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.
Adil Sahab, kha-ma-kha ka punga kyoon laitein hain? Abhi woh waqt nahi aya. Facebook par kiya haal hua is post ka? Ganda hua na Pakistan aik baar phir. Hamaray log sochtay nahi keh kiya bolna chahyay. Aap to soch saktay thay.
One sided love and one sided friendship never make any difference.
In past(at partition time) when Molvis “opposed” Pakistan and preached about United India then they were called traitors and anti-partition elements but today when so called intellectuals aka liberals talk about “Kissing up” India then they are called peace lover. How ironic is that,isn’t it? Now I don’t know “Molana” Abul Kalam Azad is a “Mullah” who opposed Pakistan or a person who talked about “spreading love” between Muslims and Hindu.
I am not sure what the facebook page is all about but let there be no doubts that people from both nation enjoy a very good friendship.
Living in Europe, I witness, on daily basis, Indians and Pakistanis working side by side, living in the same house, paying the rent together and cooking for each other .. They help each other in any way they can.
If that was not proof enough, then let us remind ourselves of the 2004 Cricket series between the two countries. There are many many stories of friendship on that tour alone – Pakistanis Taxis refusing to charge their Indian clients, hosts not charing to their guests, invitations to all kinds were offered to Indians fans. The same feeling was repeated in the 2005/06 Indian tour of Pak team (although, BCCI had only offered a very small number of tickets to Pak fans) but still, the friendship was there.
What more proof does one need? I say, enough of falling in the trap of terrorists, extremists, narrow minded idiots and Politicians. Let’s tell them all that we are not fools and cant be taken for a ride anymore.
We needed to make a demon of Jinnah… Let’s learn from our mistakes’
Q&A: Jaswant Singh
Business Standard / New Delhi August 17, 2009, 0:51 IST
http://www.business-standard.com
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh
Hi,
As a Pakistani, have you ever thought that there is dire need to apologize for the Bangladesh genocide in 1971?
Do you think it was fair for a whole nation to suffer like that?
If you don’t have an idea about the 1971 genocide, please update yourself here: http://www.genocidebangladesh.org/