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.
Independence day greetings to our friends in India
Thank you for these messages.
Those of us who believe in peace and goodwill have to fight the hawks and hate mongerers in our own country much more than in the other. But I am sure things will change and we will come to see as Gandhi and Jinna saw each other==as people who disagreed but not as enemies.
Happy Independence Day to Pakistanis too.
What a stupid post. I rarely read such non sense posts on ATP. @Adil Najam, what are you trying to do here, you want us to read three posts before reading this one… perhaps this is a very important post to you.. but to you only! Before writing, did you forget what did they do alst year on Mumbai attacks?
Just wake up and live in reality, Gandhi and Indians, they back stabbed in Jinnah times when they made allainces with Britishers and the history is full of their hypocrisies. They can NEVER we our (Muslims ingeneral and Pakistanis in particular) friends. These indians, these hypocrites!
As you bravely presented your view, let my post be there. It’s just a response to your “love and sympathy for india”
Happy Independence Day India.
I am and will remain a proud Pakistani and wish all my neighbors well. Always.
Greetings, India.
Midnights child@
I do sincerely agree with Your statement, that it can indeed be a state of tranquility
(-and not only the often cited Utopia),
if we someday, if not our generation, then our children`s generation can be living amongst and amidst each other, I mean Pakistan, Bangladesh and India.
-and why not in an interwooven silk-appearence made of organza-silk (just kidding), in the same manner as Scandinavia.
I myself am living in Scandinavia and I can say this much;
where can you elsewhere in the world , see the primeminister on his bicyclette , and top-academics not even have money to buy a descent car ? yes here!
And generally a plummer earns more than a doctor.
But its a process , to be endependent , and set targets for where we will be aiming with our PROJECT : Pakistan ,
and we have to facilitate this by contributing.
I do have to say to my fellow humans of Indian attachement ; Congratulations with this day of independence from this adam.