Pak Tea House » Citizens, culture, Democracy, India, Pakistan, Politics, secular Pakistan, Society » Dismantling the barriers of hate
Dismantling the barriers of hate
By Ghazala Akbar
Midway between the cities of Lahore in Pakistan and Amritsar in India each about 25 km away is the village called Wagah. It stands on an ancient pathway that stretches from Kabul in the North West to Calcutta in the North East and beyond to Shonargaon in Bangladesh. Known variously in history as Uttara Patha, Sadaq – e -Azam or the Grand Trunk road, it was until very recently, the only road link between India and Pakistan. The other one fittingly, is in Kashmir.
Wagah is the place where Cyril Radcliffe and the Boundary Commission drew a line over a map separating a village, a people and a Sub – continent. Nothing symbolises the haphazard nature of the map re-drawing exercise 65 years ago than the curious division at Wagah. The eastern part of the village went to India and the western part to Pakistan. The people (albeit of differing faiths) look the same. The language sounds the same. The flat landscape also appears the same. Although the grass is no greener on the other side, cows stray from one side to the other. And birds— with scant respect for frontiers fly freely across making nests on both sides.
On the ground however, human beings zealously guard their own bit of turf making a noisy, grotesque public show of the division. At sunset every day, vociferous crowds gather on both sides, hurling choice epithets and insults at each other. They jeer and cheer at a unique ceremony, which the film- maker and comedian Michael Palin describes as ‘carefully controlled contempt!’ Apart from being a bizarre spectacle, it is also very revelatory of the state of mind of our two peoples and our psychological make-up.
Seven-foot tall men, chosen for their physical might and facial hair strut like angry peacocks eyeballing each other with hostile looks and gestures. It is a masterly display of silent aggression. Flags are lowered and gates slammed shut. It is in military parlance, a ‘beating of the retreat’ ceremony. The Indian Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers have jointly followed it since 1959. In the past few years, it has become a major tourist attraction, a must on a tour of Lahore or Amritsar attracting thousands on both sides.
At times of heightened tension between the two countries, the crowds become bigger and more excitable as it was during Operation Parakram, the massive troop build-up ordered in the wake of the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament. Alarmingly, a Pakistani Jawan carried away by the spirit of the occasion raised his weapon aiming it at Indian spectators to squeals of delight and horror. It was an impromptu theatrical gesture. Fortunately no harm was done. Over the years by mutual consent, some of the more aggressive gestures have been toned down and no guns are loaded. A brusque handshake concludes the ceremony. There is even talk now of women participating in the parade.
The truth is that for all the combative posturing, the ceremony is actually a very carefully co-ordinated operation, requiring co-operation from both sides. The flags have to be lowered at exactly the same speed so that they cross each other in unison. One cannot be higher or lower. What else do you expect! It is after all the official border of India and Pakistan, the most contentious, the most momentous and the most hate-filled: even more than the Berlin Wall that divided East and West Germany or the35th Parallel that divides North and South Korea today. This is where millions of refugees on both sides of the divide made their way– in all manners of transport but — mostly by foot – hungry and dehydrated but elated to be with their kind on the other side. At the stroke of midnight on 14 August 1947, they were not one people but two.
As we go into customary overdrive, marking the month of the passing of the Pakistan Resolution in 1940 with a ritual regurgitation of certain hallowed phrases, (‘demand for a separate Muslim homeland, ‘two nation theory,’) one is inclined to ask, what exactly is the purpose of this ceremony at Wagah? Is this just a bit of harmless fun — the type of ribbing high – spirited lads might indulge in a village playground? Is it a symbolic battleground for macho male egos to release an emotional valve? Or is to remind ourselves, that we were once one people but a line arbitrarily drawn had decided we are two and would remain so forever? Maybe it’s none of the above. Just simply — a show of respect for international borders, sub – continental style. Whatever! One cannot help but feel there must be other ways of making this point than a choreographed show of hatred!
I must confess ashamedly that as a participant, I too was carried away. It was akin to being in an India- Pakistan cricket match surrounded by fellow – supporters. One felt safe and secure being with one’s own kind. The atmosphere was electrifying. It was chauvinism at its rawest. Green-clad cheerleaders with megaphones ran up and down the gangway asking ‘Pakistan ka matlab kya? We replied robotically, la Illaha illallah. Egged further, we pointed to the Indian side ‘superpower, super power? Then skyward, ‘Allah! Allah! It was great fun while it lasted but I cringed when I recalled my behaviour later. Did the Indians on the other side – even louder and larger than the Pakistan crowd — feel the same way, I wondered. And I wonder– and worry still today about the effect of all this on the youth and the children who sat with me that day and parroted slogans mindlessly.
My unease at the war-like passions displayed at the ceremony is exacerbated by a study and a set of figures released recently by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute on International arms transfers between 2007- 2011. It reveals that the epicentre of the arms trade is not the oil- rich Arab States, Iran or even security paranoid Israel — but our very own South Asia. India is the leader of the pack accounting for 10% of all global arms imports. In third place is Pakistan at 5%.
What this adds up to is a very depressing statistic that should cause concern for the poor citizens of both countries. We are engaged in a serious arms race that either can ill-afford. The other three countries on the list (China 5% South Korea 6% and Singapore 4%) have at least achieved an acceptable standard of living for their people. We have not. The countries of the Sub-continent after 65 years of Independence remain firmly at the bottom of the heap in every development index. Sure, we live in a tough neighbourhood and need to protect ourselves from regional bullies; sure, we are in a War on Terror. What must not be forgotten however is that it is our own policies and attitudes that have often contributed to make this, one dangerous neighbourhood.
A further source of trepidation is the chatter emanating from the recently formed Difa- e- Pakistan Council. This is an umbrella group comprising of 40 organisations featuring august luminaries as Hafiz Saeed, Maulana Samiul Haq and ex- General Gul. It is a who’s who of well-known hawks. When we have nuclear- weapons and a magnificent army that does a fabulous job at the borders just what exactly are they purporting to defend? A visit to the website of this outfit leaves no room for doubt: ‘We envisage defending Pakistan, the only ideological nation carved in the name of Islam with our wealth and our lives. Pakistan stands as the beacon of the Unity of the Ummah or La illaha illallah (there is only one God), the beacon of our faith.’
‘Living in dignity’ and ‘dying with honour’ are also a part of its mission statement. Since the Pakistan Water Movement is also listed as a member we have a hint here of a possible cause for a future conflict. Visitors are asked: Should we have bilateral relations with India before the settlement of all core issues? 89.1% of site-visitors vote a resounding No. And in case one thought Cyril Radcliffe’s rationale for the official border at Wagah, was to continue trade and commerce via the GT road, think again: ‘a conspiracy was hatched to grant India the status of ‘Most Favoured Nation’ by the Government of Pakistan recently…the trade drive is nothing but a strategy to weaken Pakistan economically and save the sinking Indian economy…’
Move over to the Facebook page of the Difa- e – Pakistan Council: The timeline photo of this technologically- savvy organisation will send a chill through the spine of internet warriors. It is a ‘challo dilli challo’ moment to fantasise about — a panoramic battle scene with tanks and airplanes plus four horsemen of the apocalypse over the Red Fort in Delhi. Naturally, a green and white flag flies over the central gate. Minorities should have no cause for alarm. The PDC also lists two Hindu, one Sikh and a Christian as it members. It is a broad coalition cutting across sectarian and ethnic divides.
It would be unfair of me to single out the DPC for its jingoism or suggest that Pakistanis alone are the obstacle towards Indo- Pak amity. The laboriously slow pace of what officials calls the ‘normalisation of ties’ between India and Pakistan is a cause for disquiet. Abnormality is more the reality. In spite of visits by businesspersons, it does not appear that the other side is in any particular hurry to facilitate people- to- people contact. Visits of Ministers, officials, smiles, handshakes and gratuitous platitudes aside, there is precious little our Government has to show for its troubles. Never mind tackling core issues, even smaller confidence-building measures like issuing of visas or the inclusion of Pakistani Cricketers in the IPL are yet to materialise in any meaningful way.
A useful pointer to the bureaucratic mind-set and hints of a dual policy adopted by our erstwhile neighbour is a curiously – worded requirement for Indian citizenship. Issued by the Press Information Bureau, Government of India Ministry of Home affairs, 14th March 2012, a new condition for becoming an Indian national is that the applicant has not exhibited sympathies towards Pakistan at any time. Wow! Wonder who came up with that one! And just how are they are going to establish that! Presumably, the applicant after making a public bonfire of all his Rahat Ali Khan CDs and Veena Malik posters heads straight to the Wagah ceremony screaming anti – Pakistani slogans!
Which brings me to my original question: why do we have that ceremony at the border anyway? When State and non- state actors on both sides of the divide are putting up a side show of their own, subtly re-enforcing invisible barriers of hate, why put our soldiers through silly walks in which they risk serious injury to their backs and legs. Even the Nazis did not goosestep in that fashion! I don’t know about you but to my warped, prejudiced mind the people of the Sub-continent deserve better. After 65 years, a change of guard, a new script and a fresh act would be most welcome. There cannot be military solutions for everything. Just ask the Americans.
Filed under: Citizens, culture, Democracy, India, Pakistan, Politics, secular Pakistan, Society · Tags: hate, India, Indian, Pakistan
26 Responses to "Dismantling the barriers of hate"
Leave a Reply
Recent Comments
- Jamal
said I called you a troll because you are one, your fir... - Milestogo
said I am proud to host what I’m hoping is the first of... - Jamal said @SunnyRoflol the featured article is about trollin...
- sunny
said to jamal
You stand under the compulsion to glorify... - Http://faith2056bskpa.tblog.Com said Hi everyone, it’s my first visit at this sit...
- Jamal said @Sunny
Dumbhead? Are we six years old and running...
- sunny said to miles to go
…
The more muslims are forgiv...
- sunny said to jamal
1)
You asked about a real tea house and n...
- sunny said The use of filthy, abusive or threatening language...
- sunny said to jamal
You fulfil the definition of quisling and...
Ghazala Akbar I can not agree more to what you said,
In words of Kaifi Azmi
Koi to zima lay
Koi to sood chukay
Us karz ka
Jo kab say udhar hai
I agree. For two countries who keep saying they want friendly relations with each other, the outward show of hostility at the border seems a bit incongruous. Perhaps they could have a museum showing the hardships endured by both sides in 1947 or featuring the heroes of the independence movement.
Those vespertine theatrics at Wagah are childish and bizarre. What’s the point of ambassadors talking softly in Delhi and Islamabad if the soldiers make faces and gesture rudely at each other every evening. It’s a pity that India’s proposal to stop this nonsense was turned down a couple of years ago.
Ghazala Akbar( are you the same as AMA?!), i am generally not given to florid, flowery hyperbole but reading this article made me feel like i was listening to a long lost brother( again please forgive the rhetoric but i cant resist).
i have felt the EXACT same things as you did when you stood at the lahore side of the border as when i stood at the amritsar side of it. i got swept away by ridiculous display of jingoism the same way as you did and then cringed and felt completely ashamed of myself the same way you did. even i wondered about whether there was another individual on the other side of the border who thought that this was patent nonsense and i am happy to have finally found him!
i also fully agree with all your solutions. i think that if there are people like us on either side of the border who think alike on these subjects then indeed there is room for optimism. the only thing preventing us is are the vested interests who want the status quo to remain unchanged. if the army can somehow be bypassed during decision making in your country and if the occasional stupidity of the bureaucracy can be cured in ours(that example u gave about the citizenship has no parallel), then i think there will be “peace”. and by peace here i mean the long, happy one.
