India's Partition, Old Indian values and the fast changing social dynamics are good ways to look at things.
Reasons must fight unreasons. That's a basic way of looking and judging matters. Often things do not work in India. Mobs or political considerations take over. There is an ugly and unedifying spectacle of governance without any determination to enforce the rule of law.
Most communal clashes or catastrophic episodes like destruction of a Masjid as in 1992 may fall under this category. History has shown that the evil carries its own seeds of destruction. If Babri Masjid demolition was one such episode; we can easily say many years before Partition too was another instance.
The Delhi anti Sikh carnage in 1984 or the Gujarat 2002 were also no exception. There were also episodes like killing of Ananda Margis in West Bengal. We may often ask ourselves - are the factors responsible for Partition are 'over' today in circa 2026; or they are still around ?
The fact of the matter is there were no reasons for Partition. The 'reasons' were found and then highlighted because a decision was already taken by the colonial masters to divide India. Mountbatten was deputed with a fixed task.
Take an objective view and we know Jinnah had his reasons. Nehru was in hurry. By 1940 - a sort of new generation in freedom struggle politics was coming.
As they say -- 'Naya Rajniti and Naya Neta (New political ideals and new leadership) would be emerging soon. For their part - the Britishers also came under pressure.
The colonial masters would have found it dfficult to survive in India with as much power as they had two years back. The Indian leaders were also getting tired of wars.
As rightly goes the Bengali poetic line - "Vidrohi rano Klanto". So somehow -- some formulae had to be worked out. Partition was considered that acceptable formula. In 2026 as also in 1947, for common people - the main issues were job, electricity and water.
They did not have much concern about fighting and killing their neighbours. Similarly, in 2026 - if Hindu-Muslim unity is ensured foolproof; what will politicians do ? What will the journalists, experts and social workers do -who still want to thrive out of the business of Sickularism ?
Does 'secularism' genuinely matter to them ? Now coming to the core issues.
Look at the economic condition of Pakistan.
In Bangladesh; the two nation theory failed.
But in 2024 - they decided there should be a mass uprising - instigated and sponsored did not make any difference. They wanted to get rid of a woman PM in office. One interim arrangement has been replaced by another 'elected government'.
But in August 2026 - the nation faces prolonged power crisis and they need India's help. At the same time, PM in office Tarique Rahman is reluctant to visit India -- apparently. It is also debated that a large section of Bangladeshis want a good relationship with a nation in crisis called Pakistan.
 |
| Blogger |
The 1971 uprising was against Pakistan and that too looks like a forgotten chapter. All these debates may keep happening. But is it realised that in effect Partition has harmed long term and the larger interests of Muslims. There is another Muslims - who went away and formed Pakistan are not being punished or suspected by Hindus and Sikhs.
Those who have to face the brunt of the anguish is the Muslims - who had decided to stay back in India.
“Muslims should not be treated as different people … consider them your own,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi told BJP workers at a national executive meeting in the southern state of Kerala in 2016.
Five years down the line, in 2021, he announced on the eve of India’s Independence Day that Aug. 14 will be observed as the “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day”.
This is pay respect to the sacrifices of millions who were displaced or who lost their lives during the partition of the subcontinent after the British left in 1947.
“Since 2014 when Modi came to power, I am yet to come across any initiative that unites the citizens. This announcement of the prime minister will only further create distance and the unwanted gap between Hindus and Muslims,” Delhi-based Christian leader A.C. Michael had told me in 2021 (reported for UCA News).
Many Hindus still harbor a serious grouse against Muslims for the division of India. Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its sister organizations championing Hindu identity question the patriotism of Muslims. But is that all ? India is now eyeing to achieve the status of a 'developed nation' - Viksit Bharat.
The stakeholders overseas will not be too happy for such ambitions.
Talking of Gen Z, we must prepare the youngsters - Gen Z - of 2047 who will care for the country and the old values.
What will be the Muslim Gen Z of 2047 ? Will they still think like the Muslim youths of 1947 or 2026 ?
What if leaders like Modi or Yogi become heroes of Muslim youths of 2047 but despised by the Hindu youths?
What kind of politics we may have in 2047 ?
Will the Leader of the Opposition still avoid parliament debate time and focus on staging a skit to mock at a woman Prime Minister of Italy? What will champions of Hindutva do ?
Will India still need caste leaders or cockroach or spider forces ?
Or will Bharat/India go the Lebanon or Yugoslavia way - multiplied a thousand times ??
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment