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”
Asad and Jawwad
Why havenot I sen you on my blog
http://pakistaniwomen786.wordpress.com
Awab, I am afraid, the comments i am going thru on Farrah's blog, do not reflect any indications working for peace. We come to square one and keep pointing fingers at each other, instead of discussing measures, how to go about working for peace. All are efforts to restore faith are boomranged. I welcome healthy discussion but raising and repeating the same issues by different commentators, reflects that we are fixed in our ideas and do not go beyond talking logic. Accusing each other is very easy but making a bridge is an uphill task. I am sorry, but if things go the way they are, we will not reach any conclusion and will be stuck with the same ideas which are deeply engrained in our minds. we have to come out of it, to talk, rather than pointing fingers at each other again and again.
I wonder, we have had so many discussions so far for many days now, but we have not introduced ourselves. My name is Vaneet Kundra. I have a wheatish complextion, which both of us generally have, be it Lahore Or Amritsar. I am staying approx. 40 kms away from Lahore. Jalandhar, the second closest city to Amritsar is 75 kms away, on G.T. Road, towards Delhi. So i am closer to Lahore than Jalandhar. I am married, 51 years old, have 2 daughters. Elder one is married in Amritsar. The younger one is engaged to a sikh boy in Delhi. Getting married in May in Delhi. You all are invited. Be my guest. It will be my privilige to have you over. I am in my ancestral chemical business. Working from 10 am to 7pm. Before and after, i am with you these days, talking to you. I am a Hindu, but i do not visit any Mandir. I beleive God is within yourself. Me and my family are followers of Vaisno Mata, Katra, near Jammu. It has been a long time, since we visited last. I am fond of my drink which i used to have almost daily, till 5 yrs ago. But as on today, i only drink when i visit friends or they come over or at a party. But i must confess, i love to enjoy my drink, which many in my country and your country, do not approve of. But i only listen to my heart. I beleive, one should enjoy, as he wishes to. I am a smoker too. Smoke about 15 figs a day. It puts me in the category of chain smokers. I enjoy my holidays too and have travelled abroad and within my own country, specially hill stations. I have not been to Pakistan but would love to, as i feel they are no different to me. We are sons of the same soil. That's what i beleive. I am fond of singing too and learnt singing for good 6 months, but left, due to business restraints and clash of timings. I would love if all of us on this blog, introduce ourselves. You get to know better.
I forgot to mention some similaraties between us:
Indians and Pakistanis have the same Y-chromosome haplogroup. We have
> the same genetic sequence and the same genetic marker (namely: M124). We
> have the same DNA molecule, the same DNA sequence. Our culture, our
> traditions and our cuisine are all the same. We watch the same movies
> and sing the same songs. What is it that Pakistanis have and we don't?
@ similarities ?
same Y-chromosomes ?
same genetic sequence and marker ?
same DNA molecule and sequences ?
I am not sure, 88% of north has the Central Asian race
influence ! must have its own particulars.
"The blood is not the same " !!!!
– Traditions are certainly different,
– Vestimentary is different,
– Cuisine, gastronomy, culinary is quite different !
– Poetry, language, musique, literature, manners, are
not the same,
– The Grand Mughals had brought tremendous
change in the strictly Hindu society, since 12th century.
– Pakistan's culture is different than Indian's,
as it was the culture of "invaders ".
watching the same movies does'nt mean approval,
I think there are serious defects in Indian showbis,
first of all, its imitation, a kitsch imitation,
now it is completely "westerniszed" but always
imitation. Urdu language dialogues or poetry is gravely
defective,Indian Films made in 50s 60s 70s had good
dialogues in good Urdu, but now, its pure rubbish,
I am sorry, but if India has quantity, I agree, then
its Pakistan which has superior quality !!unfortunately,
imitating India, now few songs on TV, clips,and so
called " musique" is worth throwing in the garbage.
Our common enenmy is
western garbage Fast food
kitsch Musique
rubbish potery,
immature acting, tons of makeups
horrorible dialogues throwing on the faces of audiances.
