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Janab Pervaiz Sahib
When we held the session on 13th August 2005 to celebrate
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Jawaid Chaudhry |
Independence Day of both India and Pakistan,
under one roof, our objective was Peace between India and Pakistan. Some people
interpret this as a move to merge Pakistan with India. Of course, that was not
our objective.
I was also wondering how we could keep religion and politics out of our
objective. I do realize that it is not easy [to keep religion and politics
out]. So, here we go.
We have received letters full of politics and religion. Good letters they
are. Rafi Aamer Sahib has written very convincing and persuasive letters.
Arif Razvi, and others, too. I request that debate between writers remain
non-personal.
Out of learning through infinite mediums, two seem very relevant for
politics and religion. One learning is through media, and politicians and
priests. The other is through ones own observations, [in spite of and even
through the media and politicians]. Lots of us blindly accept what media and
politicians, and of course the mullahs say. But also, lots of us observe
that Pakistani media and politicians rarely speak the truth, when it comes
to politics. So, we form our opinions according to our capacity, according
to what we realize must be the truth.
For partition, and about many other things, Pakistanis and Muslims blame
Hindus, Christians, Jews, America, the colonial powers, the exploiters, the
users, the abusers. But we do not look at ourselves. May I use a classic
example? If man can ride donkey then who is smart and who is stupid? Man or
donkey? Can man ride a tiger, too. We let the others ride us, and not admit our
weakness.
Indeed we all have opinions about the reasons for partition, its
consequences and politics in Pakistan after partition. Was not so in the
past, but now, the whole picture is so clear to me.
August 1947 in Pakistan, average Joes like me were dancing in the streets.
Sadly we are still doing that, even in Toronto, at the City Hall, marching
at the University Avenue. We are allowing those leading such parades ride us. We
do not for a minute think what will the millions of people
[non-Pakistanis] watching such occasions on television will think of us? Oh,
God, but they already know, don't they?
Anyway, what's done is done. Now lets try to repair the damage. Lets not
hold future as hostage, because of past.
JC
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