Mohammad Jamil
Pkarticleshub Exclusive
For some time, there is planned and systematic campaign in international and a part of local media to create doubts about the Quaid’s vision by painting him in a bad light, challenging the basis for creation of Pakistan and questioning the ability and capability of the armed forces to defend the motherland. A freelance journalist Marvi Sirmed has recently written an article in a local English daily under the caption “BAAGHI: a head-on collisions with the hawks”, after an encounter with the anchorperson of private TV channel. While appreciating Mian Nawaz Sharif’s remarks about commonality of culture between Indians and Pakistanis, she wrote: “If we still describe ourselves as a separate ‘nation’ from our own Hindu, Christian, Sikh and other religious communities and justify building borders based on this ‘separation’, just imagine what exactly we are saying. What we are saying is, every community other than Muslims is justified and entitled to demand a separate country even today”.
She went on to state: “A section of ‘patriotic’ Pakistanis are always quick to brand you as ‘anti-Pakistan’, ‘Pakistan-loathing’ ‘armchair analyst’ and do not waste any time in advising you to quickly leave Pakistan. In my case, it was spiked with aggressive death threats”. Though death threats to her should be condemned, she should also show a little care for the sensitivities of the great majority of the people of Pakistan. Anyhow, it is up to Marvi sirmad to see how uncomfortable she feels here, and decide settling in a country where she feels more comfortable. It is unfortunate that some palmed off Pakistani intellectuals, media men and politicians denigrate Quaid-e-Azam by giving a spin to his statements with a view to proving their respective points. Since Marvi sirmed was motivated by Mian Nawaz Sharif’s speech, and wrote the article under reference, it would be appropriate to examine what Mian sabib had said.
While addressing the SAFMA seminar on 13th August 2011, Mian Nawaz Sharif reportedly said that “Indians and Pakistanis have the same culture and worship the same god”. Whereas Pakistan should have good relations with all the countries of the world especially neighbouring countries, there is no need to find or contrive the commonalities that do not exist. Of course, both countries can benefit from good relations, because instead of spending on defence, they can divert their resources for the welfare of their people. Having that said, Mr. Majid Nizami, Chairman Nazaria Pakistan Trust and Editor-in-Chief took exception to Mian Nawaz Sharif’s remarks, and in his address on Pakistan Day said: “Pakistan was achieved on the basis of Two-Nations Theory; how the culture of two nations could be the same. We worship one God and Indians believe in idols and their gods have five heads”.
On the other hand, mandarins have supported Mian Nawaz Sharif’s statement and avail the opportunity to lash out on the Two-Nation theory. They often distort history and logic but the fact remains that basis for the creation of Pakistan was the Two-Nation theory which was accepted by the British, Indian National Congress and the world at large. Unfortunately the Quaid’s statements are torn out of context, and some religious elements that had opposed Pakistan movement now wish to impose their perception of Islam, which is at variance with the great majority of people of Pakistan. Quaid-e-Azam during his broadcast talk to the people of the United States of America had categorically stated: “The constitution of Pakistan has yet to be framed by the Pakistan Constituent Assembly. I do not know what the ultimate shape of this constitution is going to be, but I am sure that it will be of a democratic type, embodying the essential principle of Islam…In any case, Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic state to be ruled by priests with a divine mission”.
The problem is that liberal democrats, religious parties and leftists could not understand the primary reason for the creation of Pakistan. The Quaid was as visionary. He was concerned that after the British leave India, there would be a new imperialism of brute Hindu majority who would ruthlessly exploit Muslims who were socially and economically backward. It has to be mentioned that foreign historians as well as Indian writers who despite showing their aversion to creation of Pakistan have narrated the facts that brute Hindu majority had pushed Muslims against the wall; medium of instructions in schools was Hindi, and despite vociferous demand by the Muslims, Urdu medium schools were not established. In schools, it was compulsory to sing Vanday Matram for all students including Muslims. And on festivals, Muslims were not allowed to celebrate with enthuse and religious fervour. It was under these compelling circumstances that the Quaid had come out with the Two-Nation theory and secured a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent.
It has to be mentioned that some foreign powers are out to destabilize Pakistan. Apart from other incontrovertible evidence, Dr. Zulfikar Mirza, former Sindh PPP minister has leveled very serious charges against the MQM and federal interior minister Rehman Malik seriously, and these should not be dismissed just like that. Those very disconcertingly relate to the country’s security, stability, in fact its very existence. He has spoken of a US conspiracy to break up Pakistan, of which he says MQM supremo Altaf Hussain is very much part. He further claims that Altaf Hussain had written to former British prime minister Tony Blair for the disbandment of the ISI. And he accused Malik of being a compulsive liar, hand-in-glove with terrorists in Karachi. His accusations have touched off very troubling alarms in the people’s minds which cannot be settled down by counter-allegations against him by the MQM. A high level tribunal should be constituted to examine those charges.
The writer is a veteran analyst based in Lahore. He can be reached at mjamil1938@hotmail.com
The Quaid must be turning in his grave upon watching the manipulation of his creation by the elite nexus of Generals-Jaagirdaars-Industrialists. His ghost must be mourning at the sight of Sunnis killing Shias, and seeing Ahmadiyaas getting discriminated, of minorities getting decimated. He must be sulking at having to watch Muslims in India prosper as part a secular nation, the kind which he had envisaged Pakistan to be.
The Two Nation Theory is a total farce. The logic of Two-Nations states that Hindus and Muslims are two distinct blocks. It totally misses the fact that these blocks are further sub-divided into so many little pieces, that none of them can be joined together to form those Two Blocks. Neither of these two blocks ever existed as a functioning whole, their existence is just a figment of imagination.
If the entire 1.6 Billion Population of the sub-continent is broken down based on religio-political lines, it will reveal the following groups:
450 million Upper Caste Hindus
250 million Lower Caste Hindus, who are totally unaligned with the Upper Castes
450 million Sunni Muslims
200 million Shia Muslims, who are largely unaligned with the Sunnis.
200 million Dalits, who are totally atheist, and unaligned with any of the above.
The rest are Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, etc.
And furthermore all these groups listed above are sliced and diced into more linguistic and distinct geographic sub-groups.
In India, every 2% of the population is different from the other 98%. But all those different 2% pieces added together have created the largest secular democratic republic of the world.
A truly secular democratic nation of the above composition could never have been an anathema to any single group. The power of democracy would have ensured that no single group ever becomes dominant. It would have accorded equal rights and statuses to every individual, as has been largely achieved in a secular India. It also would have created the largest economic block in the world, far more superior, powerful and prosperous than any other country.
Unfortunately, historical hindsight is always going to be 20/20. What has been done cannot be undone. If the people of the subcontinent want to prosper, they must cease all differences and create a tightly knit economic block which will ensure that the true potential of this region is brought to fruition.
Given the pathetic circumstances of muslims in India, the Two-Nation Theory stands to be a fact of history and reality. None of the cooperation and friendly relations aspects of a new nation is anulled due to its birth. I do not foresee much hope for muslims in india. They are either gradually forced into being cultural hindus or murdered for their beliefs. Feel pity and pray for them.