Disasterous Folklore,
Don't worry, we are sinking " together" !!
Mr Assad/DR.Jawwad,u are not trusting rather making a mockery of a govt. elected by u!! u seem to be insecure and confused.It seems u have more faith in those AK47 wielding ,madarsa-educated crazies who think they are imposing Allah"s law on the people.Yes,talibanisation of Pakistan is not far!!Yr President is also scared of this scenario.After some time, it seems, men in Pakistan will also be wearing burqas ,peeping thru those small-small holes trying to recoganise each other!! HA!HA! What A sight!!
I would suggest that Indian Army should sent to control yr extremism/terorism in Baluchistan and Swat valley as yr army is more interested in running business empires and spreadig terorism in India.Of course,subsequently, if u behave properly we can hand u back these areas like we did in the previous two wars !!
On a serious note there is extreme danger that a taliban regime in yr country will result in cynical exploitation of radical Islam for political objectives by your civilian and military rulers.During Gen.Zia's, u made a tryst with talibanisation and the time has come u shall reap what u have sown.
Dear Awab, It would be a nice idea, if we know about each other. I would request you to please introduce yourselves. You get to know each other better.
@krs sobti,
Listen, carefully, mate, you are not only a naive
amateur of Indian SS bajrangdal, but a first class
nervous and delicate paranoia !
Talibans never existed during Zia time, neither before
nor after. !!!
My problem is this puppet regime of Hijras PPP India's
in-laws, I want them to be eliminated by all means,
even If I have to seek cooperation from PATRIOTIC
TALIBANS from both the sides, i.e. Afghan Mujahids and
their patriotics Pakistani colleagues,
India's puppet ANP in NWFP is almost eliminated,
3/4 of its leaders are hanged or killed by
India's agents Baitullah, and Fazllulah, who are running
Indian sponsored terrorism, trained, brainwashed,
financed in 21 Indian consulates (terrorist training
centres)in Afghanistan.
PPP's Govt is facing serious dissidence within party,
Fahim Group
Aitizaz Group
Mubasharist Group (will probably eliminate the tops)
All their Ministers are changing their domiciles every
third day !
PPP traitor Govt. has serious problems with Pak Army and
ISI, who are knocking at the door of NSC every day, !
PPP's Govt refuses to even listen to them !
It is now, Pakistan Army and the people of Pakistan to
decide what to do with these scoundrels and traitors,
Rehman Malik must be tried before Army's court Martial.
He is a zionist agent !
PPP's Govt's impeachement is an option !
Pakistanis people and their Army have 4 priorities :
PPP's Govt's fate !
US drones !
Chinab river waters
Indian sponsored Takfiris, Tehriki terrorism
A disaster is eminent for PPP' Govt and her supporter
" INDIA ". Inshallah
Mr Assad I sincerly hope that there are not more insane people like u in Pakistan otherwise yr country is heading for a civil war!!I am not interested in slanging match with u as yr brainwashed thinking cannot see the writing on the wall.It is futile to have an intelligent discussion with u !!
Mrs sobti @ jaram!
you come here to scare us? why don't you ask your fellow indians and govt: the question regarding the biggest security threats india is facing.
india is fertile ground for all kind of insurgencies because human rights violation.currently more than 12 states are badly affected by insurgencies.231 out of 608 districts of the whole india is affected.
do not ask the level of preparedness of armed forces of india because it is badly affected by kick backs money and incompetence of the army brass.
intelligence is in really bad shape 12 people come to the india travelling thousands of miles and no one noticed that.
later on these only 12 fighters ruled the bombay for 60 hrs.
tell me @jaram how can india fight with millions of brave pakistani while she can not handle just 12 of them?
it is the time for you indians to worry about your own security rather predicting the destruction of pakistan.
chay(not jay)hind.
