Comments on: Healing the wounds of Partition .. http://razarumi.com/2007/08/20/healing-the-wounds-of-partition/ Just another WordPress site Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:58:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: RR http://razarumi.com/2007/08/20/healing-the-wounds-of-partition/#comment-2639 RR Sat, 25 Aug 2007 19:38:59 +0000 http://www.razarumi.com/2007/08/20/healing-the-wounds-of-partition/#comment-2639 Nauman Mian Many thanks for such a thoughtful comment. It is well argued and makes some interesting points. Nauman Mian

Many thanks for such a thoughtful comment. It is well argued and makes some interesting points.

]]> By: Nauman http://razarumi.com/2007/08/20/healing-the-wounds-of-partition/#comment-2638 Nauman Sat, 25 Aug 2007 19:13:35 +0000 http://www.razarumi.com/2007/08/20/healing-the-wounds-of-partition/#comment-2638 This apology petition states that “We hope that coming generations will learn from this man-made calamity, and turn away from divisions based on religion, ethnicity, language, national origin, caste, or creed.” People usually preach non-discrimination on the basis of religion, caste and creed. But interestingly this petition also mentions “national origin”. If we don’t discriminate on the basis of nationality then borders become irrelevant. Then why is it that USA is erecting a fence along with it’s border with Mexico? Israel with Gaza and West Bank? India in Kashmir? And Pakistan on Durand Line? Fact of the matter is that nationalism is a new religion. Now we don’t discriminate on the basis of religion but on the basis of nationality and class. We Pakistanis are lucky in this matter that we have other loyalties besides nationalism. Pakistanis usually consider themselves as Muslims first and Pakistani afterwards. This is why our feelings of nationalism are mild compared to Indians. I agree with YH on most points. Just want to say that we don’t question the legitimacy and desire of Indian Hindus to have a Hindu majority state. But Indians take a reductionist approach and say that if secularism is a norm then what was the raison d’etre for the creation of Pakistan? Social and political phenomena is complicated. Secularism, non-discrimination, equality and humanism are ideals. We must strive to seek these ideals because they are empirically proven to be good for the mankind. But at the same time we should also keep in mind ground realities. Existing realities are sometimes bitter and we notice some discrimination on the basis of religion, culture, language, caste, creed and class at the level of state or society. So let’s not live in a fool’s paradise. Accept and acknowledge our differences and then try to settle them in an amicable way. This apology petition states that “We hope that coming generations will learn from this man-made calamity, and turn away from divisions based on religion, ethnicity, language, national origin, caste, or creed.” People usually preach non-discrimination on the basis of religion, caste and creed. But interestingly this petition also mentions “national origin”. If we don’t discriminate on the basis of nationality then borders become irrelevant. Then why is it that USA is erecting a fence along with it’s border with Mexico? Israel with Gaza and West Bank? India in Kashmir? And Pakistan on Durand Line?

Fact of the matter is that nationalism is a new religion. Now we don’t discriminate on the basis of religion but on the basis of nationality and class. We Pakistanis are lucky in this matter that we have other loyalties besides nationalism. Pakistanis usually consider themselves as Muslims first and Pakistani afterwards. This is why our feelings of nationalism are mild compared to Indians.

I agree with YH on most points. Just want to say that we don’t question the legitimacy and desire of Indian Hindus to have a Hindu majority state. But Indians take a reductionist approach and say that if secularism is a norm then what was the raison d’etre for the creation of Pakistan?

Social and political phenomena is complicated. Secularism, non-discrimination, equality and humanism are ideals. We must strive to seek these ideals because they are empirically proven to be good for the mankind. But at the same time we should also keep in mind ground realities. Existing realities are sometimes bitter and we notice some discrimination on the basis of religion, culture, language, caste, creed and class at the level of state or society. So let’s not live in a fool’s paradise. Accept and acknowledge our differences and then try to settle them in an amicable way.

]]> By: cubano http://razarumi.com/2007/08/20/healing-the-wounds-of-partition/#comment-2569 cubano Tue, 21 Aug 2007 09:59:38 +0000 http://www.razarumi.com/2007/08/20/healing-the-wounds-of-partition/#comment-2569 I think that it is ironic how partition or creation of borders were ideally meant to be a deterrent to ethnic or communal violence but instead caused much more hatred and discord on a grander scale. The expression of that hatred was subsequently provided immunity from condemnation by passionate and absurd patriotism. It seems ridiculous now to think that divisions can cause people to be peaceful. I think that it is ironic how partition or creation of borders were ideally meant to be a deterrent to ethnic or communal violence but instead caused much more hatred and discord on a grander scale. The expression of that hatred was subsequently provided immunity from condemnation by passionate and absurd patriotism.

