shukla_swapnil
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To Mods: I was not sure where to post this so decided here. Kindly move to the relevent section if incorrect.
It has always been heartening for me to observe the relationship we (Indians) share with our neighbors from across the border, the similarities and differences we share. This perception is in no way different to so many other things that we share. We dance to the same tunes; we wear similar clothes, have similar family values and speak the similar languages (or dialects of it). Apart from these visual similarities there is again something deeper that we share. We have the same thought process, same patriotic instincts and the same love for our countries. We think more emotionally than rationally, we shape our perceptions based more on belief than logic and these are the things which make us so different when it comes to our opinions. Yes opinions are something which we never share because our views are always biased. No, it is not intentional we are just born and brought up like that. Both of us have a pre conceived notion of everything being in black and white being a truth or a pile of lie of rights and wrongs. I believe the truth is somewhere in the middle in the murky grey area out there.
Never in our dreams can we accept to be wrong or even for that matter misguided, especially in front of each other. I feel incidents like these are a sign for us to start reflecting on everything in a fresh light and I don’t think it’s ever too late.
To solve any problem we first need to identify and accept it. Then only can we move ahead towards a solution. I am an Indian and have better understanding on things on my side so I’ll try to focus on the shortcomings within. Unless we accept them I believe it’ll be very hard to move on.
Lets start with the time where it all started - The Partition.
Several million people forced to leave their land, livelihood and all their material possession is purely inhumane and killing these helpless people who were undergoing the trauma of relocation is not only cowardly but also inhumane. I can never come to terms with the philosophy of "They started it" because if you are doing the same you are just as bad in fact even worse because you know what trauma you are inflicting on others. It is extremely wrong and insensitive and this might be the biggest understatement ever made.
After that India's attempt to play the big brother is also not worth defending in my views. Pakistan was born an independent nation and it had to be meted with the same treatment that every nation deserves.
The BIG K – Kashmir
Kashmir is an issue I tried to read up a lot upon and there are hardly any unbiased views available. Even most of the western observers seem to carry the burden of unmentioned and deep-rooted bias. I believe that if the people of Kashmir were offered a freedom of choice it should be delivered. I am not commenting on the feasibility of the option the presence of military and other issues which the more I read upon the more I find myself confused and closer to where I started my quest. I can not comment on – How exactly it should or could be done because neither do I have the means or the information to make that decision. My only issue is that if today I maybe need a loan and I keep my property on mortgage, and later the bank takes away my right of paying back the loan to acquire the property back even if I am incapable of returning the loan, I would feel cheated.
Then comes the issue of religious inequality.
However hard we claim, we Indians have always had this differential treatment in our society. I personally have several Muslim / dalits / Christians etc as friends and I have seen in my own family that the prejudice exists. Not eating at a Muslim friends' place or a minor thing like keeping a separate cup for my kaamwali to drink tea in. If we really want to eliminate the prejudice then a beginning has to be made at a grass root level as well as in the top. I will agree that as a community Muslims will not fare much better than dalits in India and that is a failure of our government. Again I would not go into the intricacies of their beliefs and their own wish to not be a part of the mainstream is the cause. It is not that every Muslim is treated as a second rate citizen. No they are treated at par with others but somewhere a large segment of Muslims have been marginalized. For that matter, my personal belief is that not only Muslims but even Dalits and poor from any caste creed or religion should gain from the advances made by the nation. This problem of unequal development does apply to Muslims and dalits but its not unique to them.
Now some incidents from recent history, which I have personally observed.
Babri Masjid demolition was another shameful act and in a pragmatic world it does not deserve any defending. Even if it was previously a Hindu worship place I do not think that any god would be pleased by seeing bloodshed of hundreds do make a place of worship. Now today even if there is a Temple or mosque made there, will anyone feel comfortable in praying at a place where several people bled to death? Is it a big enough cause to die for? If the place with temple and a mosque could co-exist for several years why could it not in the future? Does it not appear to be very similar to what the Talibans did in Afghanistan by demolishing statues of Buddha?
Gujrat Riots and its treatment was also a major blot in Indian history and will always remain so. The fastest developing state of a emerging nation replayed barbaric incidents from the dark ages. The loss of human lives and suffering can not be over emphasized. Again the “They started it” syndrome kicks in and lame justifications do not suffice in my judgment. Another failure of government to control an issue.
Blaming Pakistan for each and every misdeed in India is also beyond me and I think senior officials should be more careful / cautious in making accusations and the sole purpose should not be to gain cheap political brownie points. Incidents like Mumbai would have extracted much better response from Pakistan if they were more judicial in making earlier accusations. We can not deny that there are groups of people within India which are dissatisfied and can take up violence. How can we forget that Dawood Ibrahim was born and brought up in India only and we failed to nip him when his illicit activities were in a budding stage? The Major Purohit is another case which if not addressed now, can cause serious damage later.