This hatred does not seem to stop anywhere. Where are we heading to ? Being educated and sane, which is godgifted, why are we we shunning the god's gift of civilised people, educated, well read and most of all logical people, who can hold healthy discussions to solve out our problems ? This mud-slinging game is leading to more hatred, which is not the solving point. Rather we should discuss, logically ways and measures to solve our problems. My endeavour was to find a solution for peace, but today i feel me and Awab are feeling defeated. But there is always light at the end of the tunnel. I am waiting for that light. Let us find some Obama amongst us, who talks of hope and change. Obama only, not the President of USA. I pray to god to give all of us that sanity to resolve the issues, so that we can all stay with love and peace.
Vaneet
SHAME on you,you are trying to bring Peace and friendship by preaching us that Pakistan army is against its people .
By mobilising people to stand with Zardari when he says,Kashmiris are Terrorist and Talibaan are everywhere in Pakistan .So basically bomb whole of Pakistan ,Ref your post at my blog.
You thought I am a bloody woman and in the name of freedom I would say,hell with Talibaan ,kill whole Pakistan.
Well Pakistanis are not as stupid as you think.There are reasons why Zardari is not liked and why Asma Jahangir sits in the lap of Atal Beharee Vajpayee.
You know for a very tacky Peace propoganda you have brought a mistrust of highest order by putting a very realistic story of PAPPA on line.
I have to investigate it from Bhalwal.As per my knowledge ,it is Tiwanas there.If it is Tiwanas it means they were always there.
I hope this whole episode of Peace dialogue will at least open the eyes of rest of the bloggers .
Vaneet Excuse me @but today i feel me and Awab are feeling defeated.
Not Awab dear !!
he printed your story we read it,we responded you,we trusted your story of Pappa ,first you created symapathy and than you insisted on friendship,I accomodated you and on my crappy blog ,which is experimental anyway I created a a page for you.
So Awab has not failed .You have cheated on our trust.
Did you get money fo this ??
Indian Bloggers have one message to put accross ,Civil War in Pakistan.
It would not happen.The very Talibaan will kill you.
people in case you wishto follow what happened on the peace page :
please follow:
http://pakistaniwomen786.wordpress.com/2009/02/07…
Farrah ji, You seem to have taken things in wrong perspective, which never was my intention. If asking certain queries, is cheating you, then i am sorry, you have misjudged me. I wanted sympathy for whom and why ? You have broken the dialogue, before starting it. What is it, for which you are feeling offended and being cheated ? i leave it on you and Awab to judge my intentions. I have nothing more to say. I tried to open a window which was shut, but you have locked it from your side, without seeing the greenery and the flowers in my emotions and statements. You are entitled to have your own judgement about me, which was never bad and will never will. I am still seeing the light as i am born optimist, but having your own perception about me, is entirely your discretion. I have nothing more to say. I never ever thought in my dreams to cheat you and will never think in future too, inspite of your comments. Judging me and killing me, is your perception, which you are entitled to. I came on this blog to make friends but never ever to CHEAT or creating distrust. i will send you the copy of papa's book, when it is printed to see our intentions and to judge us.
Ms Farrah,chill out!I totally agree with your hurt feelings!!We have gone astray by criticising each others institutions and values. Even I am the culprit but then I was provocaked into making those statments.
I am sure Vaneet didnot meant any disrespect to u but may have got carried away ,like I did,after those allegations. To be very frank i had decided to stop writing in the blog
I will now do so.My suggestion to u is in case u want to carry forward this initiative u must ignore each others weaknesses and give only positive vibes.
waow waow waow!
take it easy farrah!
i was amazed by the level of your anger.
what ever you want to say you can say politely.
hate to see such a polite lady in such an anger.
Dr Jawwad
I am not a polite woman!! How do you think I survive in London business envoirnment?
