Peace in the Subcontinent: Bitter Truths

Indian subcontinent is a ‘nuclear flash-point’, it has an ‘epicentre of terror’, and this part of the world has faced multiple wars, insurgencies, separatist movements, terrorist incidents. It is also one of the most heavily populated land masses in the world. The countries here are faced with chronic hunger, deprivation, malnutrition, poverty, child labour, infant mortality and many more ills. In spite of all these malaises, the two nuclear armed nations have drawn themselves into a dirty and never ending arm race at the cost of the social wellbeing of multitudes of their disadvantaged citizens.

Bitterness and acrimony is rampant, in fact, it has infected the outlook, approach and very being of both the nations. Everyone is being carried away in the storm of hatred and animosity. It seems like; they have been afflicted with a curse of ever-lasting, self-subsisting and self- consuming rancour.

In these swift currents of murky water, is it asking for too much, to hope for at least few people with enough courage, judgment, sanity and integrity, who can cast away the prejudices, break the never ending circle and think squarely?

Unfortunately, as in the case of many of such kind of problems, this problem too is afflicted by extreme of opinions from pseudo-enthusiastic to prophecies of doom. For some this is only a political and diplomatic problem, for few others it is a communal problem, yet for others it is a religious problem. But few saner voices talk out of the box.

We were one nation and one people not long ago, sharing common destiny, fighting common enemy, sharing a common dream of independence, of prosperity, of dignity and progress. But alas these very dreams were turned into nightmares, closest of friends became blood- thirsty enemies of one another. What went wrong and where exactly?

These and many more such questions should be brought forward and a healthy discussion should be encouraged so that a proper understanding can be reached and a proper solution proposed. But our endeavour in these few lines below is to look into this problem from a fresh perspective, from a different angle. From the point of view of Indian Muslims, who have witnessed (and unfortunately many times suffered due to) these acrimonies.

Why were we divided? What were the promises and apprehensions of the proponents and opponents of partition respectively? After six decades, where exactly we stand now? What has been gained and what has been lost in this period of turmoil? Is there any road back? Is there any chance to reflect and to introspect?

Only thing which divided us is the bitterness between the two communities, unknown fears of each other, mutual suspicion of one another, lack of trust and hidden ambitions. All the problems we faced before partition, during partition and after partition are due to these diseases. And we will remain divided as long as we remain hostage to the bitterness and insaneness which divided us.

And once that bitterness vanishes the idea of Pakistan as a separate homeland for Muslims to escape from the dominance and hegemony of Hindus will collapse and the dream of Hindu ultranationalists to push this land back to the Vedic periods by giving a little land as a ‘homeland’ to some Muslims, assimilating some others and intimidating the rest will be shattered. Once the bitterness vanishes, the partition loses its relevance.

Even if the “K” conundrum is solved, the problem of water is solved and all other tangible and vexed issues are sorted out, the conflict will remain and the bitterness will go on, until the reasons for the partition of this nation are revisited.

Many see partition of British India as a partition of a land mass. Hindu ultranationalists, or better call Hindutvawadis, see it as cutting into pieces of their holy motherland. In reality the partition of British India was the partition of subcontinent’s Muslims. Muslims of the subcontinent were ‘partitioned’ into three unnatural compartments: The Eastern compartment, The Central compartment, and The Western compartment.

Initially the eastern and the western compartments were made to believe that they are but one compartment, but very soon they realised that they are not one.

This compartmentalisation cannot be compared with the European nations or any other region, because this is an unnatural division. Nations in Europe are naturally divided either on the basis of geography, language or culture. But the partition of British India was done on neither of the above natural factors, but on the basis of religion. But it is a crude irony that the only thing which ultimately got divided in South Asia is: the very followers of the same religion into three blocks. And the spoils of the partition were also divided among these three compartments in an unnatural manner.

The eastern and western compartments took away fortune, power over some land but at the cost of its heritage. They could not and will never be able to take away with them the monuments of Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Charminar, Gol Gumbaz. The lovers of Sufi saints will never be able to take with them the tombs of Khaja Moinuddin Chishti, Nizamuddin Auliya and others. The Deobandis and Barelawis of the east and west compartments will always be looking poignantly towards Deoband and Bareilly, but will never be able to uproot and carry these places along with them. And similarly the educational elites will not be able to take Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia and Mirza Ghalib with them. Many Tablighis went there but their Markaz remained here. You think over this matter from whichever angle you wish, you will never ever be able to draw some sense, some naturalness and spontaneity in this division. It is like a child separated from its mother. How long such a separation will last?

The central compartment bequeathed the heritage but with little fortune and no power—struggling to preserve that heritage from the enemies hell bent on destroying it. The biggest immediate losers apparently were the Muslims of the central compartment, rendered lame and sick following this division and yet they have to shoulder an immense responsibility against innumerable odds. But if we look deep into this matter, the whole of South Asia or in fact the whole world is the loser.

Kashmir and water are only symptoms of a deep malaise; the real problem is neither political, diplomatic nor religious. The real problem is fundamental. The Muslims of this sub-continent should realise that this division is unnatural and in fact suicidal for them. The Hindus should understand that Muslims are an integral part of the rich and composite culture of this beloved nation, and that they cannot wish away their history, their contribution, their cultural influence, their sacrifices, their existence and their legitimate right over this common homeland.

Magnanimity of the majority community and pragmatic approach of the minority community is the only way by which the decades old bitterness and acrimony can be washed away, so that our Nation gets the benefits of the best of both cultures. If we succeed in doing this, the world will see with its own eyes, the emergence of a new super-power.

These are the bitter truths and realities we don’t want to lend our ears to. It is devoid of spice and flavour to entertain, but chronic ailments are never cured by candies, it requires bitter pills.Handcuffed to History-----------a reply We were one nation and one people not long ago, true, but we will remain divided as long as we remain hostage to the bitterness and insaneness which divided us. And once that bitterness vanishes the idea of Pakistan as separate homeland for Muslims to escape from the dominance and hegemony of Hindus will collapse and the dream of Hindu ultranationalists to push this land back to the Vedic periods by giving a little land (homeland) to some Muslims, assimilating some and intimidating the rest will be shattered. Once the bitterness vanishes the partition loses its relevance. Even if the problem of Kashmir is solved, the problem of water is solved and all other tangible and vexed issues are sorted out ,the conflict will remain and the bitterness will go on, until the very idea of the partition of this nation is revisited. Many see partition of British India as a partition of a land mass. Hindu ultranationalists see it as cutting into pieces of their holy motherland. In reality the partition of British India was the partition of this sub-continents’s Muslims. Muslims of this sub-continent were ‘partitioned’ into three unnatural compartments. The eastern compartment, the central compartment and the western compartment. Initially the eastern and the western compartments were made to believe that they are but one compartment, but very soon they realized that they are not one. This compartmentalization cannot be compared with the European nations or any other nations, because this is an unnatural division. Nations in Europe are naturally divided either on the basis of geography, language or culture. But the partition of India was done on neither of the above natural factors, but on the basis of religion. But it is a crude irony that the only thing which ultimately got divided in South Asia is: the very followers of the same religion into three blocks. And the spoils of the partition were also divided among these three compartments in an unnatural manner. Handcuffed to History-----------a reply We were one nation and one people not long ago, true, but we will remain divided as long as we remain hostage to the bitterness and insaneness which divided us. And once that bitterness vanishes the idea of Pakistan as separate homeland for Muslims to escape from the dominance and hegemony of Hindus will collapse and the dream of Hindu ultranationalists to push this land back to the Vedic periods by giving a little land (homeland) to some Muslims, assimilating some and intimidating the rest will be shattered. Once the bitterness vanishes the partition loses its relevance. Even if the problem of Kashmir is solved, the problem of water is solved and all other tangible and vexed issues are sorted out ,the conflict will remain and the bitterness will go on, until the very idea of the partition of this nation is revisited. Many see partition of British India as a partition of a land mass. Hindu ultranationalists see it as cutting into pieces of their holy motherland. In reality the partition of British India was the partition of this sub-continents’s Muslims. Muslims of this sub-continent were ‘partitioned’ into three unnatural compartments. The eastern compartment, the central compartment and the western compartment. Initially the eastern and the western compartments were made to believe that they are but one compartment, but very soon they realized that they are not one. This compartmentalization cannot be compared with the European nations or any other nations, because this is an unnatural division. Nations in Europe are naturally divided either on the basis of geography, language or culture. But the partition of India was done on neither of the above natural factors, but on the basis of religion. But it is a crude irony that the only thing which ultimately got divided in South Asia is: the very followers of the same religion into three blocks. And the spoils of the partition were also divided among these three compartments in an unnatural manner. The eastern and western compartments took away fortune, power over some land but at the cost of its heritage. They could not and will never be able to take away with them the monuments of Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Charminar, Gol gumbaz. The lovers of Sufi saints will never be able to take with them the tombs of Khaja Moinuddin Chishti, Nizamuddin Auliya and others. The Deobandis and Barelawis of the east and west compartments will always be looking poignantly towards Deoband and Bareilly, but will never be able to uproot and carry these places along with them. And similarly the educational elites will not be able to take Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia and Mirza Ghalib with them. Many Tablighis went there but their markaz remained here. You think over this matter from whichever angle you wish, you will never ever be able to draw some sense, some naturalness and spontaneity in this division. It is like a child separated from its mother. How long such a separation will last? The central compartment bequeathed the heritage but with little fortune and no power—struggling to preserve that heritage from the enemies hell bent on destroying it. The biggest immediate losers apparently were the Muslims of the central compartment, rendered lame and sick following this division and yet they have to shoulder an immense responsibility against innumerable odds. But if we look deep into this matter, the whole of South Asia or infact the whole world is the loser. Kashmir and water (RAW, ISI and Separatism) are only symptoms of a deep malaise, the real problem is neither political, diplomatic or religious. The real problem is fundamental. The Muslims of this sub-contitnent should realize that this division is unnatural and infact suicidal for them. The Hindus should understand that Muslims are an integral part of the rich and composite culture of this beloved nation.They cannot wish away their history, their contribution, their cultural influence, their sacrifices, their existence and their legitimate right over this common homelandHandcuffed to History-----------a reply We were one nation and one people not long ago, true, but we will remain divided as long as we remain hostage to the bitterness and insaneness which divided us. And once that bitterness vanishes the idea of Pakistan as separate homeland for Muslims to escape from the dominance and hegemony of Hindus will collapse and the dream of Hindu ultranationalists to push this land back to the Vedic periods by giving a little land (homeland) to some Muslims, assimilating some and intimidating the rest will be shattered. Once the bitterness vanishes the partition loses its relevance. Even if the problem of Kashmir is solved, the problem of water is solved and all other tangible and vexed issues are sorted out ,the conflict will remain and the bitterness will go on, until the very idea of the partition of this nation is revisited. Many see partition of British India as a partition of a land mass. Hindu ultranationalists see it as cutting into pieces of their holy motherland. In reality the partition of British India was the partition of this sub-continents’s Muslims. Muslims of this sub-continent were ‘partitioned’ into three unnatural compartments. The eastern compartment, the central compartment and the western compartment. Initially the eastern and the western compartments were made to believe that they are but one compartment, but very soon they realized that they are not one. This compartmentalization cannot be compared with the European nations or any other nations, because this is an unnatural division. Nations in Europe are naturally divided either on the basis of geography, language or culture. But the partition of India was done on neither of the above natural factors, but on the basis of religion. But it is a crude irony that the only thing which ultimately got divided in South Asia is: the very followers of the same religion into three blocks. And the spoils of the partition were also divided among these three compartments in an unnatural manner. The eastern and western compartments took away fortune, power over some land but at the cost of its heritage. They could not and will never be able to take away with them the monuments of Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Charminar, Gol gumbaz. The lovers of Sufi saints will never be able to take with them the tombs of Khaja Moinuddin Chishti, Nizamuddin Auliya and others. The Deobandis and Barelawis of the east and west compartments will always be looking poignantly towards Deoband and Bareilly, but will never be able to uproot and carry these places along with them. And similarly the educational elites will not be able to take Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia and Mirza Ghalib with them. Many Tablighis went there but their markaz remained here. You think over this matter from whichever angle you wish, you will never ever be able to draw some sense, some naturalness and spontaneity in this division. It is like a child separated from its mother. How long such a separation will last? The central compartment bequeathed the heritage but with little fortune and no power—struggling to preserve that heritage from the enemies hell bent on destroying it. The biggest immediate losers apparently were the Muslims of the central compartment, rendered lame and sick following this division and yet they have to shoulder an immense responsibility against innumerable odds. But if we look deep into this matter, the whole of South Asia or infact the whole world is the loser. Kashmir and water (RAW, ISI and Separatism) are only symptoms of a deep malaise, the real problem is neither political, diplomatic or religious. The real problem is fundamental. The Muslims of this sub-contitnent should realize that this division is unnatural and infact suicidal for them. The Hindus should understand that Muslims are an integral part of the rich and composite culture of this beloved nation.They cannot wish away their history, their contribution, their cultural influence, their sacrifices, their existence and their legitimate right over this common homeland