I read this interesting, albeit a little contentious, piece by Ravinder Kaur that examined the impact of partition on settling the communal question. The article states:
"The sixtieth anniversary of the independence of Pakistan and India on 14-15 August 2007 has prompted official celebration in both countries, as well as an ocean of commemorative coverage in the world’s media. The terrible violence that accompanied the birthpangs of the two states from the ashes of empire is an inevitable theme in much commentary. What is being less addressed amid the profusion of human stories - and what this article considers - is whether the problems of communal division in the sub-continent were or are best addressed by the partition of territory."
The recent weeks have seen a splurge of such discussions in the media (including the new media) that attempt to re-examine and explore the partition of India. In particular, the sufferings of millions who crossed the line have yet again come to light.
Another reflective piece that I discovered is “pain of partition “ that recounted the sufferings of migrants on both the sides of the divide.
And today, Vidya Rao - a celebrated classical singer from India sent this petition that seeks to heal the wounds that still hurt our collective lives:
Apology Petition
Dear Victims of the Partition-related Violence in South Asia:
The mass murder, rape, pillage and suffering that accompanied the partition of British India in 1947, have left deep scars on the psyche of the people of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the former East Pakistan.
Tens of thousands were murdered, raped, and maimed, and millions were displaced in an immense human tragedy, that continues to poison our discourse, and feed mutual suspicions and hatreds.
Therefore, we, the members of the Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA), and others, who have signed below, believe that the time has come for all of us jointly to condemn, without distinction, the insane orgy of violence and intimidation that accompanied the great human divide of 1947.
On the 60th anniversary of the Independence of India and Pakistan, we recall that dark chapter in our history so as to ensure that these tragedies will not be forgotten, or repeated.
We hope that coming generations will learn from this man-made calamity, and turn away from divisions based on religion, ethnicity, language, national origin, caste, or creed.
Taking lessons from history, we undertake to shun the political use of religion and communalism.
We regret that our forebears, the colonial British administration, and the successor governments did not prevent the tragedy. They also failed to punish the perpetrators, and apologize to you and your families.
In the spirit of harmony and goodwill among the people of South Asia, and to help build a new South Asian present and future, we grieve for and with you. We offer our deepest sympathies and most solemn regrets to you and your families.
We are sorry!
This petition can be accessed here and those interested may like to sign it. I know the prevalent cynicism about such online petitions, but long journeys begin with small steps.
We have a barricaded road ahead - let’s aim to tread this difficult path.
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1. MESSAGE FOR KASHIF & VIPIN Written by K Mukhtar, on 03-07-2008 11:39 Dear Kashif & Vipin,
Sorry the topic is not relevant to the subject but I had no idea to contact you and hence this...Just came across the website. What a fantastic idea. I congratulate you on establishing this website. Will be back whenever I have time to see more. Just thought I will record my appreciation to both of you for getting it started. It is not just "nice to have" but a MUST in todays world for these two GREAT neighboring countries to join hands and face the world as one.
I totally understand the pain our earlier generations have gone through and are bitter every time you mention India - Pakistan friendship, but it is time for us to move on and make sure no one can come between these two friends.
All the best, Khalid
2. What about Migration? Written by vkvora, on 27-03-2008 22:30 Hi ! I am from Kutch Boarder of India Pakistan. At present Kutch is District of Indian Gujarat State. Orginally we were free to go Karanchi or any part of Sindh as there is no difference between Sindhi and Kutchi Language.
Then What happen?
Our forefathers were free to visit Karanchi and it become difficult, we travel from Kutch Mandvi to Mumbai instead of Karanchi.
What about Language?
There is no difference between Sindhi and Kutch but there vast difference between Kutchi and Gujarati and kutchi and Marathi of Mumbai.
What about Food?
Kutch was getting Red Rice from Sindh and now there is no hope.
Any other?
Yes, Kutch is draught prone Area, our cattel were free to travel from Kutch to Sindh but now it is not possible.
Shall I add more? Ko bhaa mar khyeni aay?
Alternate?
Yes, at least there should be dialoug to open the boundry between Kutch and Sindh.
3. Welcome Effort Written by Dilip Kumar, on 07-03-2008 18:10 i think partition was the darkest moment of the histroy of SA nations.an effort like this is the need of the time.People to people contact ,perosnal observations and thought transfer is a must thing to maintain the harmony. govt are idles, pple are active and emotionalized still.our representative, govt , cant do any thing to bring peace and harmony in these nations.. so i think its our time to react and be responsible to take sucha radical step.