Laugh it off anyway:)
I came here to make friends, not enemies. Enemity was already there. So what could have been the reason to come to Awab's blog ? To spread more hatred ? CERTAINLY NOT. I am sorry you make your opinions so fast and trademark that person in a particular form, you want to see him.I came here for peace as enemity was already there. Did any of my comments hinted hatred for each other ? I am afraid not. Please dont come to conclusions so fast. I WOULD NOT GIVE UP SO SOON, as peace is too precious to be thrown away. Dont get swept away , my friends. Let us have a healthy discussion to bring peace. My mission is peace. I dont want it to be hijacked. I am made of a different substance, who does not cow down so soon. Inshallah, PEACE will prevail ond day. You and me may not be there to see but Positivity between us will ultimately lead us to the path of peace. That too free, without money. Yes, i have paid myself to talk of peace as both our countries pay their agents to destroy each other and not for peace. Destruction of peace means, both of us are doomed for ever. That is what the militants want. I am spending my time for hatred or peace, is for you to decide.
Vaneet
Maybe in your innocense but you pressed very wrong buttons.
I am hugely skeptic of PPP policies and what you wrote maybe was a genuine prospective how Indians see it.
The problem is at least I believe , PPP is persueing Indian policies in Paksitan which is bringing Pakistan under the wing of India.
Maye India does not want it and it is PPP personal agenda of survival.
The very issues you discussed in my mind I think are created by India .
This is where this dialogue becomes interesting?
It seems I have chosen the easeir option available ,believeing India is behind it when the real culprit is Zardari maybe.
Regarding Zardari,I am extremely appologetic on this blunder of Pakistan history,when the whole Nation goes to pole and becomes suicidal ?
How can we blame Talibaan?
Talibaan cannot and would not take over Pakistan.
Pakistani people have refused strict laws under Zia's Islamisation.
Farrah ji, please do introspect yourself, before making any conclusions of a person, his intentions and his motives. How can you blame India ? Did india sent the terrorists to your country to kill innocent people, like Mumbai ? Do you endorse this terror ? i am sorry, no civilsed country endorses terror. And we still call them fighters and warriors ? I dont buy that. You must condemn such henious crimes against innocent people, rather potraying them as warriors. If India would have done the same thing in Pakistan, would you and me being humans, would have endorsed it ? I dont think so. We must learn to admit our mistakes and feel proud when we tread the path of postive vibes. I am sure, no sane Pakistani would endorse such henious crimes nor would a sane Indian . You may admit or not, war is not the solution of the problem, where people like you and me would die and our top leaders would take safe havens in Nuclear free modern bunkers.
hi Vaneet
I am not glorifying Talibaan I am not threatened by them.What they did in Afghanistan ,that is Afghan problem.
People allowed their rule.
Pakistani Muslims will not allow it.
I am not endorseing any Terror,neither I am endorsing war.
Pakistan never funded LET or any Terror groups.
Majority of people in Pakistan do not like Zardari policies.We will get rid of him soon and there is peace .
One good conclusion is we are not speaking in religious terms but in political.
Politcally speaking I feel Zardari is a Puppet regime of India.
Definitely want to get rid of Zardari.This is internal politics of Pakistan
It has got nothing to do with War or Peace.
@ is Vaneet Kundra's drama saw its dropscene ?
the theatrical script, I have seen many in my life,
but the one Kundra prepared was right from the
begining too sweet and over-sugar coated.
Its all Indian bakwaas.
For the moment Patriotic Taliban is our answer to
IndoIsraeli and US ambitious zionist,
we have eliminated, 60 years old Ghaffar Khanist
Gandhist Pro-Indian ANP, now its PPP's turn,
Rehman Malik and Sherry Rehman are wanted in Fata
and NWFP.
PPP's shattered groups are menacing Zardari.
MQM is encircled, by its dissindents,
ISI, and Army which discovered suspicious telephone
calls from India taped and placed under strickt
security,(SIM) from India found in the pocket of an
MQM drunk militant at the Clifton amusement Park.
Mahashay, chanab waters will be the reason for war.
