net, so that all of us on this page discussing peace, know the real value of peace, after paying so much in the shape of horrifying deaths on both sides of the border in 1947. That was tryst of history, which we people have not gone thru, as we were born after the partition. I remember all your stories and events, which you tell us about pre-partition days at Bhalwal. Now you have crossed 80 yrs. I would have been the 1st person to take you to your ancestral home in Pakistan, but your health does not permit you to travel. But your thoughts and memories will always remain, which i promise you, will be preserved in the shape of your book. i am proud of being your son.
Dear Farrah k Raja, Your comments are sensitive and reflect the true picture of hindus and muslims in india. I am grateful to you, that you have removed misconceptions about muslims in India, being treated badly.
Asad Bhai, Let us write a new chapter of peace and love as we are sons and daughters of the same " MItti ". I welcome Farrah's comments for writing a joint blog of peace. I would request her to take the initiative Or Awab, as peace is too precious a thing to be thrown away in a dustbin. Let our coming generations travel to each other's countries without visa or any permissions. If Europe can Have a euro and a common visa, with different cultures, why cant we have the same access ? Let all the bicycles, scooters, cars and buses travel to and for between Lahore and Amritsar without permissions. I wish it happens in our lifetime !
First of all, Mr.Asad Ali for your kind information RAW doesnot post views on blogs, they take direct action.Your views reflect bigotry,perversity of an unstable and uncivilised mind. You have been fed with such rotten propaganda that you vomit out baseless and uncouth views.
Tell me, in which spheres has Pakistan excelled except in growth of AK47s,bombs and terrorism. Talking about DNA I doubt if anybody in Pakistan knows what genetics is?Most probably u will send the sample to USA.
So, Mr. Asad,we should do some positive thinking and chart out the route to wipe out poverty from our region as this is the main source of fundamentalism in religion.
@ Lavi Behl,
" but our culture and our good upbringing
teaches us to be peace loving and noble
citizens "
are you addressing to yourselves such
fantasmic attributions ??
Dearest Vaneet, I must thank U for encouraginging me to put my brief thoughts on yr Blog as I fully appreciate your efforts in promoting peace and better understanding between the two rothers who got seperated due to certain vested interests by the foreign nations. Those had their own self interest in creating cancer in the bodies two long standing friends. I must thank Farrah k Raja for extending me the invitation to visit Bhalwal , my homeland . It is undoubtedly my long wish to kiss my Mitti before I die. As U know I am already 83 years old and not keeping fit as I have already undergone two open heart surgeries and two heart attacks. The Aam Admi on both sides are good ,loving and long for everlasting peace and better undrstanding.Let me relate an incident how much suffring we had gone through.
My grandfather was feeling very bad, as he had kept the family gold ornaments and some other valuables against which he had given cash to his business tenants in his safe vaults in his shop.He secretly went back to his shop at Bhalwal from Sargodha where we were living in the refugee camp without informing my father and wanted to take out the gold ornaments but as soon as he went inside his shop, the crowd gathered there to attack him and forced him to leave the place immediately. He could not take out anything; we could neither sell our stock of cotton seed lying in our factory nor any movable or immovable property. This resulted in NO CASH WITH US. We had lot of property but it could not be sold. So my father refused to leave Pakistan till he solved his problems.
There was a ghastly incident when one of our associate who was staying with us in our premises was killed mercilessly by a cobbler with his awl, which was used to stitch the shoes. The murder was gruesome as he poked the awl in the eyes and the chest in broad day light on a road side. This shook us all very badly and we all got very much scared and perturbed.We were left with no choice but to save our life and leave the country we loved so much. Still we pray to God to bridge the gap in todays youth for peace and love.
I must say KEEP THE FLAME OF LOVE BURNING as there is no other solution for a better life in the future generations.
With love, PAPA
Papa, I am crying and my hands are not moving on the keyboard. You have put your comments so emotionally, that any human with a heart, after reading all this will have tears in his eyes. But Papa, that was a momemt of fury and madness when people from both the sides suffered and lost there near and dear ones. It was a ghastly affair. People went crazy. I dont blame the people. The madness at that time was infuriated by some mad elements, who wanted butchering on both the sides. That time was horrible for humanity. But you have to forget all this, if you ought to move forward. Let us forgive and forget one another. " Abhi bhi der nahi hui, agar hum sambhal jaye ".
