Dil Se

Military rule in Pakistan with an interregnum democratus interruptus regime a while, reinforces the view that the emotive engrossment verging upon a separate nationhood aside, it would remain a far-fetched fantasy to consummate the craving of masses that it proclaimed and procreated itself for. Half century down, the people fed on liberal Khaki have themselves instead developed an appetite for it and courtship with democracy has been seldom and far in between, dictating a nudge from the boot time and again. Can democratic rule ever take ground in Pakistan and would it be apropos each time for the army to pledge the proletatariat ever-alluding optimism of a prosperous, secure, and content nationhood? In fact, it was the Muslim population within the heartland of India who had felt strongly for a separate identity, a people turned Mohajirs within the land for which they left their home and hearth behind, many of them falling victim to the mayhem and bloodshed enroute. The Muslims who were left behind are thankful to The Allah to be spared a perpetual turmoil and restlessness.

Population of mixed denominations are prevalent the world over without much perceivable incompatibilities. Why then the pre-partitioned nation got hiccups when it came to co-existence between Hindus and Muslims. The grandeur of Mogul Empire of the medieval period on one hand and creation of Hindustan of an ancient era by majority of Hindus on the other were contentious issues the then leaders could hardly cope with or failed to show up the will to do so. The movements that evolved on religious lines crystallised into two-nation theory, one for each of the two communities on which Jinnah and Nehru rode to power. If it were not for a call by Mahatma Gandhi for Muslims to stay back, religious bigots would long have achieved what they set out for.

With the impending thaw in relations, lot many intellectuals from both sides have made assertions through media, factual, wishful or mere fantasy, offering wise counsel as the problem gets complicated, intertwined and intractable. No one appears to give thought that Kashmir purported to be the core issue, happens to be a mere manifestation of an issue that is based on religion and as a prolonged festering sore, threatens to wipe out the entire body of South Asia. Hindus with ancient mind-set and Muslims with medieval perceptions, continue to weave make believe dreams rallying around the gone by years Population of mixed denominations are common the world over without much conceivable incompatibilities. Why then the pre-partitioned nation got hiccups when it came to living in harmony between Hindus and Muslims? Nehru notwithstanding his dubbed secular credentials, failed to offer a rightful place for Muslims under the sun and decades of Congress rule bear testimony to this fact. The Congress at the time as the only viable party in the field had the necessary acceptance to swerve the opinion of the masses and has therefore much to answer. Jinnah was an autocrat but a known secular, yet took umbrage under Muslim League. The secular credentials of Gandhi and Abdul Gaffar Khan fell inadequate to the force of religion.

What kind of Ishwar would it be that controls trillions of galaxies, yet falls short to reign in Muslims on this tiny mother earth who don't believe in Him. And what kind of Allah or God would it be that have no sovereignty on the Hindus or Sikhs? The Almighty Entity that pervades the Universe and Non-Universe is seen through saffron, green or coloured eyes and ultimate salvation is alas questioned through its various routes. If this is not sightlessness of soul, what else is? Haven't we heard of ' Ishwar Allah tero naam, sabko sanmati de Bhagwan'? 'Rab' for all Punjabis, though a Persian derivative, transcends between Allah and Bhagwan.

As an Indian, I assure my fellow-beings in Pakistan that Hindus are more at tranquility with the Muslims here than are the inhabitants with the Mohajirs, across. Man has ever been endowed with traits that could be good, bad, or ugly where an individual, group, or the entire populace could be pitted against the other. Anger warps our vision to locate any attributes that The Almighty might have endowed upon the other.

When Pakistanis speak for Pakistan, why don't they equally speak for Muslims across the border that are in a number, larger than them? People to people, even today a Punjabi Hindu is closer to a Punjabi from Pakistan than a Keralite fellow Muslim. Punjabi features, accent, language or customs or for that matter people from any other region, can be identified but it would not be easy to identify them through religion. And what commonality has a Pakistani with an Irani, Afghan, or closer home, a Bangla Deshi? The movement for Pakistan had started from the heartland of India but problems of contiguity gave them the present borders. More legitimately, Pakistan should have weaved its way through the Indian veins. There were Punjabi Muslims who held Hindus back and assured them safety to the peril of their lives. There are Muslims in Malerkotla; the Sikhs would despatch to Pakistan only over their dead bodies. There are Muslims with Hindu names and Hindus with Muslim names. There are surnames that are shared by both Muslims and Hindus alike. Before partition, barring Quran and Agni, as a testimony to the Nikah or Shadi, each ritual and custom in Punjab was same. What if Kerala with its bulk population of Muslims was located where Kashmir is, and Kashmir located at the place where Kerala is? Why Pakistan abandoned its secular character, enunciated by its father of the nation, to become an Islamic State, and has forsaken Muslims in India who until late were their close blood relations? This brings one to the issue, which is perilously core to the heart of any human. Could larger section of Pakistan tell the world, what will be their reaction if they were to be invaded, vanquished, slaughtered, their women-folk raped and men folk forced to change their religion selectively? Would they go with the marauder or with the vanquished? Unfortunately, most fail to realise that The Persian Armies, Armies of Chengiz Khan or the later Moghuls, went back home, due to the hostile terrain and it was only a sprinkling at the helm along with the emerging new breed through conversion that called shots back home. Christianity stayed back in India in a similar fashion. Genome would soon be able to decipher the mix between a Persian and a Punjabi. Down south, the conversions could not possibly be that selective. A Hindu may be sound intellectually but has failed to show his prowess in physical combat through ages and has therefore been decimated from time to time. We have entered a modern world, which wants to adopt teachings of all theocracies the world over as a different pathway towards similar salvation and a religious diehard shall come out to be the ultimate loser.

The Indian leaders should restore the pristine glory of Urdu as our language, allow Muslims as a whole to decide their destiny through plebiscite, allow formation of a confederation where equal opportunities should present irrespective of caste, creed, or religion and Pakistani leaders should rise above their parochial mind-set and share their vision for the overall prosperity of the region instead of being mired in futile exercises over Kashmir. Let the two leaders who happen to possess the levers of our destiny use them to not only unite Kashmir but to recreate a block based on humanity, instead of trying their hands to wrench territory as street dogs.

Now that The President of Pakistan is about to relive memories half a century down, the undersigned too longs to see his birth place at Quetta and house at Dharampura in Lahore.

xxxxx

Dr (Col) SC Talwar