Looking at South Asia’s Future

Vinod Jain

One is thankful to Shri Abhijit Bhattacharyya who was kind enough to take stock of ground realities and place it before that section of Indian society which is keen to build bridges of love, peace and friendship with neighbour. What is mentioned in the ‘secret face of the real Pakistan’ (Statesman 14 April 2010) is actually only a fraction of what happened in Pakistan since 1947. There was a much larger percentage of Hindu minority in Pakistan then. Much of it is gone. Obviously they did not migrate out of Pakistan.
One thing is certain that all aspects of reality should be placed on the table for everybody to see and consider. The discussion should be as realistic and dispassionate as possible.

Let us not go into the question as to what were the factors and who were the players responsible for the developments of 1947. But let us not forget it altogether. It may be kept at the back of our minds.
The article under question seems to show the face of educated Muslims of Pakistan who are occupying responsible positions. It shows their attitude towards Hindus and India.

Let us at this stage recollect the events in East Pakistan leading up to the developments of December 1971. The people of East Pakistan were both co-religionists and co-citizens. Yet what the West Pakistani army and their chosen supporters did to the people of the east was worse, most inhuman and dastardly. So much so that the enquiry report of West Pakistan was so horrible a record of the atrocities committed by the West Pakistan Army that the entire report had to be destroyed, so that no record is left of the black deeds for posterity to know.

If this is true, then the message that the above mentioned article conveys, is only partially correct.

It is possible that the people desirous of building bridges, may have been asking a question: What did we achieve out of 1947? The Hindu Indians got their country divided! The Muslim Pakistanis got a ‘moth-eaten Pakistan’ ! Subsequently a divided Pakistan ! And what did the Muslim Indians get? A stunned silence. Everybody felt cheated.

Those who before independence, were toying with the idea of ‘two-nation theory’ and advancing the cause of a separate Pakistan , had nothing in their intelligent heads. The very first speech after independence of the head of Pakistan is a pathetic admission of this fact. That speech is a proof that the idea of ‘two nation theory’ had collapsed. That speech also is an evidence of bankruptcy of ideas with regard to the future of Pakistan. Subsequent events give no better assurance.

It is widely known that before 1947 the Muslims of the sub-continent thought of themselves as belonging to the ruling class. But it is also known that this Muslim society had already been a decadent society for quite some time.

The Muslims refused to learn from advances made in other parts of the world. They refused modern education based on science and technology. To vast masses of Muslims, education meant madrassa education. And madrassa education meant religious education. And the future they look forward to is a certain place in Jannat (heaven). Was this not prescription enough for social stagnation?
Illiterate Muslim masses looked to their clergy for guidance. The clergy would, as could be expected, encourage them to have as many children as possible. That ensured complete stagnation and degeneration of the Muslim society, along with poverty.
This situation with Muslim Indians resulted in their poverty and stagnation. This same situation in a society and polity like that of Pakistan resulted in fanaticism and criminality as well.

Pakistan Army picking up Hindu girls there for rape and prostitution is a proof that they are not behaving as an army but as a gang of criminals. Other examples also show how far they have sunk. It is not by chance that that society, instead of producing experts, intellectuals and visionaries is giving birth to criminals, and terrorists. Young men there are exhorted to, and readily agree and prepare themselves to be blown up in a terrorist act, so that they secure for themselves a place in Jannat (heaven).

Let us take a brief look at Europe. Upto the last war the French thought the Germans are this, that and what not. Germans thought the same about the French. They fought many a war over the centuries. After the last war the leaders of both the countries sat down together, resolved not to fight again. They had a vision of united and peaceful Europe. Initially 6 countries joined. Today 27 countries have joined. Europe today is an area of peace and prosperity. Wars and hatred among them is a thing of the past.

Let us take a second look at the real Pakistan. For quite some time Pakistan was dependent for financial help on a far off country. For some time past it has befriended a neighbouring country and is also dependent on this neighbour for various kinds of help. This neighbour wants Pakistan to indulge in anti-Indian activity. On its part Pakistan would do anything to spite India.

What has Pakistan achieved? Dependency, economic failure, poverty. Pakistan today is a failed State, a hot bed of militancy, a fountainhead of terrorism. Its militancy is threatening Pakistan itself.

Only the other day it was shown in an article (False images in the Public mind, Statesman, 11 April 2010) that assimilation of Hindu and Muslim populations was taking place before the advent of British rule.

Keeping all the above facts and arguments in mind, let us also consider the following: We the people of India, and of other countries of south Asia live here and shall continue to live here. We all want security, peace and prosperity. Could we not start exploring the possibility of some kind of a union, more or less on the European Union pattern, wherein all the countries of South Asia will join. They all may retain their independence and sovereignty and come closer with regard to areas agreed upon. This may apply to India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.

Pakistan for obvious reasons would be the most difficult country to agree to the idea. So long as Pakistan does not agree, Afghanistan would find it difficult because of lack of border contiguity. Pursuing the idea may require patience and perseverance over a period of time.

A beginning may be made with Bangladesh. India and Bangladesh may be a fulcrum around which an arrangement may be tried and pursued. Initially the idea may be floated and pursued at a non-governmental level.

Value of ideas, of thinkers and visionaries may not be underestimated. It is they who, so very often, think, visualise, launch and promote. Others who matter, may pick up later on.