The common capital of India and Pakistan
-Illustration by Khuda Bux Abro.
It was not just the land that was partitioned. Hearts, minds, behaviours and emotions had been partitioned long before so the final division could be made ‘smoothly’, and it went as smoothly as expected. The ground was pulled from underneath someone’s feet, while the sky was pulled away from another’s head! Millions of people neither belonged here nor there, only those who were to lead the new states remained. The new leaders had not only been involved in dividing the state but also dreamt of ruling the new countries in the name of religion and nationalism. A single announcement managed to create a border that cannot be seen anywhere except in books, files and maps.
It was as if a wall was erected in the courtyard of a large, lively house. Those who lived and played together would sulk one moment and reconcile with each other the next. Their hearts beat together as one. If they liked a certain tune, they all sang it together. If they got drunk, they danced in harmony with each other. Their souls were fragrant with the scent of the soil; their breaths were perfumed with the same culture. But the formation of the wall of hate and treachery neither divided nor affected their breaths, their heartbeats.
It doesn’t matter whether the leaders belong to this side of the wall or to that side. They have always sowed seeds of hatred within the divided hearts of their nation in order to prevent the demolition of the wall erected within their hearts and minds so that not only their rule would be established but their sustenance is guaranteed, as well as their luxuries.
What does it matter if the people on this side or that of the wall live below the poverty line? Forget having healthcare and education, what does it matter if the people are deprived of basic needs like ‘roti, kapra aur makan’? Instead, not only did they build mountains of weapons but they also filled their own homes with the money they earned from the sale of weapons.
On one hand, both countries are atomic powers. On the other hand, they have no electricity, water, gas or petrol. We line up for CNG and other fuels; there is no electricity neither here nor there. We say it’s ‘loadshedding’ and they call it ‘katoti’. At night, their footpaths are full of sleeping, homeless people. A similar sight can be seen on our roads at night. We have katchi abadis and they have slums. Piles of rubbish litter our streets and theirs. There are armies of beggar children on both sides of the wall. But we still stand amongst the developed nations with our heads held high, saying that we are atomic powers. They stand in dhotis and we in old, torn shalwars.
-Illustration by Khuda Bux Abro.
The awam here and the janta there are stuck in the clutches of the same kind of leaders. We hear cries of “Corruption! Corruption!” from both sides of the border. They are ruled by the bureaucracy, businesspeople, politicians and the army. Similarly, we are ruled by the bureaucracy, politicians, waderas, businesspeople and the army. Everyone is related in one way or the other. The pundit rules there, while the mullah rules here. They both fear love as it were their mortal enemy. Each tells his people to follow the ‘true’ path. Each considers his path as the right one.
Everyone has their own path and destination. Your job is merely to follow in their footsteps, not think and question your leaders. Just close your eyes and follow them because it is their responsibility to take you to the destination. The revolution is on its way. We have kept walking on for the last 65 years, losing generations in the process but we still hear that the revolution is on its way.
When the talks of lessening the distances begin, steps are taken to increase the distances. Firing occurs, throats are slit or sometimes you’ll hear a blast. Then all measures announced to decrease the bilateral distances are either completely withdrawn or remain as mere announcements. The nationalist politicians in both countries begin to speak in a common jingoist language. The media in both countries lets go of all control, trying to gain higher ratings. If they could, they would bring the two armies to a confrontation or blow up both nations with a single bomb.
The public of both countries breathe, smile, laugh and cry together. Their grief and happiness are the same. Films, drama and songs are the same for both; while someone from Calcutta hums the tunes of Mehdi Hasan, someone else in Peshawar is a great fan of Jagjit Singh. Their hearts beat together. Their dreams are the same. But this wall between the two countries has been elongated and heightened instead of being shortened. Those who keep fortifying it don’t know that its height cannot prevent the winds, scents and the sounds of music and laughter from travelling across the border.
-Illustration by Khuda Bux Abro.
Poetry, literature, history, philosophy, theatre, dance and music are our common capital. How are you going to stop these? What methods will you use? The people think at an equal level and are not dependent upon you anymore. Whether it is instruments, voice, art or literature, the roads have opened for them.
The world is getting closer everyday and you are adamant on not saying hello to your neighbour.
Our children would like to benefit from each other’s developments. They wish to study and learn from each other’s teachers. The fearful atmosphere spread by our leaders has greatly harmed our previous generations. For goodness sake, let the new generations familiarise themselves with their culture, traditions, art and literature. The entire world is coming closer but we are being kept apart from each other every single day.
