Coexistence with India – II
This blog is part 3 of a four-part series that attempts to understand the enemy within; and why and how our establishment has fed this monster for decades.
See Part 1: Coexistence with India – I
See Part 2: Coexistence with the world
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All medieval conquerors were basically predators; they lived at the cost of the people they conquered, appropriating their resources, which naturally antagonised the subject people. Muslim rulers, after the first four caliphs, used the Islamic doctrine of Zimmitude generally to their worldly benefit.
Rulers can win their subjects’ respect, even their affection, with their wisdom and justice. After many atrocities and crimes against their Indian subjects the British were able to leave India as almost friends, and no hostility exists today between them and their former subjects because their leaders and people confessed their crimes; they agreed to leave; and they left many gifts of value like modern learning, religious tolerance, systems of governance, constitutional democracy, science and technology.
Unfortunately, unlike the colonial capitalists of Europe, our ancestors had very few benefits to offer to their Zimmis in India which could endear them to their subjects. Added to it was the religious pride of our ulema that believed in the supremacy of Islam and flaunted it without a semblance of courtesy or hesitation. This only antagonised the subject people ever more deeply and necessitated perpetual use of force to maintain Muslim rule. In order to nourish the fighting spirit of the soldiers and common Muslims, ever more pride of faith and ever deeper contempt for reason was injected into their psyche through the ulema and clergy. The principle of equal human treatment of the Muslims and non-Muslims remained alien to their rule.
The absence of positive performance was compensated with boastful pride of the ability to destroy. That is perhaps an inherited attitude when our orators in Pakistan proudly talk of what we destroyed: our ancestors destroyed Indian idols and kings followed by the recent smashing of the peaceful Buddha; recently we destroyed the Soviet Union, we have pushed America to disaster, we shall destroy India, Europe and every system of “Jahiliah”, including our own systems and people in Pakistan and Afghanistan. This mindset hardly ever asks: what did we create or build?
We, as a nation, have gradually lost all respect for science and scientists; we have substituted research with conspiracy theories; we boast of our nuclear build-up, which is again an ability to destroy, not defend, an ability stolen from heretics without learning the science that creates it. This shortcut mentality, to escape science and invention, is an expression of our lazy, self-righteous pretensions. To bury the guilt, our power hungry ulema expects us to admire a scientist, a nuclear opportunist who admires the Taliban, and hate the real scientists of the world as heretics.
It is, therefore, natural for our people with this mindset to support the monster when it destroys Pakistan and the world with the banner of Islam in its hand. Self-righteousness is the dismissal of humility; it jams our ability to objectively appreciate merit, so that the virtue and merit of others never attracts our attention. Bragging of our own virtue and merit grows louder as our record of performance dips. This dichotomy of practice and pretension paralyses judgment and kills the resolve to make amends.
Ever since Independence, our governments and army leaders propagated the easy excuse that India aspires to annex Pakistan to realise an ancient Hindu dream of “Greater India”. But was this view realistic? Is it an exclusively Hindu dream? The fact is: Muslim rulers and the ulema also desired Greater India. They had endeavored hard for centuries to rule the whole of India; many times in these seven centuries they tried to hold Afghanistan with one hand while holding Bengal with the other. Ever since 1947, our generals and leaders have tried to grab Afghanistan and hold Bengal by force. Our lions and eagles still dream to destroy Bharat and make it a Muslim colony again.
Thus, it was natural for the ancient people of the subcontinent to dream of a united India even if it was no more possible. Long before the Muslim conquerors, India had Ashoka, Kanishka and Harshwardhana who ruled large parts of India with no less glory than the Muslims did. It was hardly anything abnormal if some nostalgic sons of the soil wished to restore their past glory in their own land, while the majority did not share the dream. Hindus have lived in this land for more than 4000 years with a deep sense of belonging. On the contrary, our Muslim ancestors came 1000 years ago and did not develop a sense of belonging. They did not assimilate or integrate with the people they ruled, keeping their identity as foreigners, with loyalty to the holy lands of Arabia. The British also ruled as foreigners but they did not demand a part of India like we did; they agreed to leave India while we did not, although we declared that we were not Indians. Our self-righteousness so limits our sense of justice that what we practice with great pomp and show, seems hateful to us if others desire it.