@ Vaneet Kundra,
please stop your bullshit and nonsense about Taliban.
you simply have no guts to, (you never had) reply to my
comments on Kashmir genocide, Dalits, minorities,
killings and massacres of Muslims, Christians and Sikhs
and Buddhists.! you are only worried about mumbai
attacks which were operated by Indian Col Prohit
and RAW, The gross cowdum of Mumbai dossier is returned
on India's dirty bloody face, with chanakya's ugly nose.
India is perpetrating terrorsit attacks from her
21 consulats in Afghanistan, there are Israeli bastards
and US Yankees training, financing, brainwashing,
equipping with bombs and sending them to Pakistan.
US American Army embedded in bunkars in Afghanistan
must be searched, traced and eliminated,
all of them.
Asad Bhai, This over-sugar – coated is back. Drop scene will not be there, until you say so. I was on a business tour, so could not reply back.
Let me explain, Hatred leads to more hatred on the opposite side. Both sided hatred leads to war-hysteria. War-hysteria ultimately leads to war. War is conventional first, but when conventional war is withering due to various reasons, then ultimately it leads to nuclear war. Do you think we both can afford that ? Hiroshima and Nagasaki are living examples of children being born defaced, demented and after effects of radiation, which is still there in 2 of these places, after 65 years of small nuclear bombing. Technology and nuclear heads today are much much larger and devastating. It will take centuries to make those places livable for a humans, if nuclear war takes place. Then who will be blamed for that ? Us. As we did not shed our hatred. I have scene a film on one TV channel, what nuclear war can do to destroy the human race from this earth. Who will be the winners ? None. We both will fade away from this earth forever and our generations will not be left to watch the devatastation too. So what is the way out ? please tell me. You could have a better answer.
Asad bhai, this sugar coated man is back. I will not run away, until unless, you tell me it is drop scene. I was away on a business tour,
Let me explain. Hatred leads to more hatred on the other side. Hatred leads to war-hysteria. War-hysteria, will some day lead to war. It will be a conventional war initially, but when pressures build up and you start running short of time, it will lead to nuclear war. In a nuclear war, there will be no traces left of human race. I have seen a film on nuclear war. Hiroshima and nagasaki are living examples of a small atom bomb being thrown and after 70 years, still children born there are demented. Today's nuclear arsenal is much bigger, lethal and devastating. If at all there is a nuclear war, there wont be Vaneet kundras and Asad bhais on a keyboard. There would radiation left for centuries and there wont be a word named, next generation. millions of people will die for no fault of theirs. Those who would be left, would ask for death as the areas will not be livable. Who will be blamed for that ? US. Now we have to decide what to do. You may be having better answers.
@ Vaneet,
we keep on hinting, drawing the facts and realities
to you and others, but your" taan " always drops at
an irrelevant and inappropriate vocabulary by
overapplication of the word " hatred "
its becoming boring to death, you sort of repeating
and answering the same way, there is something wrong
with you. You have repeated same contents 23 times,
you are not net. India has blocked Chenab river water,
and you talk about peace and love or blame us for
hatred ? you want me to insult you in punjabi ?
I am not interested in your peace Bakwass, I am a free
born Pakistani, and if I need to free our waters, I can
fight you inside Amritsar and will get back our waters
by force. And I believe in this process backed by all
human rights to defend my country. If there is nuclear
war between India and Pakistan, I will try my best to
stay alive if not then I will, Inshallah, take you along
with me to hell or heaven.
last suggestion:
collect all your pacifists in punjab and inform them of
our grievences, all of them, and force your elected
MNA or loksabah electeds by sending them petitions with
all the points, tell them you want peace with Pakistan
and satisfy all Pakistani revendications !
Dear Asad bhai, this is the terminology, i use when i address you. I can also use abusive lanuage, but my upbringing and culture has not taught me to to use abusive language. May be you are used to using this kind of language to anyone, even your friends. I dont even use foul language for people, whom i dont like. No point going on, as you mindset is not flexible and you can use punjabi insults, which incidentally, i dont use, being a punjabi. Best of luck. May sanity prevail on both of us one day, when we feel talking peace is our complusion.