Why are we forbidden from knowing about ourselves? Why we are not allowed to look into the mirror? We are supposed to be each other’s reflection. Why are we being forced to look into opposing directions? Who has ever been saved by weapons? Only love can save us! Please cut the crop that you have been cultivating for the last 65 years. And just let us be.
Listen to this blog in Urdu
The author has dabbled in every form of the visual arts. An activist to the core, Abro’s work deals with social themes and issues ranging from human rights to dictatorial regimes. He is currently working for DAWN as an illustrator.
True- partition was horrible. Why dpon’t we ask those that wanted this?
Its just simply beautiful article that touched the heart.
in india there is no katoti of light as pakistan no que on gas connection nd petrol lins like pakistan
what is this obession of nuclear weapons with pakistan/india. cant be there any discussion which out mentioning nukes. no matter what subject we take there is always nukes. poverty-nukes, friendship-nukes, trade-nukes, bilateral issues-nukes, religion-nukes, culture-nukes, eat-nukes, sleep-nukes, puke-nukes.
as if there are no nukes, then automatically all the ills will just disappear. as if every paise earned are spent on nukes. they are just deterrence, and should be mentioned only on extreme national security issues.
depiction of garlanding, worshipping nukes, mentioning nuclear-armed-pakistan, nuclear-armed-india on every third word in a sentence feels so cheap and degradation of intellectual capacity of desi civilians.
i have not heard military/political men mentioning nuclear weapons as often as depected in press. atleast in india, dont know about pakistan.
Pls STOP using nuke word. Only use when relevent. For god sake…
I don’t understand the Pakistani affliction with religion. India does not have Pundits dictating our lives. What unfortunately let’s the uneducated and useless political class call the shots is our lazy attitute and the famous “politics is a dirty game, who wants to get their hands soiled”.
You are writing against Jinnah and his followers? You are writing against those who demanded to be separated from Hindu India? You are writing against those who did not see a future in Hindu India? You are writing against those who changed the Pakistani History text books so that Pakistanis can hate Hindus, Jews and other non Muslims? You are writing against those who will cease to exist if your dreams come true.
we should unite to fight our real enemies: poverty, hunger, illiteracy
I respect the intentions of this piece, however it oversimplifies the relationship between India and Pakistan , its peoples and has a rose tinted view of history. “India” or more accurately South Asia in a historical sense has never been one state (bar two brief exceptions), it has been inhabited by a myriad of different peoples under different principalities. The idea of a one India one people is a nationalist myth.
As a Muslim Punjabi living in the UK I have interacted with central/South Indian Hindu’s . Even putting religion to one side I have absolutely nothing in common with them culturally, linguistically and never have done so historically. Yes there are some superficial similarities with North Indian’s (Punjabi’s , people of UP etc) but the relationship was not always brotherly and the divorce to a large extent mutual.
It is true that politicians exploit issues and differences for their own gain; however the hard reality is that situation by the 1940′s was bleak for a range of complex factors stretching back hundreds of years. Idealism can make one blind.
Why did n’t you check with Muslims from South India and write here?.
“” “India” or more accurately South Asia in a historical sense has never been one state (bar two brief exceptions), it has been inhabited by a myriad of different peoples under different principalities. The idea of a one India one people is a nationalist myth.”"
so are all the big countries present now…
If you go for such a microscopical analysis every man is an island…even the people living in a single family are different from each other.
i agree with Mohammed apart from food and clothing ,maybe some music ,Indians and Pakistanis have no cultural connect.Each may claim his culture and religion is superior,if it is true ,prove it by showing the world which region and religion is progressive and tolerant ,which country gets rid of poverty,educate its masses and improve its standards, then that religion and country is great.
One difference. Us hindus (majority of them) dont go to the temple or follow the pundit. A majority of them would if at all visit temple a couple of times a year (at the most) and that is because they dont worship their religion. We do like it and love it but thats where is stays…we do not feel the need to congregate with the same fervor. So what is it that we do while not in temples…we are pursuing knowledge through studies, or money through a job or business. Is that really bad (I know the popular thought running through the mind is, ofcourse baniya auur kya karega)…but how does it harm anyone or lead us down a dangerous path…thats a question one needs to ask oneself
The best comment.