Justice and honesty demand that facts be examined before we accept or reject a claim. The facts did not verify the claim that India aspired to annex Pakistan or a part of it. Although a limited right wing of Indian politics threatened to avenge the wrongs of history, yet that mood never dominated India. On the contrary our opinion makers and the ulema on this side of the border kept pushing up on mass level the hype to conquer Kashmir and hoist our flag over the “Red Fort”.
It is difficult in Pakistan to state the fact that India did not annex Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka or another dependent country. It did not annex Bangladesh which achieved its separation from Pakistan purely with Indian Army action. The wars which we claimed as Indian aggression on our eastern border were later exposed as our own initiation. These are facts that embarrass our claims of persecution.
To be continued…
The author is a renowned Pakistani intellectual. His Urdu books Tehzeebi Nargisyat and Mubaalghe, Mughaalte are widely regarded as the revival of critical thinking and free inquiry in Urdu non-fiction.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
In earlier decades, and even when private TV channels happened, it was easy for governments to bury opinions, to paint facts as it suited them. Before internet, and particularly social network and websites like Dawn happened, we mostly accepted whatever our government and internal media fed us. Now the duplicity and lies of politicians are easy to see, when true information is readily accessible on the web. Maybe the web deserves a peace prize for that.
One thing I have noticed is that there is a tendency in at least a few Muslims to see themselves as being different from the rest of the population of the subcontinent. Different from the population they invaded, and even from those they converted. Even if purity of line has been maintained after living in the subcontinent for at least a few centuries, there is something wrong if a sense of integration or belonging to the land is missing. The idea that a certain population group is somehow better than others still persists in this day and age almost everywhere.
Read history…Jinnah and others tried their best for undivided India.Only that minority should have their basic rights.
Jinnah was in Congress till 1930 or so. When diiheartend he left for UK….Finally in Congress meeting an interval of 10 minutes for prayers was not allowed and Zafarali khan Editor Civil militory Gazzete left Congress.
When they cannot tolerate Dalits(scheduled caste…an insulting name) and Sikhs….the muslims who ruled(not as muslims but Afghan dynasty)for 1k yrs were a disgust(touch and wash hands.
Wish and Pray that both sides have sense to create such a relation which may allow them to live like a Family!!!
India my mother land but facts….
soul searching article.Congratulations.
Dear Sir, to counter your claims many will always say that muslim ruler would have converted whole of India to islam had they wanted to, but its not true as the rulers were self indulgent and came to rule only maintaining their root in foreign lands. The truth shall prevail.
This article deserves to be framed and added to history books – it is the first time a Pakistani writer has captured how Indians look at Pakistani policies and wonder why people don’t realize the facts as they are instead of perpetuating hatred.
Very factual and commendable article originating from Pakistani intellectual. Hope other Pakistani intellectuals, fair minded mullahs & Pakistani Army Generals realize this & convert or eliminate narrow minded fanatic terrorists in their own country & cooperate with neighboring countries to achieve that.
Great article indeed. One sad truth which is exposed here is also the fact that India has lacked the spine and ambition to be a great nation. While is it largely peaceful, it also had poor foreign policy and international relations. It has only survived the 1000 years of foreign rule because of sheer luck.
The fact that India did not conquer Sri Lanka,Bhutan, Bangladesh and Pakistan (possible in the pre nuclear world) also speaks of the non ambitious attitude of the wider Indian society.
Indians are too busy in making a living (includes all religions hindus,muslims,skihs,christians,budhists,jews,jains etc) No one has time to quarrel over religion.
This is also not by design but by luck.
Please visit India.I will like to hug you,embrace you and touch your feet nay wash them out of respect and admiration as you stand as a torchbearer of truth,peace and reconciliation.
Feel euphoric that at last some utterly rational thinker and neutral researcher has taken the bull by its horns for the author exposes the right wing propaganda resonated both in India and Pakistan of vanquishing each other by force or otherwise.Salute you for admitting if India were at all ambitious it would have easily annexed Bhutan,Nepal or to the least Bangladesh.
cant wait to see the 4th part! … keep up the good work ..
well said but I still believe its too late for Pakistani ppl – they live a life which is based on falsse idenitty. they never accept the facts you wrote.