Now about Pakistan, I think although I am not qualified to comment, but the primary problem I have with Pakistan is that they interfere and bother too much in internal operation of another country. I’d hold tem equally responsible for the Partition chaos and Kashmir Problem. But my personal concern does not lie with Kashmir. Honestly speaking I could not care less. I can just laugh at the cheesy lines that “Doodh Maango Kheer Denge Kasmir Maango Cheer Denge”. But the problem is that even if (And it’s a big IF) India decides to compromise or even dilute its position on Kashmir, everyone here feels insecure about Pakistan’s role in moving this model to other regions. India is a huge nation and there are several groups who do not want to be part of mainstream. They may or may not represent the majority but if Pakistan lends them a hand like it did in Khalistan, it can become a major headache for India. This lack of trust is a major deterrent in resolving the Kashmir issue.
Also Pakistan Instead of worrying with its internal issues feels a little too concerned about global Muslim community. Nothing wrong with being concerned about your community, but just that first sort out your internal matters first. The number of Muslims killed in Gujrat would be much lesser than those killed within Pakistan in these bouts of Suicide bombings and terror killings.
Before being concerned about the state of muslims in India they should sort out the matter with several millions in Pakistan who are living below poverty line and I am not just speaking about Hindus and Christians there. Actually state of muslims in India should not be a part of discussion between India and Pakistan as it’s internal matter of India and same goes for Babri Masjid.
Finally Pakistan also has to exit the state of denial and accept the presence and influence of home grown terrorists. This will make not only Pakistan but the region itself a much safer place. I will quote the most recent example of Lahore incident where the Sri Lankan team were offered a “Presidential Security” and ended up like a goat in slaughterhouse at the mercy of terrorists. Thank god it was not the actual Sri Lankan President who was there under Pakistan’s Presidential security. And immediately after the incident instead of focusing on catching the culprits or scrutinizing the lapse in security, most are focusing on the invisible foreign hand. I find these accusations and counter accusations immature and silly.
I have made these comments based solely on my personal opinions and views and I have not quoted any source of material as this is what I think. I think they will be taken with a pinch of salt by Indians as well as Pakistanis on board. We may feel bad about it but it’ll be hard to deny it.
I hope we can lurch in the Grey areas of our respective country to find the real problem and a solution.
Solution will not be found by people who will look at the past and say you did it, it will only be found by those who look at the future and say I’ll do it.
It has always been heartening for me to observe the relationship we (Indians) share with our neighbors from across the border, the similarities and differences we share. This perception is in no way different to so many other things that we share. We dance to the same tunes; we wear similar clothes, have similar family values and speak the similar languages (or dialects of it). Apart from these visual similarities there is again something deeper that we share. We have the same thought process, same patriotic instincts and the same love for our countries. We think more emotionally than rationally, we shape our perceptions based more on belief than logic and these are the things which make us so different when it comes to our opinions. Yes opinions are something which we never share because our views are always biased. No, it is not intentional we are just born and brought up like that. Both of us have a pre conceived notion of everything being in black and white being a truth or a pile of lie of rights and wrongs. I believe the truth is somewhere in the middle in the murky grey area out there.
Never in our dreams can we accept to be wrong or even for that matter misguided, especially in front of each other. I feel incidents like these are a sign for us to start reflecting on everything in a fresh light and I don’t think it’s ever too late.
To solve any problem we first need to identify and accept it. Then only can we move ahead towards a solution. I am an Indian and have better understanding on things on my side so I’ll try to focus on the shortcomings within. Unless we accept them I believe it’ll be very hard to move on.
Lets start with the time where it all started - The Partition.
Several million people forced to leave their land, livelihood and all their material possession is purely inhumane and killing these helpless people who were undergoing the trauma of relocation is not only cowardly but also inhumane. I can never come to terms with the philosophy of "They started it" because if you are doing the same you are just as bad in fact even worse because you know what trauma you are inflicting on others. It is extremely wrong and insensitive and this might be the biggest understatement ever made.
After that India's attempt to play the big brother is also not worth defending in my views. Pakistan was born an independent nation and it had to be meted with the same treatment that every nation deserves.
The BIG K – Kashmir
Kashmir is an issue I tried to read up a lot upon and there are hardly any unbiased views available. Even most of the western observers seem to carry the burden of unmentioned and deep-rooted bias. I believe that if the people of Kashmir were offered a freedom of choice it should be delivered. I am not commenting on the feasibility of the option the presence of military and other issues which the more I read upon the more I find myself confused and closer to where I started my quest. I can not comment on – How exactly it should or could be done because neither do I have the means or the information to make that decision. My only issue is that if today I maybe need a loan and I keep my property on mortgage, and later the bank takes away my right of paying back the loan to acquire the property back even if I am incapable of returning the loan, I would feel cheated.