It seems ridiculous now to think that divisions can cause people to be peaceful.

]]> By: Zobaria http://razarumi.com/2007/08/20/healing-the-wounds-of-partition/#comment-2568 Zobaria Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:25:22 +0000 http://www.razarumi.com/2007/08/20/healing-the-wounds-of-partition/#comment-2568 Just forgive, for goodness sake, just forgive. Forgive before grudges escalate into extremism and extremism into war. Hope that humanity can transcend the differences and we can learn to see the faces and souls, as precious as any of ours. What’s done is done, forgive for our future generations that they can live in peace. Forgive before it’s too late… and we are left to collect the bodies. Accept and respect each other and learn what needs to be learnt. Understand that there are hearts which still ache to go back and see the places on both the sides, which were once their homes and smell that soil and touch those walls, and mourn for what once was. Grit your teeth and say enough, no more of it. Can you, can I? I will mourn, but I will forgive. Just forgive, for goodness sake, just forgive. Forgive before grudges escalate into extremism and extremism into war. Hope that humanity can transcend the differences and we can learn to see the faces and souls, as precious as any of ours. What’s done is done, forgive for our future generations that they can live in peace. Forgive before it’s too late… and we are left to collect the bodies. Accept and respect each other and learn what needs to be learnt. Understand that there are hearts which still ache to go back and see the places on both the sides, which were once their homes and smell that soil and touch those walls, and mourn for what once was. Grit your teeth and say enough, no more of it. Can you, can I? I will mourn, but I will forgive.

]]> By: YH http://razarumi.com/2007/08/20/healing-the-wounds-of-partition/#comment-2567 YH Tue, 21 Aug 2007 02:14:14 +0000 http://www.razarumi.com/2007/08/20/healing-the-wounds-of-partition/#comment-2567 I personally feel that attempts like these (i.e. Ravinder Kaur) are a part of the problem and not solution. For one thing, enough dirt has been put in the eyes of the world by people to take an essentially political deadlock between two popular parties who could have come to an arrangement vis a vis Cabinet Mission Plan which mind you Jinnah bent over backwards to accept... and turn into a grand battle of good and evil... which changes depending on which side you are on. All nation states are created out of ethnic conflict. Pakistan is no exception. In my personal view violence could have been avoided had Congress not insisted on dividing up Bengal and Punjab as the pound of flesh for giving away Pakistan. Communal violence and butchery that happened was abhorrent. Perhaps Mountbatten - the first GG of Independent India- should not have played politics with the boundary commission force. However which view you take or which view you don't take is besides the point. Partition violence as a theme as been so over done ... and so exploited that it is perhaps time, we say : enough. Pakistan and India exist as two independent nations. Let us respect this and work together as Pakistanis and Indians - two people(s) of sovereign nations working together for common humanity. Let us start by making sure that there is never again a war in South Asia. And let us take our rivalries and channel them towards competing with each other in development, progress, literacy, human rights etc. I personally feel that attempts like these (i.e. Ravinder Kaur) are a part of the problem and not solution. For one thing, enough dirt has been put in the eyes of the world by people to take an essentially political deadlock between two popular parties who could have come to an arrangement vis a vis Cabinet Mission Plan which mind you Jinnah bent over backwards to accept… and turn into a grand battle of good and evil… which changes depending on which side you are on.

All nation states are created out of ethnic conflict. Pakistan is no exception. In my personal view violence could have been avoided had Congress not insisted on dividing up Bengal and Punjab as the pound of flesh for giving away Pakistan. Communal violence and butchery that happened was abhorrent. Perhaps Mountbatten – the first GG of Independent India- should not have played politics with the boundary commission force.

However which view you take or which view you don’t take is besides the point. Partition violence as a theme as been so over done … and so exploited that it is perhaps time, we say : enough. Pakistan and India exist as two independent nations. Let us respect this and work together as Pakistanis and Indians – two people(s) of sovereign nations working together for common humanity. Let us start by making sure that there is never again a war in South Asia.

And let us take our rivalries and channel them towards competing with each other in development, progress, literacy, human rights etc.

]]> By: gulnaz http://razarumi.com/2007/08/20/healing-the-wounds-of-partition/#comment-2565 gulnaz Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:17:59 +0000 http://www.razarumi.com/2007/08/20/healing-the-wounds-of-partition/#comment-2565 i have only recently stumbled across your site and i love it! i love the intelligence of the posts as well as the intersting comments. great job, good on you! i have only recently stumbled across your site and i love it! i love the intelligence of the posts as well as the intersting comments. great job, good on you!

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