Afterthougt… I am extremely sorry for sharing my emotions with papa on this page as it is was our personal tragedy, which should not have been reflected openly on this page but after reading him, relate his story once again, i could not stop my fingers on the keyboard to express my emotions. Please excuse us as it this is not a family page but sometimes, your emotions break out and by impulse, you express your emotions openly. I beleive, this is human nature. I apologise for sharing our family emotions on this page.
I'm touched by Sh.Prem Kapoor's sharing of his heart rending experience during partition! I'm even more touched by his feelings for promotion of peace even after himself being a victim of extreme hatred !! It is his experience of more than 60yrs after the tragedy which tells him that peace and love is a better alternative to war and hatred. The youth of today, whether hindu or muslim, are easily led by hardliners and are made to commit crimes of hatred. Their little experience is not enough to make them realise the repercussions of their ghastly actions. Little do they realise that these Hardliner leaders(so called) are actually only serving themselves by misleading the youth. WAKE UP DEAR YOUNGSTERS! LET US ACT POSITIVELY NOW. WE OWE IT TO OUR COMING GENERATIONS!
From all the above I have understood one thing not to
repeat the mistakes of the past but can we avoid it.
The differences are stark,the difference is religion.Indian
Religion or Hinduism which is against divide,land is sacred and Muslims who have their identity which does not confine them to land .
Muslims of Pakistan were not abducted by Jinnah,it was Muslims of Pakistan who convinced Jinnah to stand for separate Homeland and Jinnah stood up in the beggining reluctantly.
We the Muslims of Pakistan have given up their claim on BanglaDesh.And so has Bangladesh,we can be friends for they do not pose a threat to us nor do we pose threat to them.
WHy always it is Question of India and Pakistan?
Because this question is deep,deeper than the wounds.
I am not talking about religion alone,it is about freedom.
Muslims of Pakistan are like any secular state around the world.
The conflict is about the majority of people are not comfertable with eachother,this is not fed by armies,No this is not conflict of army.
This is the conflict of people by large.
When would Pakistanis,and Indians will stop feeling threatened or overtaken by the others.
At present none of the governments guarantee any thing.People of India do feel uncomfertable in Pakistan and a Pakistani visiting India does feel the same.
On human to human level we have no problem,we had problems,it is the collective conciousness,this collective conciousness would only go away when Muslims living in India and Kashmir will be free ,I am not asking for more countries within India,when Pakistanis will see that Muslims living within India are free,prospereous and happy,when we will have ties with them ,business ties with Muslims of India and the rest of the religions than this threat of insecurity,fear will go away.
Pakistan and India are two countries,they cannot be one again,this is the biggest insecurity.
Why Muslims of India are no where to be seen in Secular state of India,apart from stories of Fasadat.
Realistically speaking Pakistanis feel comfertable with China though they are not an Islamic country,but they do not threaten us.
The above story is very important,we must avoid repetetion of such story in Kashmir which is more volatile it includes China as well.
Dalai Lama is my favourite personality.But it becomes highly controvercial when we talk about Tibet,a region seeking independence in the name of religion.
Europe is United because religion is not the core of their living.Chriest,Church God people do not like to talk about it although whole of Europe is Christian.
India is a diverse country but many religions flourish within it.Since I have not visited India I do not know how comfertable people are to exclude religion form their daily lives.
With these conflicting religious identeties which are sacred to every follower which ever religion they follow,it makes people more conservative than open.
Muslims of Pakistan are not that prejudiced any more becaus ethey live in a state which has one religion and so does China,I have found in European way of life and in Pkaistani way of life there is no difference.Nobody discusses religion.Our conflicts within Pakistan are regional and sectarian,but our faith is not questioned and this is biggest freedom.
The day India will accept this basic rights of Muslims and other minorities living within Inida ,that is the day india will become Secular,actually that is the day India would not need a word like Secularism to define itself,that day it will become Indian Republic of People,as is Islamic Republic of Pakistan or Chinese republic of China.
Islam and Christianity are the religions beyond boudaries and if we look at the world map ,Muslims have many inspirations.Indian soil or border is not sacred to us but our religious freedom is,it provides us unlimited claim to heritage and culture which is beyond even continents.