Then comes the issue of religious inequality.
However hard we claim, we Indians have always had this differential treatment in our society. I personally have several Muslim / dalits / Christians etc as friends and I have seen in my own family that the prejudice exists. Not eating at a Muslim friends' place or a minor thing like keeping a separate cup for my kaamwali to drink tea in. If we really want to eliminate the prejudice then a beginning has to be made at a grass root level as well as in the top. I will agree that as a community Muslims will not fare much better than dalits in India and that is a failure of our government. Again I would not go into the intricacies of their beliefs and their own wish to not be a part of the mainstream is the cause. It is not that every Muslim is treated as a second rate citizen. No they are treated at par with others but somewhere a large segment of Muslims have been marginalized. For that matter, my personal belief is that not only Muslims but even Dalits and poor from any caste creed or religion should gain from the advances made by the nation. This problem of unequal development does apply to Muslims and dalits but its not unique to them.
Now some incidents from recent history, which I have personally observed.
Babri Masjid demolition was another shameful act and in a pragmatic world it does not deserve any defending. Even if it was previously a Hindu worship place I do not think that any god would be pleased by seeing bloodshed of hundreds do make a place of worship. Now today even if there is a Temple or mosque made there, will anyone feel comfortable in praying at a place where several people bled to death? Is it a big enough cause to die for? If the place with temple and a mosque could co-exist for several years why could it not in the future? Does it not appear to be very similar to what the Talibans did in Afghanistan by demolishing statues of Buddha?
Gujrat Riots and its treatment was also a major blot in Indian history and will always remain so. The fastest developing state of a emerging nation replayed barbaric incidents from the dark ages. The loss of human lives and suffering can not be over emphasized. Again the “They started it” syndrome kicks in and lame justifications do not suffice in my judgment. Another failure of government to control an issue.
Blaming Pakistan for each and every misdeed in India is also beyond me and I think senior officials should be more careful / cautious in making accusations and the sole purpose should not be to gain cheap political brownie points. Incidents like Mumbai would have extracted much better response from Pakistan if they were more judicial in making earlier accusations. We can not deny that there are groups of people within India which are dissatisfied and can take up violence. How can we forget that Dawood Ibrahim was born and brought up in India only and we failed to nip him when his illicit activities were in a budding stage? The Major Purohit is another case which if not addressed now, can cause serious damage later.
Now about Pakistan, I think although I am not qualified to comment, but the primary problem I have with Pakistan is that they interfere and bother too much in internal operation of another country. I’d hold tem equally responsible for the Partition chaos and Kashmir Problem. But my personal concern does not lie with Kashmir. Honestly speaking I could not care less. I can just laugh at the cheesy lines that “Doodh Maango Kheer Denge Kasmir Maango Cheer Denge”. But the problem is that even if (And it’s a big IF) India decides to compromise or even dilute its position on Kashmir, everyone here feels insecure about Pakistan’s role in moving this model to other regions. India is a huge nation and there are several groups who do not want to be part of mainstream. They may or may not represent the majority but if Pakistan lends them a hand like it did in Khalistan, it can become a major headache for India. This lack of trust is a major deterrent in resolving the Kashmir issue.
Also Pakistan Instead of worrying with its internal issues feels a little too concerned about global Muslim community. Nothing wrong with being concerned about your community, but just that first sort out your internal matters first. The number of Muslims killed in Gujrat would be much lesser than those killed within Pakistan in these bouts of Suicide bombings and terror killings.
Before being concerned about the state of muslims in India they should sort out the matter with several millions in Pakistan who are living below poverty line and I am not just speaking about Hindus and Christians there. Actually state of muslims in India should not be a part of discussion between India and Pakistan as it’s internal matter of India and same goes for Babri Masjid.
Finally Pakistan also has to exit the state of denial and accept the presence and influence of home grown terrorists. This will make not only Pakistan but the region itself a much safer place. I will quote the most recent example of Lahore incident where the Sri Lankan team were offered a “Presidential Security” and ended up like a goat in slaughterhouse at the mercy of terrorists. Thank god it was not the actual Sri Lankan President who was there under Pakistan’s Presidential security. And immediately after the incident instead of focusing on catching the culprits or scrutinizing the lapse in security, most are focusing on the invisible foreign hand. I find these accusations and counter accusations immature and silly.
I have made these comments based solely on my personal opinions and views and I have not quoted any source of material as this is what I think. I think they will be taken with a pinch of salt by Indians as well as Pakistanis on board. We may feel bad about it but it’ll be hard to deny it.
I hope we can lurch in the Grey areas of our respective country to find the real problem and a solution.
Solution will not be found by people who will look at the past and say you did it, it will only be found by those who look at the future and say I’ll do it.