Nazar me rehte ho jab tum nazar nahi aate, yeh sur bulate hain jab tum idhar nahi aate
@Jagdish: Indians are not as free from communalism as we would like to believe.We need to look at our own mirror of communal riots,maltreatment of lower castes and a lot more before we realise that our notion of secularism is not as strong as we would like to believe. And as I have come to learn amongst a few Pakistani friends, homes of Pakistan are quite as secular as homes in India(not all homes on each side of the LOC though).
I speak for the majority and do not take pride in being an apologist.. I honestly believe I said nothing wrong when I said India was not created on religious grounds and is secular allowing anyone with talent to succeed.. I gave example of PM, President, Army Chief, etc.. nothing wrong in that at all.
distances do not make differences, differences make distances…
Abroji: It was hearteninng to know that someone in Pakistan thinks the way you do. More heartening to know that you can express your thoughts in DAWN. Your comparison of India and Pakistan is only partially true. One is at least trying to change; the other digging in even deeper to hold the status quo. Haider Ali in his book Duel has a statement to the effect that: In 1947 Pakistan was created as a state not as a nation. Your analogy of the wall partitioning a court yard in a family is very relevant.
Beautiful article. If we all stopped berating each other and find ways to dismantle the artificial wall of mistrust and mutual hatred, we can make progress and help each other improve lives.
I pray that happens. We all have mutual responsibility to live in peace and harmony.
If we don’t let the clergy and politician shape our thinking, their power wil erode over time. We have to starve them of their blood lines, our blind trust and suport. If we realized that the real power resides in us and not with them, our destinies will improve. How long can we live in hate and hostility. It is sapping our energies and demeaning our souls. Let us begin to think on our own, shape our own views and perspectives and collectively build the subcontinent. We have the world class IQ, let us strengthen our EQs. Let us bury the hatchet and start afresh.
Agreed with most of the sentiments expressed. One blemish might be the rule on both sides by the army. This is not true of India. While Pakistan is an extreme end of the army having unlimited power, the Indian army (unfortunately) gets very short shrift in India and has less than zero political power.
By the way, its newer generation who has nothing to do with pakistan….I dont even care what is pakistan…..Stay out in your own land leave us alone….thats all we want…No friendship ,no enemity……
There is a fatal flaw in your narrative when you say that the Pandit rules in india like the Mullah in Pakistan. No Sir, you have to look at the World after getting out of the comfortable cocoon of Religion. India is a secular country out of choice, not compulsion. The reason we Indians are secular is because we hate being told how we should live our lives, what we should wear and how we should conduct ourselves by religious leaders of all colours. Secondly, India is not ruled by its Army who cannot decide the policies of the country or give direction too. We prefer to have it that way — Army Chief will report to the Defense Secretary who has to report to the Defense Minister. The Government frames rules of conduct for all Army personnel, which have to be strictly followed, talking to the Press is not allowed, nor can the army decide its own budget and every rupee of the Tax payer has to be audited. Gen V K Singh the last Army chief was removed from his post and his retirement benefits seized for trying and playing to the gallery.
India is a country with a glorious past that all Indians are proud of — after the British looted the wealth and ran the task is to rebuild it brick by brick and reclaim it with hard work, sincerity and determination. All those who share common goals can join hands or we respect them for wanting to go their own way. We would not like to copy others but would rather adopt best practices from experience. Obstacles will come but they will be crossed with fortitude and dignity.
How true. Love you my brother
Sorry to say but india has changed a lot in last 1 decade….. would have been possible in previous century but now its not acceptable to indian public …. infact it will give sleepless nights to indians if such idea is ever considered by india…..pakistan image has taken a deep dive in mind of indians and world as a whole ….
I’m shattered to hear that.
very nice to read this kind of sentiments
Another masterpiece by Khuda Bux Abro. I want to add another thing to your list of similarities between India and Pakistan i.e. diseases. Throughout my life as a medical student I read books by British and American authors except one subject i.e “parasitology” written by an indian author Mr. Chatterji. The reason was very simple, the prevalence of these parasitic diseases is almost same in India and Pakistan.
Unfortunately the people like you are shrinking at a rapid pace in both India & Pakistan, because of lack of literacy proper knowledge and guidance given by our institutions.
People are not so intellectual today because 99% of them are either hungry or striving throughout in meeting their basic needs
Again i will say political leaders are responsible for that.
I wish that people to people take the actions irrespective of the leaders.
Back to humanism! Could not agree more. Very well written, right from the heart – and far away from calculating and cheap politics that has been going on both sides of the border. We want a change, we want this subcontinent to flourish. We do not have any more patience or any thing left for the medieval wadera-system. WE WANT CHANGE NOW! Vote for Imran Khan, our last and only hope!!!