Dear Vaneet,
I am greatly appriciative of your views. It is so much heartening to read soch a humane and noble articulation against the prevelent narrowmindedness.
Soon after the independence bigots on both side of the divide taking leave from objectivity started portrayal of themselves as innocent victims and others as horrible zombies. Most of the comments on your post are glaring examples of such biased and distorted points of view.
What happened in 1947 at the time of partition is nothing but shameful and deserves unqualified condemnation. The common people belonging to both sides had to undergo extreme sufferings in a mayhem for which erstwhile rulers and shortsighted politicians and their lackeys were responsible.
If Muslims had to leave their homes and hearths in Indian parts under those dire circumstances, Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistani part had also to do the same.
It is better that for now the positive approach is given a chance and biased elements who spew poisonous lies are countered with teuth and reconciliation so that the revolting hatred is banished and done away.
I migrated from East Panjab with my parents to Pakstan in 1947 and still carry the fond memories of my birth place where people belongining to different religions lived in an atmosphere more harmonious than what is found in tiday's Pakistan where inhabitant by and large follow the same religion.
Please continue posting views like this which are bound to win hearts and minds in the long run.
Dear Maher Elahi,
Sir. Thanks for your views. I had given up hope altogether, but you have rekindled the light of peace, which i still feel is possible, if we talk one one to one. Religion as i have already said before, is too private to be made naked. It should lie within oneself. If at all, we can talk of humanity, peace and love for each other, many of our problems can be solved. But the irony is, we all stop at one point. e.g. religion and partition history, which you have correctly described. My genuine feeling is that all peace loving citizens of both our countries should stand on a common platform and find out ways and means, how to remove our respective misconceptions about each other. Once, we are able to do that ( may take time ), peace doors from both the sides will start opening automatically. I am grateful to you for your unbiased comments and would request you keep the torch of peace alive, so that we can continue our dialogue further. Dr Awab, is probably away on a holiday and i see in him, a man just like you, who gives more importance to humanity and peace rather than religion. I wish there could be no religion. Religion should unite, not divide.
do you want to speard peace
hi vaneet do you just see the comments that they have sent ,if you want see videos on you tube by hamid and then you decide if we want to spread peace,particularly see his advice on peace between india and pakistan.
see the viedos affter the lahore attack,
there is a saying "when listeners are fool ,elepahant can fly.he is telling that elephant flies.
see is explnation that he as give on mumbai attack
he says that the attackers were wearing yellow band and muslims dont ware it and he said that they were drinking and no muslims drink because its hartam,so what does he want to say that its ok if they kill people,and dont tell me that muslims dont drink there are so many of muslims friend how drink.
he just telling what this people want to hear.so they like him.
how ever is managing this site is very smart ,it does not allow me to comment on this blog I have to use other computer and i have to use another id to comment .
I am seeing the comments for more than20 days today i got a chance to comment,
you want to spread pewace go ahead and you dont have any rights to tell me stop,cos I think these people dont deserve friendship.
after reading there blog I think what happned in GAZA and gujarat is what the desereve .
I think now i know why the world hates muslim andf they are roght in hating this people .
I know my comment will be deleted by the editor ,cause he can not tolerate peop[le sayig thruth,he wants paki to visit and i understand, its his bread and butter he is just like hamid how is making his bread and butter saying shit things about India ,if I dont reply I am afraid of you people ,its only that your editor is not allowing me to comment
PAKISTAN IS A THREAT TO THE WORLD AND ITS PEOPLE CAN NOT HANDLE DEMOCRACY ,THEY KNOW ONLY TO LIVE IN MILTARY RULE AND THEY DESERVE IT
VANEET STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO ,COS I JUST DONT CARE TO WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ,PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP ,TO THEM!!!!! HA HA HA HA HA
Dear Ram, I am told that there is moderation of comments on this blog, but if it is being done with a biased view, then i am sorry. Awab, i think moderation of comments is important to stop hatred but not in a biased manner. If you have to moderate the comments, do it judicially, not in a biased way. I expect this cooperation from you atleast. I am of the firm opinion that comments should be moderated and no abusive, foul language should be allowed. Instead of trying to make bridges, we break them, before they are made. Please moderate the comments as we are working for peace, not for hatred. If you dont want to do moderation, then let the views come from both the sides.