Ghazala Akbar( are you the same as AMA?!), i am generally not given to florid, flowery hyperbole but reading this article made me feel like i was listening to a long lost brother( again please forgive the rhetoric but i cant resist).
i have felt the EXACT same things as you did when you stood at the lahore side of the border as when i stood at the amritsar side of it. i got swept away by ridiculous display of jingoism the same way as you did and then cringed and felt completely ashamed of myself the same way you did. even i wondered about whether there was another individual on the other side of the border who thought that this was patent nonsense and i am happy to have finally found him!
i also fully agree with all your solutions. i think that if there are people like us on either side of the border who think alike on these subjects then indeed there is room for optimism. the only thing preventing us is are the vested interests who want the status quo to remain unchanged. if the army can somehow be bypassed during decision making in your country and if the occasional stupidity of the bureaucracy can be cured in ours(that example u gave about the citizenship has no parallel), then i think there will be “peace”. and by peace here i mean the long, happy one.
oh india did propose a stop?! wow i was not aware of this. but the reason for turning it down are obvious. the army needs its countrymen to remain jingoistic and thus justify the armies role in everything that happens there. its like a jingoism training camp. send sane people to the border and see most of them come back barking the armies language.
but i think that if indians really want to put a stop to it then they should stop doing it regardless of whether or not pakistan stops or not. i mean the pakistani soldiers will look ridiculous strutting around like that if the indians soldiers just stand there indifferent! they will then have to stop too.
The barriers of hate are not only what you see at Wagah, which is nothing more than a vulgar display of arrogance. The actual barriers have been in the making for a very long time and are much deeper and enormously more widespread. The remedy that we seek will not be possible unless the underlying hatred is tackled first. And, for that we must visit primary education, text books, and the deliberate distortion of History. Besides, if the fulminations of the stalwarts of Difa-e-Pakistan Council can be curbed, it will help. Stopping the daily display of vulgarity at Wagah is not going to change anything significant.
Is it not surprising that a majority of Pakistanis still believe that India is a Hindu nation just as Pakistan is a Muslim one? Is it not true that no one hates Indians as much as Pakistanis? Is it not true that most Pakistanis blame India for their water problems, and not the bad water management? Is it not true that most Pakistanis blame India and Mukti-Bahini for separation of East Pakistan? Is it not true that most Pakistanis are ignorant about the benefits of trade with India? The list is endless, but the most unfortunate fact is that it hurts Pakistanis much more than it hurts Indians.
A very well wrtten article, a piece of history, a living example of comon culture of two divided people, the expression of shabby masqurede, but most precisely the divide between the faithful and faithless ancient bullwark. A child on one side of the border is taught the comandments of God, whereas on the other side of the border the child is brought up free of moral and ethical constraints, which only the western media was able to capture. The two people are never going to become one again for eternity. The barrier of hate is as permanent as the Himalayas, and let no one delude himself into turning the wagah divide into a Shangri La?
This is the destiny of two brothers who went apart from each other on account of their faith. Rex Minor PS The so called GT road was also the first motorway in the world, and it stretched from Delhi to Peshawar, but not byond. Also the author forgot to mention the key ingredient of the all the divides in the world, namely the presence of anglo saxons. A wonderful peace of history.
It is a bit of a “show”on both sides.
Rex minor wrote:
“A child on one side of the border is taught the comandments of God,
whereas on the other side of the border the child is brought up free of
moral and ethical constraints, which only the western media was able to
capture.”
Rex has some phantasy in his head that muslims are the only ones who are taught moral behaviour or commandments of god. Once he saw some TV scene in which a hindu boy lied and since then he is fixated onto this idea that hindu parents do not teach their children not to lie. On the other hand he thinks children in Pakistan are taught commandments of god.
Children in Pakistan are not taught any commandments of god. They are taught to hate/denigrate hindus (even their own hindu ancestors) and bootlick arabs and turks and now to bootlick also the chinese. They are taught versions of history that glorify invaders of and rapists of hindus. They are taught to think of some 7th century arab god concept as the final truth and to practise fascism in the name of this god-concept.
Children in India are taught to be honest – but nowhere in the world does everyone end up becoming an honest person, inspite of all the good teachings.
The solution to the India-Pakistan hatred is in getting rid of the arab religion and its totalitarianism, fascism and imperialism. It is the quisling nature of the muslims that is making it impossible for hindus to look at muslims as reliable friends and neighbours. All other solutions will be temporary or only worsen the problem.
The new proposal is to post a pot-bellied hawaldar at Wagah on the Indian side who knows how to sleep on the job, as India has nothing to fear from Pakistani Army.
In 1971, 93,000 Pakistani fauji surrendered to the might of the Indian Army. The Pakistani Army has no willpower or courage to take on Indian Army, despite all the useless Islamic slogans.
We, Indians need not give Pakis any weight by doing the same theatrics as Pakis do on Wagah!
And pray what was the proposal of India to Pakistan? Somewhat similar to that on Kashmir and troops withdrawl on borders? Raj too proposal is more practical!!
Rex Minor
Raison,
CHILDREN can not learn hate; hate being a reaction and not a knowledge in any sense. Zionist jews have started this propaganda several years ago, claiming that in Madrassas muslim children are given lessons on hate. Let the children Psychologists have the decency to come forward and deny it!
In my opinion and many other western believers, it must be difficult for the India parents in children upbringing, if no authority is quoted to prevent children from telling lies. Perhaps you could tell me the adult why should’nt I tell a lie if it makes me feel happy? Never mind a child!
Rex Minor
to rex
You must be blind not to know that hate is taught to muslims children even in the kuran, and also in schools.
Hindus teach their children not to lie by making recourse to the law of karma. Your arabic Allah plays no positive role in India. Both allah and law of karma are fakes. But each group has its own use of these concepts. The god concept Allah is just a puppet in the hands of Mohammad and muslim leaders. This allah is used by them also for their islamic or arabic or turkish fascism, ethnofascism and imperialism.
A muslim child is taught to tell the truth (in the name of allah) only so far that it does not hurt the interests of islamis fascism and imperialism.
@60104b6e90eb9f59279eba18c318918f:disqus
Sorry, I thought we were talking about a child, an innocent child and not about the grown up infidel? You have not given a single reason why Ishould not lie if it pleases me? This is what the Indian child said, it makes him feel happy, and his mother was beside him, simply smiling!! Instead you are now simply blowing in the air without any substance.
The barrier between the believers and the non-believers is there to stay for eternity! Let no one delude himself to hope that the barrier of hate is likely to be dismantled in the near future!
, either by force or by coersion. A civilised dialogue and tolerance with respect for each others opinion( instead of arrogance and intolerence) are the prerequisites for any change in the status!
Rex Minor
Except for the farce that both parties display to simply show what they have inherited military march from the British Raj, there is enough in the article to remind sensible people, that display of force or as some say hate is simply counterproductive and must be put to end voluntarily by one or other party without expecting anything in return.
Rex Minor
Rex Minor,
But you have lied countless times when you claimed that Quran forbids polygamy.
We made Pakistan for Muslims of India and then blocked them from coming to Pakistan. First Pakistan and then Israel were made on the basis of a two nation theory. Til today no Jew is ever stopped from entering Israel even after creation of Israel. Instead encouraged to migrate, given lands and money. Here we say we made Pakistan for Islam and block comrades in the same struggle. Lets open our hearts and doors for Muslims to get into Pakistan please if at all we believe in the two nation theory. We cannot leave them to face the enemies like that. We are safe what about them? If our struggle is based on the right and not wrong then we cannot do this wrong. Who gave whom the right to block Muslims from entering Pakistan? Open the doors and open hearts.
As far as I know, Muslims are serial liars. They have Taqiyya, the Hudaibiya Treaty, etc. If lying is in the interest of Islam, they will do it readily. Besides Muslim economy is based on all sorts of illegal activities – smuggling, blackmailing, terrorism, counterfeiting, street toll, etc. There is indeed no comparison between Islam and Dharma.
In Dharma, speaking the truth is a basic tenet! People see some exception and want to make theories based on a single observation. Very unscientific indeed! But then Islam does not have an iota of science in it!
The only scrfiptures which mentions about one wife! How can a non believer skeptic could ever understand the scriptures; this is beyond my knowledge: And how can a muslim come closer to the truth when he is ignorant of the arabic language and arabic culture. This is beyond my imagination. But if it makes you feel happy then this is good for your health. I am not going to discuss religion with a non beiever or an atheist? a good day.
Rex Minor
Pity Ghazala, is devoid of our past heritage,otherwise,she would Not,have,written this
Article.Pakistan,and what is India, are two different entities, a fact known to the natives
alone.Ethnically & from the linguistic points,as well.
Raj too
Interesting! U are an ideal candidate for closing the gap between countries – by trying to march into rather through the good deeds. Muslims are serial liars? Could be but the credit for the trend setting be taken by ur great Nehru who had promised self determination for Kashmiris and instead a force of 700,000 peace loving truthful Indians now parade the cities and the villages of Kashmir, looting killing an raping with gusto and not taking the credit for the same.
We are told that the neighbours have the most rights and your great Chanakyia’s wisdom, that u follow is that the neighbours are born enemies!
Who is a liar – the people who came through the borders now guarded by Pakistan came the many Ghauris and Ghaznavis who you curse for having made u slave for the next thousand years or so. And u are hypocrats and liars that you are dying to “chous” the same people.
The dialogue that you tried entering into bringing Isalm and muslims in the foray helps none . I have deliberately avoided to say anything about hindus or hinduism or what is taught in your books. Our prophet has forbidden us to castigate any religion/belief what so ever. “Do not redicule them for what they believe in” And believe me there is plenty in your books to quote and hammer those through. Hence is the reason that no bible was burnt in response to Pastor Terry Jones.
Nehru was a by-product of the Brit-Islamic agenda for the Subcontinent. He was a wimp and an idiot of highest degree. He did not represent the Indic Civilization.
The lands of Kashmir, current Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. have been part of the Indic Civilization since time immemorial. He wanted to play the game according to the rules made by his British masters. His promises or no-promises means nothing.
Kashmir is not up for negotiation or for promises made by an idiot.
If the current crop of Wahabbized Kashmiris have a problem with staying in India, they can go screw and emigrate.
Kashmiri land remains part of the Indic Civilization. Nobody in India gives two coots about what impotent Pakistanis think about it.
Dr Ghazala AKBAR’s view are refreshing and commendable and worth emulating wholeheartedly..
tourist attrACtion or nuts, the farcical and pompous official,. carry-onm-regardless ceremonies speciously held at sunset time over Wagah-Attari borderlines should be discontinued forthwith in greater public/peace/goodwill interest/s —please!.
view, read views, svp. geoffrey
BAKWAAS HAI SAB. Yeh sab symbolism hai. High School Stuff hai. Indian muslims were duped by the Marwari Bania.. it was a game of “ziddam-zidda”.. i will not buy the toy for you.. the child wails and wails.. until the child is given a small toy (half than his earlier demand). the child still cries.. but accept what is given (something better than nothing). On the other hand, practically 17 crore muslims of Pakistan, 17 crore of India and 17 crore of B-Desh.. the aam aadmi.. the aam muslim.. still suffer.
No potable water
No electricity
No drainage
No road
Marginalise ho kar rahh gaye. Maulana Abulkalam Azad was not a popular leader – he was an intellectual – and he had predicted that this partition would destroy / break the back of indian muslims into 3 pieces.
NOW WHAT ? We can still salvage what we have. For Instance, Pakistan can merge with Afghanistan and Iran., to produce some big republic.. But there is the shia-sunni jhagda.. the various languages.. Why dont muslims make English their common language of commerce and science..
I can write a lot.. but i halt.. for its useless.. honestly.