64th Independence Day (“The Day”) just concluded with crowning of a Hyderabadi Guy as “Indian Idol” by the hands of a UP born superstar in a show where two out of three judges were Muslims (third one being Gujarati) and the guest of honor was a leading bollywood actress (Punjabi). This perfectly reflects the thoughts of Mr. Ramachandra Guha on “why India survives” which is so beautiful and heartening to witness live in action. Yes, India does survive and has actually survived 63 years of an unprecedented journey which – as most Britishers thought – would last only a decade. The Idea of India has taken in its stride all the challenges right from “The Day” itself when “Father of the Nation” was on a fast in the city of joy to appease one year old riot.
Though, the excitement of surroundings this morning seemed very familiar, the mind went back in time once again as always. I re-opened the relevant pages of one of my favorite books which made me cry, which brought lumps in my throat and which left me totally shattered. I tried to visualize the chaos and bedlam of 1946-1949 but never got anywhere near to even 1% of actual scenes in my imagination. The scale of operations and the nature of complexities still leave me speechless. I tried to find answers to "why" part of the question and read this on the very first page of the book:
I have no doubt that if British governments had been prepared to grant in 1900 what they refused in 1900 but granted in 1920; or to grant in 1920 what they refused to grant in 1920 but granted in 1940; or to grant in 1940 what they refused to grant in 1940 but granted in 1947 – then nine-tenths of the misery, hatred, and violence, the imprisonings and terrorism, the murders, flogging, shootings, assassinations, even the racial massacres would have been avoided; the transference of power might well have been accomplished peacefully, even possibly without Partition. – Leonard Woolf, 1967
Probably, the time has gone by now to look for the answers to what went wrong, what could be have been done differently or whether impact of the loss could have been lesser. However, there still exists a pain in the heart – pain of partition, pain of loss of million lives and pain of re-building India block by block. The world would not have been better when Shoaib Akhtar, Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Ashraful could play international cricket for the same country. I get the utmost sense of secularism when I imagine my brothers from Lahore paying visit to Ajmer Sharif without any hindrance. The fusion of Indo-Pak music would have been a delight for the fans across the entire universe. Alas! That was not meant to be. Alas!
True, that was not meant to be. But can both sides take a step back and ponder on the learning of these 63 years? May be. Will this lead to a sensible solution on the current animosity? May be. Can the peace be restored in the valley? May be. I sincerely hope that this is possible and this will open a new chapter in the history whenever it happens – to reinforce survival mechanism of both the countries and above all humanity. Amen!
Though, the excitement of surroundings this morning seemed very familiar, the mind went back in time once again as always. I re-opened the relevant pages of one of my favorite books which made me cry, which brought lumps in my throat and which left me totally shattered. I tried to visualize the chaos and bedlam of 1946-1949 but never got anywhere near to even 1% of actual scenes in my imagination. The scale of operations and the nature of complexities still leave me speechless. I tried to find answers to "why" part of the question and read this on the very first page of the book:
I have no doubt that if British governments had been prepared to grant in 1900 what they refused in 1900 but granted in 1920; or to grant in 1920 what they refused to grant in 1920 but granted in 1940; or to grant in 1940 what they refused to grant in 1940 but granted in 1947 – then nine-tenths of the misery, hatred, and violence, the imprisonings and terrorism, the murders, flogging, shootings, assassinations, even the racial massacres would have been avoided; the transference of power might well have been accomplished peacefully, even possibly without Partition. – Leonard Woolf, 1967
Probably, the time has gone by now to look for the answers to what went wrong, what could be have been done differently or whether impact of the loss could have been lesser. However, there still exists a pain in the heart – pain of partition, pain of loss of million lives and pain of re-building India block by block. The world would not have been better when Shoaib Akhtar, Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Ashraful could play international cricket for the same country. I get the utmost sense of secularism when I imagine my brothers from Lahore paying visit to Ajmer Sharif without any hindrance. The fusion of Indo-Pak music would have been a delight for the fans across the entire universe. Alas! That was not meant to be. Alas!
True, that was not meant to be. But can both sides take a step back and ponder on the learning of these 63 years? May be. Will this lead to a sensible solution on the current animosity? May be. Can the peace be restored in the valley? May be. I sincerely hope that this is possible and this will open a new chapter in the history whenever it happens – to reinforce survival mechanism of both the countries and above all humanity. Amen!
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2 comments:
That was a beautiful quote ; so very true. Yes indeed it would have been beautiful if an undivided India could exist. My grand uncle used to narrate tales of how he went from Bangalore to Kabul and his experiences in what is now Pakistan and Afghanistan. Wildly evocative.
@ Ramesh - Must be so appealing to listen the tales of lifestyle on the other side of the current border. I wish that one day I visit Pakistan and know them better for we all are sons of the same soil.
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