No alternative to peace with India
My op-ed today for Express-Tribune
Once again, the fragile peace process between India and Pakistan has commenced. It is too early to say whether it will lead to an amicable settlement of seemingly intractable issues. What is clear is that the peoples of the two countries want peace, security and progress. The elites, which agreed on the messy Partition and raised nation-states and huge militaries, have surely flourished at the expense of people. A causal look at India’s poverty and Pakistan’s social indicators proves this point.
As a confidence building measure, a group of Pakistani journalists visited Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore to meet their counterparts, think tanks and selected top-level officials. This was a timely and fruitful visit and reminded us that there is a formidable peace constituency in India. After the Indian home minister it is the turn of the Indian foreign minister to visit Islamabad from today for a three-day tour. Regardless of the outcome, sensible neighbours must continue to talk.
Evidently, the Mumbai terror attacks were the greatest stumbling block in resuming dialogue. Discussions at Sharm el Sheikh were a major breakthrough. Dr Manmohan Singh overcame tough public opinion after the joint declaration. This year’s dialogue at the Saarc Summit in Bhutan catalysed the peace process. After the 18th amendment to the Pakistani Constitution, the Indian side has noted the power shift within Pakistan as it strives to reclaim the democratic path.
Pakistani media persons, including me, could not help notice the centrality of the Mumbai attacks factor, which continues to inform public opinion in India. A majority of Indians hold Pakistan fully responsible for the event. The caveat here is that they often forget that Pakistan is also a victim of terrorism. But there is growing awareness in India about the internal challenges within Pakistan. This is why the Indian leadership has delinked dialogue from terrorism.
To facilitate the peace process, Pakistan should demonstrate its resolve to pursue proper investigation into the alleged Mumbai conspiracy hatchers. The Indian home minister left Pakistan in June somewhat assured of the efforts being made here. Our foreign minister should also reassure his Indian counterpart.
Public opinion in Pakistan has to be strengthened against militancy and extremism. The out-of-control militant groups are a nightmare for Pakistan and cast a dark shadow over its future. Furthermore, media and telecommunication restrictions need to be lifted on both sides. It is fashionable to deride the vigil brigade for being unrealistic but there is no alternative to people-to-people contacts. Indians, thanks to the global media, view Pakistan as a country full of ‘terrorists’. We must change this and not let the hawks on the Indian side to misrepresent us.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 14th, 2010.
All My Posts, India, India-Pakistan History, Indo Pak peace, Pakistan, Published in the Express Tribune, SouthAsia, terrorism
[...] No alternative to peace with India [...]
More initiatives like http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/amankiasha.cms are obviously required, besides efforts made by the governments.
Commendable that Pakistani Journalists visited a few Indian cities. Now India Pakistan relations are a complex maze and there are NO quick fix solutions at all. Non-State Actors can strike at any time and de-rail the talk between the two states and God forbid even push things towards war. It is a hopeless situation, not to use stronger language. The worst scenario (fear) is., what if some Indian Hate Monger party like Shiv Sena or Abhinav-Bharat or RSS-element masterminds a few dirty strikes., using Unemployed and mis-guided Pakistani youth. What if the RSS and Taliban (Hindutva Taliban and the Turbaned Taliban) complement each other and do dirty acts ! This ugly combination will strengthen the hold of RSS in India., and of course that will push the Indo-Pak relations into a steep downslide and as a result of which this will strengthen the Talibani elements on the other side (in Pakistan i.e.). SO this divide and rule., will eventually become “rule and divide” for RSS and Taliban., who complement each other.
That is one real fear.
Now let me say something positive too., how would it be if Pakistani academics visit India., in selected groups. One group covering (K-12 Education) which is what i call the foundation segment.. study school working.. sylabbus.. lesson plans.. and edu-tools being used in India.
Please do NOT feel shy and think that IF you come to India to study our schools and curricula., it implies that you are lesser. Do not think like that. Most Pakistani people think that ICBSE is good (which indeed is a great course)., but it is more Humanities-Oriented, more leadership-oriented. So a group of educators must study our K-12 CBSE Sylabbus., and our school working and our edu-tools like Smart-Class., mathguru, e-cool, mathtuition., etc. and see if they can adapt themselves.
If you ask me for my personal opinion., i would immediately tell you, that hey., listen., whats this fight all about (Bachkaana Jhagda). Why dont you take the sylabbus of CORE SUBJECTS like Math, Sciences., from our sylabbus (CBSE) and teach them in Pakistan. What is the JHAGDA .. Do we have different points of view in Math and Science(s) too ?