my comment is not deleted.Have you seen the videos of that person with verbal diahorea ,haimd tommrow if a child is born in pak he will blame on India or zoinist .
he will say that Indians are behind it,for sure there is no doubt about .pakis will like him because he tells what this people want to listen .there is a saying “when listeners are fool ,elepahant can fly.he is telling that elephant flies.he making the elephant fly
I want to share one thing and this out of the topic ,but I could not find another blog to tell this.
I am in Australia and now I want to build a house here and yesterday i went to a builder ,he is a millionaire and he is having around 20 property and it was the first time that I met a muslim who is so rich and a good business men .
I was talking some personal stuff and I asked him about is religion ,he told that he is a moderate muslim he does not drink and he told that his wife does not wear a hijab or a burqa,and she does not cover her head.He said that he could not be a successful business if he did not take loan and charged interest.he said that shirya law or quran can not be followed here and he said that he wants to prosper in life .
Jairam,
Talking about Australia, let me share one thing with you all. My brother-in-law ( Salle Saab ) stays in Dubai for the last 20 years. He is working for A govt. owned Dubai co. and is financial incharge over there. His best friends are mainly Pakistanis. They generally meet on Fridays, which is a holiday for a social gathering. I happened to attend 2 Of his parties, 4 years back, while i was in Dubai and met all his Pakistani friends. We were all socialising as good friends do, sharing punjabi jokes and laughing over it. There was no discussion on religion at all, as otherwise too, here in India, i have more Sikh friends than hindus. Why Indians and Pakistanis are best of friends, when they are out their respective countries ? Why cant they be friends across the border ? This is one puzzle, which i cant understand till today. I forgot, Once we went for a beach party in Dubai and i liked a bar-be que set which could be assembled with legs. The very next day i was presented a new bar-be-que set by his Pakistani friend. I was very touched by his gesture of hospitality. That memory is locked in my mind. How can i forget, how much all we enjoyed in Dubai ? Alas, this could happen here too !
@Vaneet how true – when you narrate a sense of friendship between India and Pakistan outside the realm of bureaucratic ranting – I too believe the sense of hatred between the two nations is kept alive by bureaucrats and the army of both sides, if there was no such battering we might even learn to coexist – Im not saying to forget the history, its been bad, but merely learn to live across the border – you live your life and i live mine – maybe once in a while a cup of chai and some jokes on the side.
But going after each others throats wont get either of us anywhere.
when they are out of their country they teand to think beyond religion ,when I say out of their country .please forget saudi ,I dont consider that human live there .
in there country they are only taught to hate others(proof see zaid hamid videos on you tube)peace can happen if they think beyond religion and they will not think beyond it they are blinded by it!
do you remember the vandematharam row in India ,do you remember why they did not want to sing.this people dont want to accept their failure ,If they accept the failure its the first step to resolving the defects in their country ,they only no to blame others
IF THEY THINK BEYOND RELIGION THEN WE CAN BE FRIENDS .
CAN THEY THINK BEYOND RELIGION?