That’s the spirit! Agar awam ekta chahti hai,to duniya ki koi taqat use rok nahi sakti!
Ekta for what?? does the world not know how the pakistanis ate their minorities, and how the population of minorities decreased from a double figure in percentage basis to 2% as per the latest census. Do you think that many number of people just vanish into thin air??? non man with common sense would like to have any +ve relation with these folks.
Umesh:
I really wish and hope that both Indians and Pakistanis will realize that we are playing the game set by the British rulers before they gave us independence. They used the mutual distrust and competition between Nehru and Jinnah to divide a nation that was genetically and culturally one people with different religions.
I think both Indians and Pakistanis have proven the British right – Only the Brits could rule united India. I hope in the future both sides will realize that we are culturally and many other ways very similar. All this nonsense of pakistanis being of Arab descent is sad. Hope they look at themselves in the mirror and realize their true origins. Until then, there will be some form of crisis or the other. Everyone needs to know their roots in order to feel complete.
A civil request to everyone – Please refrain from abusive and foul language. We are in the 21st century. Unless you want to prove that the brutes left some of their offsprings behind.
Anush
Similarly, we are ruled by the bureaucracy, politicians, waderas, businesspeople, the army and those who have clothed themselves in the mantle of the Edwardian Englishmen. Each mini messiah tells his people to follow the ‘true’ path and puts stumbling blocks in the path of the others.
I like the article but it has over simplified the situation by trying to equate India and Pakistan all the time. For instance – India was not created on lines of religion as mentioned in the article.. No Pundit rules in India.. all religions are equal and anyone can become the PM, President, Party Leader, Army head, Captain of the Indian sports team, etc…. we are the same people … but the world sees India as more liberal in views, advanced and accepting of differences
Well that is a truth which needs strong modifications! So I don’t agree with you, but let us not end up in the same old trap. Dear awam on both sides, we want the same bright future for our children so lets stand together. Enough is enough.
You are welcome to disagree. But I do not want to generalize and reduce facts just to be agreeable.
Yeah, Instead of Pakistan, USA must be compared with India…
Sir, aap azeem hain.
@Jagdish: you nicely described the ‘Principles’ of India but is it also ‘reality’ of India?
The reality of India is there were ZERO Hindu Terror attacks in India, in a population 1/6th of Humanity(1.3 Billion) in 2012. For the same period I can name 50 Islamic Terror incidences in the same time period for the Muslim world(1.4 Billion).
Please check world opinion about India? For every gujrat like incidents, there are several instances of communal successes in the last 60 years…muslims are more free in India to practise their faith ask a Ahmediya, Shia, Bahai, Bohras, Sufis, Barelvis, Deobandis …Christians, Paris, Sikhs…they are all part of the Indian mainstream..
“All religions are equal”….so are we to forget the Mumbai and Gujrat riots in which innocent Muslims were murdered based on their religious beliefs, while the authorities stood by and watched the slaughter.
A Muslim PM or President is just a pipe dream. It is a fact that Muslim areas are impoverished and underfunded when it comes to education and employment. I think the words “advanced and accepting of differences” is still a long way off for this democracy.
Before that entire train filled with Hindus were killed, next Hindus to Muslims. Not one sided. Our justice system punished both side people.Understand it. Justice takes time as they do not want to punish innocent. India truly system works and system improvement is going on. Do not make false predictions sitting on other side.
The community that invests in education and peace are most economically secure. Even in UK and US, Indian community is more prosperous as a community due to its hard work and investment in education. For every Gujrat there are a million success stories.
These riots you mentioned are just few dark spots in the history of India. But such riots and bombings make history of Pakistan. Every day pakistan news is full of bombings and killings. Not a day goes by where one religious/sect/ethnic/ideologic group massacres/bombs other religious/sect/ethnic/ideologic group in pakistan. You conveniently forget these facts.
Only Muslim areas are impoverished and under funded? I can show you equally impoverised and under funded slums/areas where other religious people live in India. Do you know the history of Indian prime ministers and presidents? Do you know how many of them were from minority religions? Hint – our current prime minister is from a minority religion. You must get your facts right.
Please worry about the status and situation of muslims in your country. What is the life Muslims living in Pakistan facing bomb blasts and begging IMF every day ? Are you a self appointed Khalifa of Muslims ?
Substance is more important than form!
Look at the underlying issues as a sociey and take the Bollywood spectacles off!