Yeh Gham-e-Dahr ka jhagda kab tak ?
Teach your languages (English/Urdu) and also Social Study and History (from your perspective) but take India’s CBSE sylabbus in the core subjects of Math and Science(s) and teach them thru-out Pakistan. Also use Smart-Boards (Smart class) thru-out Pakistan., and revolutionise School Education.
(2) A second group should be a team of Professors who teach Professions like Medical / Engineering / Mgmt. They must visit our IITs and IIMs and our Medical Colleges and visit our Teaching Hospitals. Sylabbus-building., curriculum-building., lesson-plan building., edu-tool building., is NATIONAL BUILDING in its finest sense., and i am afraid., not much as been done in Pakistan in this direction. I am not trying to be patronising when i say this.
Overcome that ego factor… and think… and revolutionise School Education first in Pakistan.
I know all of the above is a “pink dream” when there are bomb blasts every Thursday-Friday (they do it to coincide with Friday Muslim prayers)!
But Muslims must continue to dream… and dream positively… world-wide. Its a sign of life and being alive (intellectually).
Good post!
An Indo-Pak peace is not an option, but a must. Frankly, visa rules for each other’s citizens should relax and tourism between the countries promoted.
A small example – India wants the Taj to be one of the 7 wonders. But of what use this aspiration if you can’t invite your neighbors to see it?
Let IPL Cricket have teams like Lahore Lions and Karachi Kings (i just made that up).
This silly rancor between the two countries need to end. The present generation is tired of it.
Ravi
I am so pleased to read your comment. Please see pakteahouse.wordpress.com and the negative commentary by hawks.. It has been rather disappointing.
Sakhi ! Deshbhakti imaan kaa hissa.
Bharitya Muslim to jaan hee dey
Aaj tak jitne “spies” pakde gaye
Un mein ek bhee muslim naa tha
Sakhi ! Deshbhakti imaan kaa hissa
RSS daayin khaaye jaat hai !
Raza Rumi Sahab you have a very nice blog.
I guess we both countries are same.
I know common Pakistani is same as any other Indian.
No point in doing stuffs like CBSE syllabus being taught there also i guess you must be having good syllabus there also.
This Muslim Muslim bhai bhai thing should not be entertained, there will be bomb blasts but we should have trust amongst us.
Abhishek: You have a good heart, and that comes across. Yes, Raza Rumi’s Mehfil consists of people with diverse talents and passion., and its mostly positive. However, i very strongly feel, that budget for education (school education K-12), edu-management is very very crucial for a nation’s long-term survival. it really building the pillars, the frame, for a nation’s survival. its an intangible thing., that brings in tangible results OVER TIME. No french-fries quick fix results, but its crucial. I would place it at Priority No. 1.
ICGSE (ISC in India., which was formerly Senior Cambridge), i.e. “O” Level (Grade Xth) and “A” Level (Grade XIIth or +2) is a great course. Colorful books, fantastic concept grounding… no doubt about it… but allow me to say… it is HUMANITIES-ORIENTED. Its good for those who have a family concern / company, and the boy/girl would eventually take it over. For the common man., i think CBSE (K-12) course is very good. I have pondered endlessly on this and i have to say this… allow me.
Why doesnt a Muslim student excel in “Physics” and “Math”. All men were created equal, and are equal., and i believe so.,but statistics that come in front me dampen my belief. They shatter me., forcing me to reflect., and reflect very deeply.
A Muslim boy/girl has to learn Arabic (The Koran) for a spiritual grounding to evolve as an Individual. Thats fine. Then comes Urdu (which is the lingua-franca). These 2 languages are in the realm of the spiritual-philosophical framework.
Learn English – cuz you have to live in this “world” and its a global language. Learn Hindi – cuz you have to stay in India. Learn Marathi/Telugu/Tamil/Malayalam/Gujarati/Bengali/Oriya/Kannada- cuz you have to stay in Maharashtra / AP / Tamilnadu / Kerala / Gujarat/ etc. The 3 rings (state-national-international).
Arabic+Urdu+ 3 languages = Total 5 languages. A muslim boy/girl has to learn 5 languages… therefore… he has less mental space (the mind-disc is full) for Math & Physics. There was GREAT WISDOM in teaching a student in his/her MOTHER TONGUE. Osmania University, Hyderabad conducted this experiment (KG-Ph.D in Urdu) and was praised by no less a person than Tagore… but post 1947… we switched to English.