Thanking all those officials of DAWN who have made this article published as well as the author, who is able to present this truth, and hope this flame of truth spreads to the entire country, so that we Indians will be proud of a great neighbour.
Sunil
again propaganda by pak media, these r non sense issues u r talking about
” On the contrary, our Muslim ancestors came 1000 years ago and did not develop a sense of belonging ” What is the basis of your stating this ? What was the muslim percentage in the subcontinent 1000 years ago ? The sub-continent has almost half a billion muslim which exceeds the total population of all the countries as you go west upto the Arab peninsula. To achieve this a sizeable majority of these countries would have shifted here. There was never such a huge migration recorded in the history of civilization.
our ancestors ………Dear You have forgotten one thing that….People of Pakistan are not Mugals….They are ARYANS like we Indian.In Indian subcontinent all muslims are converted muslims,The convertion was done by Mugals.
Please check your DNA if have any doubt.
But overall good article.Keep it up.
I think the author should write articles such as these in Urdu papers so. That bulk of the society reads and understands , rather than better educated Englisg literatis! Don’t underestimate the thinking ability of common man.
If he does, he might be killed by the beasts of burden of false pride.
i hope this article will enlighten the masses and give the righteous path to the new generation of pakistan….best…
Hats off to this author for his (worth reading article) i hope this article could be read by the people of Pakistan, I can see you as good example of real Pakistani who has a courage to be on his real thought, there is a great potential in people of Pakistan but the only threat is their own politicians who don’t want to stand on their feet but to depend on other country, give chance to your own people don’t be depended this is the only way for Rise of Pakistan. i can only wish best of luck to the brothers of pakistan
This is the best article that I have read on dawn.com. It takes a lot of courage to say what the author said especially in an intolerant society like Pakistan. Hats off to you sir. Pakistanis should realize that their ancestors were not arabs but Hindus who were forced to convert to Islam and did so to save their lives. Unfortunately today they seem to hate their original culture and have become slaves to the same arabs who forced their ancestors to convert. Give up hatred and violence against Indians.
Dear Raj,
May I point out that by wording out so outlandishly, you are yourselves becoming a victim to this hatred that the writer is trying to soothe. Chill man!!! Let us decide whether it was a forceful conversion or not. Lets just read this article objectively and analyse.
I do appreciate and congratulate the write for being so honest about this issue. However, I do not agree with all that he has to say.
That is how a civilized world should be like. Respect other’s opinion, only accept what you think is right and have your own.
Agreed 100%
Disagree 100%.
One of the best and intelligent article by any Pakistani intellectual .Tones of Mubarkan to Mubarak
Sir! I would like to put some other thoughts which has long been there in my analysis. Whatever the political authority and self styled leaders of the countries may decide, the intelligentsia, today’s youth which is liberated and free whose voices here are the real concerns of the layman of both countries. You have stated about the 3 schools of thought in Pak on India. The 1 wants a war with India. Ñobody wants a war here in India Sir save for self-preservation. The much hyped gazwa hind is mutual annihilation and nothingelse. Have they ever thought what would happen to countless women and children. Do they ever think about it. Ño. Because they are and will always be safe. Ì was reading about that Balkan war. Ì shivered. There the village s were turned to rape and slaughter houses. Ìf ever a war in real sense of the term happens the generation will be destroyed. Á group of mad dogs with their venomous rhetoric want to destroy a 4000 year old civilization. They want a genocide of 150 crore people. Sir! I pray you and all others who are reasonable to create awareness against the fanatics who are hell bent on making a wound gangrene instead of healing it with love and care. May Truth be always victorious.
How someone called “Barbie” taken seriously ?
Very interesting, honest and thought provoking article. Amidst the voices of hate and anger against India, a real gem of analysis and objectivity. I have to admit, I disregarded the existence of such thinkers and analysts in Pakistan. There is hope for co-existence of a peaceful nature between the two countries since this type of writing takes away the need to compete or put one another down.
This author can whitewash whatever he wants but that does not change the facts of life, the dark truth about India. India has taken no action towards peace. All of India’s actions predicate war.
I am not pulling things out of the air like the author. We professionally study, analyse, and debate what India does. The conclusion is clear: India is preparing for preemptive Total War.
Think?….thought?….you can?