4. reunification MUST happen Written by sham, on 06-03-2008 05:03 i accept gujarat happened, so did Babri Masjid...but also u must look at the ethnic cleansing of the Kashmiri Pundits, the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, its not only muslims that have suffered in riots.
having said that these are isolated incidents if you look over the course of the last 60yrs it is a true phenomemen that india has stayed so secular and democratic, praise must go to all the people of india.
in pak, i believe there was 35% hindus/sikhs before 1947, now there are 1%?? where did they go?? they migrated or were killed. How many mandirs and gurdwaras have been broken in pakistan??
but i dont want to go into this anymore, the point i am making is partition has been disaster for all communities of india. pak is home to the indus valley of 7000yrs, we are brothers. Maulana Azad once said every lover of peace must emphasise similarities not differences, as for that matter no two human beings are the same.
i for one would embrace any pakistani who wanted to see their land rejoin with us. I hope and pray this happens, and i hope we can maintain the secular democratic state, and in the process the kashmir problem will be resolved and we can fight our really enemy....poverty
5. Indo Pak RElations Written by S Chander, on 24-12-2007 21:25 I strongly feel that by gone is by gone. Accept the entity of two countries as independent countries. Stop blaming each others and playing into the hands of politicians. Remember that wars do not solve the problem but add to the problem. The two wars of 20th century brought more misery to Europe but happiness to the politicians and war mongers. EU is best example of live and let live. I was born in an area which is now in Pakistan but I do not have any ill feeling for the people of that area. We have common heritage and cultural thoughts. Religion is personal thing of the individual and it should be left at that for best of interest of both the countries.
6. I am sorry but you are wrong Written by Aman, on 18-12-2007 05:38 Dear Abdul Qudus
I am sorry but i do not agree with you that India doesnt considers Pakistan as a seprate country. I have lived in India all my life and as a an outsider (with all due respect) who has never been to India you probably wouldn't understand what an average Indian feel about Pakistan. I hold my hand and regretfully admit that many Indians hate Pakistanis (some even dont know why) and thsts where the problem lies - our younger genration doesnt even know what is the fundamentals of kashmir issues butthey seem to blindly think its Pakistans fault and they should be blamed for it. What you have just put in you article is 60 years of blame culture that has been passed on from generations. That is what needs to change.....there is another observation that i have made and please correct me if i am wrong....a lot of pakistanis like yourself in this artice talk about how muslims are being discriminated against and unlawfully killed in India...which i know for fact that happens in India due to politics or insanity or just hatred.....what about Hindus in Pakistan.....please refer to this article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_in_Pakistan .....hindus are being mistreated in Pakistan as well and i hold no Pakistani accountable for this but only the minority....my only concern is that if this blame culture between the two country carries on like it has for the last 60 years then we will get no where.....I know a lot of muslims sadly dies in Gujrat riots but only a drop in the sea in comparison to the suffering of hindus during invasion of india by foreign muslims (by using the word foreign i mean that i do not consider the muslims living in India today as foreig) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Hindus ........I guess at the end the choice is ours.....What do we leave for our children....LOVE or HATE.....generations have veen making that choice for the last 60 years and i am afraid those of you who agree with on both sides of the border......we have probably been too late....but all we have and always will is HOPE......insha allah & bhagwaan karai....we will achieve Peace one day.....Thanks for reading!!
7. Written by err, on 27-09-2007 06:18 is*
8. Abdul Qudus, Written by Smitha Shetty, on 27-09-2007 06:17 To begin with, Raza Rumi if from Lahore, Pakistan not India. And the article is anything but what you accuse it of being. Which part of the article, "lectures" Pakistanis and who wants Pakistan to reunite? Pray tell me.
What makes you think, we are obsessed with Pakistan? We know better than any damn country, that Pakistan IS a separate entity.
Why are you disillusioned into believing that we don't accept Pakistan as a country? Half the Pakistanis I meet online suffer from this delusion.
And why do you always have to play the Hindu-Muslim trump card? Why do people like you, always have a skewed interpretation of a whole story? Why is the sympathy only reserved for your Muslim brethren? Why don't YOU accept that, they are Indians first?
Your last comment is outrageously funny - It's like saying - The Pakistanis should protest against the Government(?) that Baluchistan dispute should be resolved according to the desire of Baluchis.
9. india should practically do somthing Written by abdul qudus, on 03-09-2007 23:29 as salam o alikum my name is abdul qudus i am student of a university in faisalabad, Pakistan. dear raza bhai i have read your whole article and also that article too that you have pasted here. indeed it is a good article and one should think as what you have said, having said that one should also act good for the good relations among the two conutries, Pakistan and India. one thing i am unable to understand or may be i understand is that why only muslims and Pakistanis are continoulsy being lectured by you people. why only we are told by you people that we should reunite once again. i think that you people (Indianis) dont accept Pakistan as a conutry. why India and indians should not realise all these things?. what happened in gujrat where only and only muslims were martyred, killed inhumanley. who did that, was any muslim involved?. no sir no only hindoos were the culprits and those were involved in inhuman killing of muslims. india should also show the flexibility rather than only advising the others. and the indians should protest, instead of only advising (baghal mein churry aur moonh mein ram ram), against their government that kashmir despitue should be resolved according to the desire of kashmiri people. in this way peace can come in this region of the world.
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 25 March 2008 )
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I read this interesting, albeit a little contentious, piece by Ravinder Kaur that examined the impact of partition on settling the communal question. The article states:
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