So why it is important for us to learn history and to look at the past critically? That question is always important, must be asked and replied again and again so that no one forgets what is there in past for us, and how can we make progress by learning from the past. I was looking on comments by a friend on facebook, on occasions of 62nd independence day of the subcontinent; he has talked about Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and his thoughts on creation of Pakistan. Several people have commented on his thoughts and I was just reviewing them, there is much to observe in those comments, it tells a lot about how we pakistanis react when we face challenges to our commonly accepted beliefs.
Fact is that there are very few controversies in history like the partition of India, it is surrounded by so much conflicts, confusion, hatred and blood that it is not easy for any one to look at the events transparently. The states who came into being after the partition, continued the tradition of hatred and controversy which added into the complexity and truth became the last priority in saving the interests of states, parties, faiths and sects.
Question is that why shall we seek to clear the blur picture of partition of India? why is it important for us to understand the factors behind the drama of partition? and why it is important for Pakistan and Pakistanis? Those who have argument against my friend, insist the same that it is useless to raise questions, that past is past and Pakistan is a reality, that we must not cast a doubt on the history we read about Pakistan. Another common sentimental reaction is to ask how much sacrifices we have made for Pakistan? If we talk about Pakistan with caution, if we want to debate about its history, we are not worthy Pakistanis. Another dangerous trend is to divide the scholars and leaders based on their association to that of Congress or Muslim League etc.
Partition of India set the base of a rivalry between India and Pakistan, which can only be addressed if we analyze what happened in history; which events, situations, sentiments, motives and interests lead to rising communalism in India and ended up on partition. If we figure out those root causes of the conflict, we can better address them on a common ground and hence we can lie the foundation of a peaceful future and we can look out to solve our conflicts. It is not necessary that history repeats itself and we continue the mentality of war and hatred.
So it should be clear that it is necessary for us to ask what happened in past and try to understand it, so that we can improve. We at present are raised up with believes that all hindus are our enemies, we justify our wars with India based on same theory, we always feel insecure because of same theory of communalism, we think only we have right to live, we think all those who live on the other side of border are not humans, we think of them as enemies, not like fathers, brother, mothers, sisters, sons and daughters they are, we never think of them like us. We forget that there is a muslim population almost equal to 138 million in India. We have been told to hate Indians, so that we can keep quite on ridiculous expenses on defense, so that we do not object on the status quo in Pakistan, so that things can remain in same way they are. Think about your problems, and if you are willing to solve them, you will have to ask questions, you will have to cast doubt. Things can never be isolated, events are related to each other, so without past we can not trace our present problems, hence we can not solve them.
And those who talk about sacrifices, I think, to ask question, to raise doubt and voice against accepted beliefs is the biggest sacrifice. It is not easy to stand away from the crowd. And it needs courage to say no, one has to pay the price and face isolation, rejection, and sometimes hatred and brutality as well. We must welcome those who can ask why........
Now I come to the third dangerous trend, as Pakistanis where shall we classify Gandhi, Nehru, Jinnah or Azad? Was Gandhi can be simply confined to the status of just simply a congressman? or Nehru or Azad? Was Jinnah just a communalist? an advocate of muslim separation from India? I am sure history is not that simple, and these personalities can not be simply confined into their political association only. These people were much more than simple politicians. Azad was a Islamic scholar of repute, a linguist, a writer, a philosopher, then he was a congressman. Gandhi was an inspiration for the world, he lead a mass movement in an India which was largely divided, uneducated, undisciplined; he gave India a hope, a hope to rise again, he was not just a politician. So was Jinnah, a secular moderate who was inspired by Renade, Gokhle and Feroz Shah Mehta, a Lawyer of unprecedented reputation, a leader of hindus and muslims, who later chose a path which was never ideal for him but he was forced to opt for it, he was never happy for the 'moth eaten Pakistan' he got. he was too a leader of India, not just muslims or Pakistan. All those leaders were leaders of India, a far bigger and united India than we can imagine.
Analyzing historical events that are related to your present and future is one thing and regretting the very birth of yourself is a totally different thing. While I agree with the former, I am totally against the later. Pity the nation who regret its very own birth. Go out and die alone !
ReplyDeleteI don't know which "we" you are talking about, but the people I interact with have none of the believes which you've rant in your post. None of us believes we are the supreme race, cast, state or country. Every human being is equal.
You talk about the expense on armed forces which is staggering high. Yes, I agree with you. But what about the rest of the budget? which goes to to the feudals, politicians and the elite lot of Pakistan? I didn't read any thing on this from you? why this half truth? my stance is if we have a patriotic government in charge of the affairs than we should review the defence budget otherwise in a setup where every single person is leading the way in corruption, it will be a suicide for our nation. We need to invest heavily on the education, health, industry and research sections. Yes, but give us a guarantee first that the defence budget cut will indeed used in these areas and not the lavish lifestyles of our elites. The moment we have a crystal clear governance in place the very moment I will be raising my voice with you, side by side, on the defence budget spending. But, before that, don't even think about it !
In the last, the leaders of the pre-partition time. As far as Gandhi and Nehru are concern, they should be put on trial along with Mount Batten, Richard Cliff, other senior british officers of his royal majesty and the Sikh leadership of that time, because they are responsible for brutal killing of thousands of muslims.
Like Maulana Azad, there "were" Ulema who were against the creation of Pakistan and there "were" Ulema who support the creation of Pakistan.
Please notice the emphasis on "were". Past tense.
Now, "ALL" Ulema support Pakistan and are ready to lay their lives to protect Pakistan. No one is against Pakistan. Not a single one !
What lesson we learned from this? there was a difference in opinion in the past, but once Allah gifted us Pakistan, we forgot all that has happened in the past and now we are one, working day in and day out for the betterment of this Pak Sarzameen.
Does that mean those Ulema who were against the creation of Pakistan were "sinners"? No ! they have very valid arguments and there was a scholarly difference of opinion between them. But once, Pakistan came into being, they all join their hands to work for "their" homeland. Great people ! I must say.
"Ulema now support Pakistan" can not justify "Ulema were against Pakistan"; Every Pakistani now has to work within framework of the country, hence no one shall be termed against or in favor of Pakistan, and that is not the reason when we critically look at history, objective is not rejection of the country or its existence, but to analyze the events which resulted in partition of once our own country India (do not, never forget there are muslims in India, it is third or fourth biggest muslim populated country in the world). We shall look into ways to find means of peace and unity, and that unity is very necessary for this whole region and its people, for only in peace we can find prosperity. Hence we must see what were the factors which resulted in partition, and the root causes. Whatever be those root causes; ignorance of Congress, or stubbornness of Muslim league or a wish to create a Hindu land, sense of fear in minorities, British objectives etc. We learn from mistakes to protect ourselves, you can burn your hand willingly by fire once and perhaps only once, I am sure in ordinary circumstances no one can repeat it. Once you know how fire will affect you, you will always try to protect yourself from it.
ReplyDeleteAzad had a point, and that point is still valid, Shahi Masjid is still present in Dehli, only difference is that I am not allowed to visit it.
My ancestors are buried on the other side of border, I still have my people there, may be we will die without seeing or knowing each other. Our ancestors lived for around thousand years together, how we become two separate nations in just 100 years of British?
You will not accept it, but Jinnah wanted to retire into his Bombay house (Sri Prakash, son of Bhagwan Das a friend of Jinnah; wrote in his book. He was appointed first high commissioner to Pakistan)