Adil Najam
Today is August 15. India’s Independence Day.
ATP sends all Indians sincere and heartfelt Independence Day greetings and the very best wishes.
Here at All Things Pakistan, we have carried a special post on this day every year.
Very consciously, the posts we have carried on this day over the last three years form a trilogy of imagery: our post in 2006 sought to revisit our imagery of our past (here), in 2007 we highlighted the changing imagery of India-Pakistan relations in the present (here), and in 2008 we called upon our readers to re-imagine our visions of the future (here).
We would urge our readers to please revisit these posts if you have a few moments before you read on (click on the three images above, or here, here and here).
In very real ways, it is the image of the past, present and future of our mutual relations that have always and will always define how we view each other. Let me, then, simply repeat excerpts from this trilogy of posts on how I choose to view these images.
Here, then, is just a part of what I wrote three years ago (read full post here):
As a Pakistani I am in debt of Mr. Gandhi for the stand he took in trying to halt the horrible carnage that followed partition. Paying the ultimate price for that stand. My understanding is that the very first time ever that the Pakistan flag officially flew at half-mast was at Gandhi ji’s death. All government offices in Paksitan were closed in mourning of Mr. Gandhi’s death.
Mr. Gandhi probably disliked the idea of Pakistan more than any other Indian political leader; because he could not bear seeing his beloved India divided. On that bit, I disagree with him. But, once the deed was done he also recognized that the death and violence which followed was too high a price to pay for that disagreement. So much so that he was willing to put his own life on the line and go on hunger strike to stop the carnage. For that alone, I will always respect and admire him.”
But we can remain in the past for only that long. My post two years ago revolved around two pictures: young girls with flags of both India and Pakistan painted on their faces. These faces were images of hope and aspiration to me. Hope and aspiration that was worth celebrating. This is part of what I wrote two years ago (read full post here):
My post last year was again based on a particular photograph. Men in uniform – border guards at that – embracing and exchanging mithai. Symbolic it may be, bt how poignantly symbolic. I have updated that picture from the same ceremony at Wagah this year. Here is part of what I wrote one year ago (read full post here):
Tomorrow matters. And actions on both sides of the border today will determine what our tomorrows will look like. Our shared goal must be to create a tomorrow that is peaceful. A tomorrow that is just. A tomorrow that is friendly. A tomorrow that is prosperous. For both of us.”
Today, the fourth time I write this post, my image of the past, by sense of the present and my aspirations for the future remain what they were then. Sincerest Independence Day greetings to India today.
May the best hopes of both Mr. Jinnah and Mr. Gandhi come true for both our nations. May all our futures be good futures.
I wish the best of everything to both India, and Pakistan, and let us not forget Bangladesh. We are all parts of an ancient whole, with too much shared history and heritage, and too much shared pain. I hope and pray that one day our grandchildren if not ourselves, can live together in an atmosphere of cooperation and harmony as is enjoyed in the Benelux countries and Scandanavia. The soldiers exchanging mithai and the girl with the two flags are Inshallah the faces of the future.
Happy Independence Day India. Love A Pakistani.
PS Dr. Najam thanks for posting that picture of Jinnah and Gandhi.
When walking out in 1944 meeting, Gandhi put his arm around Mr. Jinnah. By the time they came out Gandhi had taken his arm off. So Mr. Jinnah turned around and told Mr. Gandhi I’d like to be photographed with your arm around me.
Hence the picture. It must be remembered that though contemporaries and rivals, Gandhi was a decade older than the Quaid. Jinnah would have turned 72 and Gandhi 79 had they both lived through that year in 1948.
Thank you for these thoughts and wishes.
May we all learn to live in peace and co-existence.
Happy Independence Day to All Indians Friends.
Have a great day and many more.
Shakeel
Excellent writing.
I also wish India best wishes. there are too many people in both our countries who can only see negative and then make the negative actions of the others the excuse for their own negativity. Let us rise above this and make both our countries prosperous.
Happy Independence Day to all India.