When national struggle for independence began in the subcontinent, the contention of British colonial officials and intellectuals was that the Indians were not yet politically mature to govern the country and hence not ready for independence. To achieve independence, the Indians must first learn the art of administration and diplomacy.

The Indians justified that their past was a testimony to their excellent political experience and performance for instance the Indus Valley Civilisation and the planned cities of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa. It was further argued that they had built the great Mauryan Empire whose leading intellectual Kautilya had produced Arthshastra, an excellent treatise on statecraft and diplomacy. The Indians were proud of the Mughal Empire which had not only united India but left behind a rich cultural legacy.

Unconvinced by this debate, the British  believed that the present day generations were no match to their ancestors. They lacked talent and innovation. Their vitality and intellect declined with the passage of time making them backward. Max Muller, the famous scholar of Sanskrit  used to advise his students not to visit India as the decadent condition would disappoint them.

The British excluded the Indians from administration and bureaucracy, recruiting them as clerks since they were not considered worthy of being appointed at higher posts. The same policy was adopted in the army where the Indians could not go beyond the post of subaltern. It was only after the partition of Bengal in 1905 that the Indians were gradually allowed higher posts.

In this process, the Muslim community remained far behind in learning and failed to compete with other communities. They suffered social, cultural and political degeneration, took refuge in religion and the glories and grandeur of the past. Aloof from innovation, they preferred to live in their own isolated world.

On the other hand, the British introduced modern European institutions to make India civilised and governable. However with the passage of time, the nationalist movement against colonialism became strong but the Muslim community contributed sparingly.

After the Second World War, the British were exhausted, but still not ready to depart from India. The Conservative party was not prepared to be deprived of the “the brightest jewel in the crown”.

“I have not become the King's First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire," Winston Churchill famously declared in 1942. He was racist and held the Indians in contempt, convinced that in case of independence they would ruin their country. He argued against granting freedom to India and Pakistan. "If India is granted freedom, power will go to the hands of rascals, rogues, freebooters; all leaders will be of low caliber and men of straw. They will have sweet tongues and silly hearts. They will fight amongst themselves for power and India will be lost in political squabbles. A day would come when even air and water will be taxed.” He wrote these words 64 years ago and we have certainly worked very hard all this time to prove him right.

After Independence, the Pakistanis are proud of their past, eulogise those who conquered India and also trace their greatness to the rise of the Umayyads and Abbasids. Actually for them, their past is a heavy burden.

The rise and fall of civilisations and nations is the regular feature of history. Generations of declining nations do not inherit the same qualities and talents of their ancestors. After the fall of the mughals, there was degeneration and decline of innovation and intellect in the subcontinent. The Muslim aristocracy deteriorated morally and lost its credibility.

According to the official version of history, Pakistan came into being as a result of ‘struggle’ which is not entirely true. To obtain a country was not a great achievement, the real task was how to build it and govern it. In this respect, the morally corrupt ruling classes miserably failed.

Churchill predicted the dark future of India. After partition, the subcontinent was divided into two parts: India and Pakistan. The Indian leadership defied Churchill’s prediction and is on the path of economic development. In Pakistan, the ruling classes are proving him right through corruption and by plundering the country’s resources.

Every year we celebrate Independence Day with official elaboration but sadly, each year we find more corruption, decay in moral values, and terrorism in the society. Does August  14 bring any hope or happiness to the millions people of Pakistan?