This was shocking for Hindus of India in 1857,1906,1947 and this is our Nationhood.The day India would not have problem with muslim Nation we will be united.
@krs sobti,
remove your biased anti-Pak specs, then you can
seemuch more better Pakistan.
600 millions Indians who have nothing to eat
and wear, do they know about genetics or DNA ?
@ Prem Kapoor ( pap ji)
@Vaneet Kundra ji
visiting India for us in Pakistan, especially,
the thousands of families of victims,had been
painfull, many of them came back with sadness,
many came back with more hatred, I belong to
the same family, we certainly can not visit
atlease 18 cities in India, it would be like
bringing back the memories of massacres,
the blood stained walls, floors, clothes, sad
pictures of our own houses and hatred.
We need distances. Its only 60 years ago, the
generation is still alive.
@ lavi Behl,
your comment of 6th feb. @ 6.32 pm
I can not believe my eyes, reading your crap
about your upbringing in respect for religions,
race, and your entire bullshit,
RSS, Shiv sena, Bajrangdal, RSV, RSI, BJP,
Mahabharata sangthan, Shuddhi movement,Advani
Bal Thakuray's Nazi party, Nirendar Modi and
so many others, tell me Lavi Behl, where else
do they exist if not in Your India, not
TIMBAKTOU !!! Go thru my previous cemments
about dalits on this blog, (my comment was deleted)
you must feel secured.
Asad Ali Amritsari
We had muslim Presidents, ABJ Abdul Kalam, Zakir Hussain and even today Vice-president Ansari have been and are heads of state in India with a Sikh Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who do not represent majority which are hindus. Sonia Gandhi, a Christian, is the president of UPA, which is the ruling party at this time in India. As per your comments dt.6th feb, 09, you have yourself dmitted that indian muslims are in Indian Army and Indian Air force. 20% to 30% Members of Indian Parliament has indian muslims. What other proof you want of india to be the best example of a secular state in the world ? the top bureacrats in the central govt. have many muslims. The central govt. of india, headed by Manmohan Singh has many muslims as cabinet ministers. Even the state govts. in India have many ministers who are muslims. the list is endless. If you check your statistics, the population of hindus in pakistan at the time of partition was 23%, which as on today are not even 1%. I am not blaming your country for it. i am telling the hard facts of life. Let religion be a private issue and let us not divide ourselves on the basis of religion. We are humans first and religion comes much later. All the wars in the world have been fought on the basis of religion. What has come out of it ? total destruction and killings of innocent people, including children. i beleive, that religion should not come in way of friendship between 2 good people.
Of course not Vaneet
My perception about India is very clear and I do understand the pain of Mr.Kapoor ,I know your approach is of humanitarian,I just analysed the situation ,overall what is stopping both the countries.Apart from politics,slogans and terrorism even if we take this away what is stopping us.
Backward Muslims cannot be blamed on India ,Muslims have been in strong position through out and if there is poverty for Muslims it is for the rest as well.
just to take the dialogue further I have seen one strange similarity between Karachi and Bombay ,people in their makeup of mind are same.Open and Urban.
I have noticed Dhelie is more classy and sophisticated ,being Capital while Bombay is a flasy city .Am I right?
@ Vaneet Kundra India,
ha ha ha ha, you are coming slowly and gradually
on your original track. Who can buy your 2 or 3 %
of Presidents etc,or elected dozens of members
in your lokSabah, sorry, how many of them in Rajia
sabha, its about 200 millions of muslims
who are not even counted sincerely, always inexact
cheated figures 120, 150, 180 millions ? you
can even put forward any figures, but the ground
reality is absolutely horrific !!
you say " let religion be a private issue " who are
you representing ? yourself and 3 dozens of Indian
" seculars " communists but the rest are all Hindu
extremist fake seculars !!
Your case is sincerely doubtful !! sorry.
What happened in Bombay is not acceptable ?I condemn it strongly it should not happen anywhere in the world.
Terrorism is not sponsored by Pakistan government and army .
Pakistan as a country which realises Terrorism is a threat to itself and it will not solve anything but will make us more isolated and rejected and we desperately need sympathetic listening form the world to our case.
Pakistan and India do need to work together ,how is the question.