Awab, i fully endorse your view. By getting each others throats, leaving aside friendship and peace, we tend to hate each other more by abusing and trying to outsmart the other comment. That was the primary reason, i requested you moderation of comments is important. When you read a hate comment, the other guy across the border tends to retaliate in utter nonsense and illogical manner. This leads to more hatred. But i am of the firm opinion that these kind of dialogues on net must go on on regular basis on a healthy note. Might be, being optimistic, we might forget our misunderstandings one day, when good sense prevails on us. Economy can play a very important role. When leaders of our countries will realise, how important it is to trade with each other on the basis of logistics, competitiveness and the freight factor, which is most important. I know, there are many things Pakistan gets thru Dubai which are of Indian origin and visa-versa. Once we are able to see the cost factor by exchanging our goods directly in high volumes, then perhaps, good voices from leaders from both the sides will start automatically. But one thing i cant understand is, that why we should we be at the mercy of our leaders ? They are the people who make or break the dialogue and it is filtered down to us and we start outbursting against each other. But do keep in touch and i shall too, as remaining in touch tends to solve many misconceptions.
leaders are just one part of the problem ,but the real problem is this people do not know anything except religion they take the words of that person zaid hamid and think everyone is a enemy of their religion.when you use the word peace and friendship it is alien to them,atleast for the great muslims who are in pakistan.
the paki how are out of their country are out of the influence of their leaders so they tend to be modrate,when I say out it does not Include saudi because I dont consider it a country.
@jaram!
have you ever look at the mirror?
no!
here is the mirror.
look. how disgusting you are.
http://picasaweb.google.com/dr.jawwadkhan/India?f…
ukkkkk,
ohhh, the real INDIA.
In west they think India is all like Taj Mahal. Big news ohh Tata bought Land Rover, but they can't focus on their own people…
But at the same time, Indians use the image of poverty begging rich western donors, but then they use their own money flourishing RAW and equipping LTTE.
I could not see India Today Conclave live on TV. Gen. Mushraff is right and i endorse his view that ISI and RAW should work together to get rid of root of terror. What a straight and a daring man, we both lost. Had he been at the helm of affairs, i think many of our solutions to the problems, had been on track !!
I endorse Gen. Mushraff's view. RAW and ISI must work together to get to the root of terror.
you are right he was the correct person to rule them ,this people dont know and dont deserver a democracy.
did you people how musharaf got a tight slap form a indian muslim its not only a slap to mush but to other paki's who think that Indian muslims are not safe In India .This person is a elected member of parliament .for paki how dont't know democracy beacuse they have been ruled by military more ,let me tell you he as won with a majority and he represents those people and when he is saying this it means that most of the muslim feel safe ,after gujrat riots or babir masjid riots how many muslim came to pak ,they did not flee to pak.because they feel more safe than your country ,you paki try save ur country Indian muslim feel safe They dont want to go out of India.
Here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP9JCusfje0
see this and start to think how you can save your country and Indian muslim does not want your country.
I now after this you will log on to net and find something negative of India thats fine I agree that you will get but remember that ours is a multi relgion society ,in your country people die in shia-sunni although it belongs to ONE PEACE FULL RELIGION.what a joke ha ha ha ha ha ha.
and just see some famous muslim in our country .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytK6U8k6N0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytK6U8k6N0&fe…
I wish if we could stop this accusations against each other ! MODERATION is required to stop more hatred. Oh God ! We are humans. Even animals understand the language of love. I think we will have to learn love from these animals. We are worse than any living being on this earth. If you cant make a friend, atleast dont create hatred. Just keep mum. I think, i may have gone overboard. But hatred will take us nowhere. When will we learn ? Only God knows…
I wish this people can understand the language ,they will not understand till they see beyond there religion ,
By the way pski Muslim have you seen the video about Indian musim giving some suggestion to your mush the great ,why no reply on that ?
I case if a Indian muslim had told that he is feeling insecure in India ,you guys would have commented on it ,you would say"see our muslim brother fate in India and you would have scolded what not "when the same muslim brother is telling to mind you business and try to save pak no comment why is that?
this is the real way majority of musim feel about being inIndia ,so stop worrying about them and save your country from your brother(taliban).
I think this article will be closed or my comment will be deleted ,I can under stand when you do it ,its your source of brea….
I know how the media works In pakistan so I kind of know what will happen next ,I will not be able to comment on any topics from my home computer are with the name i am using.