I am all for English., yes., but its been 100 years., and YET an average Muslim student hasnt mastered the language., nor the accent ! How much more time is needed to get comfortable with English (spoken/written) ? Even if i say., OK., drop Urdu and Arabic for a while (tactical move)., say 200 yrs., and switch on to English FULL SCALE., will it work ? Urdu at Home… and English outside Home. How many decades/centuries would be needed to have ENGLISH at HOME itself ? When will it come ? Each language has a flavor. Even if we master english, it is always Lifted / transplanted. The originality / earthen-ness will always be missing.
I think this over-burdening of 5 languages is a stumbling block in the pathway of a student. I think we must have 2 languages (English+Hindi) which the CBSE has (upto Grade Vth).,and a 3rd language is introduced in Grade VIth upto VIIth (3 yrs).. which should be adopted in Pakistan. My main intent is not to be patronising., nor do i believe in the romantic vision of Pan-Islamism (Muslim-Muslim Bhai Bhai is very romantic, but doesnt work on the ground); but somehow see positive change in the Schooling System in Pakistan.
School Education will determine the kind of nation Pakistan will be in the next 50 yrs. The same rule applies to India too. We in India have understood the vital importance of this (THIS IS OUR NATION’S BIGGEST SECURITY COVER., MORE SECURE THAN ATOMIC WEAPONS), and therefore every single day, a private individual opens a School in India.
I hope Pakistanis too get fascinated by Education… School Education… and take to it in a big way. Afterall, the word “ILM” (KNowledge) appears 300 times in the Quran. Ironically the word “Allah” too appears exactly 300 times in the Quran.
let me say this in Hindustani : JITNA INTEREST, PAKISTANI`YON KO “CRICKET” SE HAI., KAASH AGAR WOH “CHEMISTRY” SE HO, TO BHAGYA BADAL JAAYEN. (How i wish that Pakistanis have the same interest in “Chemistry”, as they have for “Cricket”). Why are Pakistanis more interested in gana-bajana, cricket, eating out (Food Street). Culinary expertise, mehendi-artist, gana-bajana. Bas. Why not PHYSICS… Chemistry… and MATH ? Abandon Cricket en-masse and fall in love with Physics, Chem & Math. See how your world changes. The Pakistanis took to cricket (left-over of the Raj). Fair enough. But why did they not take to Physics, Chemistry & Math ? Why this alienation from Sciences…
SCIENCE / MATH se itni doori kyoun.. itni nafrat kyoun ? Afterall Al-Khwarizmi (Geometry)… Al-Jaber (Algebra)… Ibn Sina (Avicenna)… well..well..well..
So much love for history… such a long list of names… and yet why this DISTANCE.. .this hatred.. . this uncaring attitude towards Math & Science ? Tell me !!!
Dastagir i must say you write very well !
You have good knowledge too .
But China,France,Italy,Japan are some of the countries were very few speak English instead they follow their own languages
and are great countries.
Why not promote your language, ya but i agree with you that people must devote their time in studies rather than other things.
I write this with great sorrow in my heart. its not pleasant to unburden oneself this way. but fact of the matter is., that indian, pakistani, bangladeshi intellect is NOT of that quality (as China, French, Italy, Japan). Sorry, but i believe that the DNA strand is of inferior quality. I am really sorry to say., there are 53 Muslim societies (call them countries if you like) and every single one of them is a “Zero”. So if you add 53 zeroes., the net total is still a “Zero”. Who will translate Physics/Chemistry/Math from grade 1 upto Ph. D ? Where are the resources (monetary + intellectual capital )? Where is the talent. Its a graveyard.
Haldi-Mehendi., Bhangra., Food Street., Ah ! CRICKET.. bas.. yehi musalmaan ki zindagi hai.. yehi uske sapnon ki limit hai. Baaten.. aur baaten.. aur baaten..
Physics / Chemistry / Mathematics.. se meelon door.. Why the hell do the bloody Muslims not study Physics/Chem/Math well. Tell me. There has to be something very deep., that is wrong. And muslims cannot get respect in this world., if their level of scholarship is superficial.
SMS Scholarship par kaam nahin chal sakta. They are just eating (KULL-WA-SHURB) and drinking… toilet… and babies… bas. Yehi hai. Even animals are doing this much. Where is the research ? Where is the intellectual capital ?
There is a list of names… sure… but for the past 300 yrs., muslims have not contributed ANYTHING to science. Now its a group of “CONSUMERS” who do not produce anything.. but just use.. Very quick to buy the latest gadget. Damn Consumers.. .