Sour grapes
Listen to Mr Jagdish’s blog. Similar are my thoghts too. Emotionally written, but we are miles apart. India is not a theocratic state. Pakistan was not supposed be one either, according to its founder. But look what it has become or has been made by those who inhereted Pakistan. It is a sad commentry on the two nation theory. For proof, read Mr Khuda Bux Abro’s article. Is it one nation or two nations ?
Please don’t compare the two. India has left Pakistan in dust bowl a long time ago.
I agree whole heartedly.
anyone can become the PM…. plz give chance to anyone from Muslim populace of india
one had already served as President… and if there is another, he will get a chance… wait and watch.. so far Indians havent seen any one in the likes of Mr.Kalam !!
well a muslim has already been the president of the state earlier(APJ Kalam) and inshallah one day another muslim will be PM of the state… sabke aakhon ka nishaan, mera pyara hindustan… long live INDIA.
When I will have the majority in lok sabha, I’ll be the PM
I dont think indians have problem in electing Muslim prime minister but unfortunately they are wary that he will create one more partition. Muslims in India still attached to jihadi Pakistan unfortunately (not the intellectual pakistan), I still see majority of them celebrating openly wins of pakistan cricket team against India. Check with your muslim friends in cities like hyderabad and Mumbai. Check their comments in dailies like siasat. I would love to see leaders worthy of trusting but we see only fools like owaisi. People like MJ Akbar, Javed akhtar are well respected. President APJ Abdul Kalam was mobbed like a rockstar by 1000s of postgraduate scholars in a delhi conference. Produce if capable one secular leader whom hindus can trust, who has worked for the development of india from grass roots instead of playing to the gallery of muslim fanatics, I dont think Hindus will have problem with it. In their history they never bothered about the religion of king. But Muslim kings took it as weakness of native hindus and they had a problem with hindu religion. Probably every religion person except muslim religion can become prime minister of current India. I feel Muslims in India want to bring their own muslim brother as Prime minister not by trust but by rapidly multiplying and voting enbloc. which is the truth. Go and see yourself how many kids neighbouring hindu has and how many kids muslim has. If hindu has two muslim has 3. That is the firm undeclared belief running among them.
Yes.. let an eligible guy come forward.
Jagdish, you are absolutely right. The problem is that most Paksitanis do not want to acknowledge this one fundamental difference between our two nations. The Chief Justice of India is a Muslim and so is the chief of Intelligence Bureau. The Army chief is a Sikh, the Air Force is headed by a Christian, our PM is a Sikh and the Defence Minister is a Christian. We have our problems with the narrow mindedness among the more old fashioned and conservative elements. However, 60% of our population is below 40 years of age and they don’t care what religion or sect you belong to as long as you are a patriotic Indian. We take pride in that fact as we are unique among developing nations to have that kind of diversity and still continue to be a democracy and a secular country.
Do you mean to say that Muslims were the ones demanding independence from Hindus? Not the other way round? I am afraid you’re right.
I appreciate Mr Abro’s emotional sentiments. The question is how can we let bygones be bygones! Lessons have to be learned from history….not forgotten. A very pertinent analysis in Maulana Abul Kalam’s book (in the 30 odd pages which which were held back and now released) results in this conclusion that the Cabinet Mission Plan was turned down by Congress (after it was accepted by Muslim League & the Congress) when the respected Indian statesman Pandit Nehru became it’s President in 1946. There were definite communal undertones in this decision within Congress….this was the time in history when the majority community should have shown statesmanship and should have honored the agreement. Pakistan is now a vibrant reality and will come out of it’s current triáls and tribulations and eventually be even stronger and these two neighbors will have to be friendlier and the historical ties among it’s people will be revived.
Yes, even “liberal minds” think that wall was erected by both sides, so that they can be equated. obviously ‘liberlas of other side are not as liberal buit conditioned but wish to be presented as liberals. Fact is at the time of independence, true democratic leaders even muslims like Maulana preferred India. Kahn Abdul gaffar, never digested the idea of pakistan, becuase he was true patriotic. It is handful of people who wanted to encash the opportunity to become political masters by fooling people on name of religion. Effects of such Sham country are visible to everyoner in full galore, howeverr patriotic ego of these liberals is blinding them from the truth.
And the race begins to prove which country is better then the other…
Mistaken. Not country(India would win that hands down in that too), but idea of the country, the system. Secular, Democracy trumps over Islamic Republic all the time.