Alright, upfront let me tell you, the heading is sarcastic and the litmus test for being an Indian today seems to be if you hate Pakistan or not.
India's and Indian's interest in Pakistan is natural given the shared history, culture and language. But today's social media's certain section wants to judge you as NOT a true Indian if you have a soft corner for Pakistan. As it's an enemy state.
I don't know, to me this hatred or animosity is not natural and I always feel that a strong, democratic Pakistan is always good and beneficial for India. As all Indian I too feel that partition on the basis of religion was stupid but we can't live in history we have to look forward or upward depends which direction you should be moving.
I make my own decision and I have decided to believe in Pakistan. I like to think that it will overcome the turmoil which she is into which frankly she has herself to blame. In political discussion we talk about country as it is a person. But a country is more vivid and vibrant than that.
Thanks to news and media we have a very one-sided view about Pakistan, as an extremist state which vehemently support Islamism in practice and thought and law. All of it is not incorrect but most of it certainly is.
I got interested in Pakistan's news and discussion as a fun factor initially. As an Indian thankfully we are taught in school to be tolerant and acceptability toward different religion. Of course doesn't work all the time but at least most of us refrain from "my religion is right and your is wrong" discussions. Our outlook for most part isn't a religion basis. I think as we grow up we become more religiously corrupted. That's why today on social media people who were childhood friends find themselves endorsing opposite ideological substance based on their respective religion even they are in each others' friend list.
Anyway when I started to watch Pakistan's news debate and discussion thanks to common language, it was funny initially because it seems they were much in denial and very quick in blaming India for their inner problems. That's a natural, all country does that it brings you together if you target external threat. Do you remember how India was united at Kargil war or after 2008 Mumbai attack. Don't we blame ISI and to some extent big brother China for providing arms to north-eastern insurgency groups?
But after the initial fun factor I got from Pakistan's news channel debate which pointed out they have superior missile technology and they ruled India for 1000 or so years and they won 1965 war and they are more cultured and countless other stuff, I also noticed that many people at the core of it does NOT really believe in two-nation theory and the idea that Hindu and Muslims can't live together. Many intellectuals can really gaze the difference in Pakistan as a peaceful cohesive multi-culture place pre-independence has now become chaotic. Many people realize that until and unless they don't eradicate some core philosophies they can't be progressive. There are people who are ready to take the blame that there was something wrong in strategy either in partition or even in the war Pakistan fought afterward.
Now let me tell you a small story. There was a kingdom, it was prosperous and Men and women were equal, they had equal say and participation, though women didn't match the physical strength they were much at par on psychological and mental strength. No men in the kingdom could think as women are lesser to him. Then something happened, another king started attacking this kingdom in small skirmishes. Due to being a soft target, women were often kidnapped and troubled. Then to overcome these problems Men had responsibility to protect women, they asked their women to not to wander alone, not to go out of home at odd timings and certainly not without male companions. Women agreed citing their safety and then it became norms for generations. But subconsciously women started agreeing to men rules even when their was no threat because ultimately men were protector.
Friends it's a story of protector becoming master. Now think of all the underworld don and mafia, Didn't they all started as protector? maybe for their family, neighborhood, clan or kingdom. It doesn't take much for protector to become master.
Coming back to the context I think that Pakistani army in the same line became master from protector. Pakistan always felt the danger from India and it forced them to trust their army as their savior. For one reason or another Pakistani army always came into play and their status as the key decision-maker is undeniable.
India on the other hand did remarkably good citing the vastness it has. That doesn't mean there are no problems. The internal problem which India faces today in terms of maoism, poverty and overpopulation is more deadly than any external problem we can think of. But even then India is progressing forward, the reason I think is India has given due respect to multi-culture and multi-linguistic aspects.
Since Pakistan was created on the basis of Islam, Islam has become core concept and most of them always see India as a Hindu state which on ground is far from truth. But then since they have spectacles of religion it sort of gives color of religion in almost all matters concerning India. (so called) Atrocities in Kashmir or Demolition of Babri mosque or Gujarat riot or any communal issue assert them of their views.
But I always felt that since India and Pakistan were virtually the same country, The common people are same and have acceptability, they might not always be right but they at core are tolerant and progressive. Many in Pakistan realizes that maybe partition was not a great idea given the count of death and displaced and new problems it added. That doesn't mean we should try to correct it, It will be horrendous, I don't see India and Pakistan becoming one country again not in next 500 years. But that in no way means that India and Pakistan can't be a friendly neighbor.
Its always a matter of choice, whether you want to hate someone or love someone or for that matter be neutral. India is much ahead in development index, but that shouldn't make us arrogant. Instead of ridiculing, mocking and blaming maybe India should help Pakistan in realizing it's mistakes and correcting it.
It's easier to be a friend than to be an enemy.
One question recently came up by nationalist Indian when Shivsena threatened noted Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali proposed concert was that would you listen to a Pakistani singer when Indian soldiers are getting killed by Pakistani soldiers?
Well tell you what not all of us are so void of art as you are, Are there not soldiers in our army who like to listen magical ghazals by Ghulam Ali? Music and art break barriers and boundaries. As a human we all are naturally found of good immaterial from where it's coming. you could have guessed that I am a fan of Ghulam Ali, But I really abhor Atif Aslam singing, even then I think he has all the right to perform because lots of people adore them.
If hating Pakistan is a certificate of being a patriotic Indian, i don't want to own that certificate.
Another question normally asked on social media is that look how Pakistan treats their minorities and we give our minorities special privileges.
I don't believe in giving special treatment to anyone but I also don't take Pakistan as role model for treating minorities. There is a reason India is India and not Pakistan. The bad in Pakistan can't be a justification for bad in India. If you consider Pakistan bad why the hell you are citing is an example for your deed. Do you say that look how Hitler treated Jews and how we are treating? I am not
comparing Pakistan with Hitler, i am just pointing out the corrupted mentality of these "true" Indian.
Some people have this mirage of having a Hindu India, I think the Hindu India is one where all the religion has a say. Hinduism in it's core believes in polytheism and also monotheism and also atheism. So an India where Hindus are superior or are first class citizen is not actually a Hindu India.
So if your idea of Hindu India is based on Saudi Arabia model. Your understanding of Hinduism is rather shallow.
It's a common misconception that people own the land, Maharashtra is for Marathas, Tamils own Tamilnadu, Muslim owns Pakistan and Hindus own India. The reality is that your lands own you. You are the one who will be part of the land one day. Land will be there much much after you are gone.
It's such an irony, people with extreme ideology blames Pakistan for extreme ideologies. You are behaving in the way for which you are blaming other. The word for that is Hippocrat.
Bottom line is I decline to hate Pakistan or Pakistani and I don't care if it doesn't suits your definition of "proud Indian".
India's and Indian's interest in Pakistan is natural given the shared history, culture and language. But today's social media's certain section wants to judge you as NOT a true Indian if you have a soft corner for Pakistan. As it's an enemy state.
I don't know, to me this hatred or animosity is not natural and I always feel that a strong, democratic Pakistan is always good and beneficial for India. As all Indian I too feel that partition on the basis of religion was stupid but we can't live in history we have to look forward or upward depends which direction you should be moving.
I make my own decision and I have decided to believe in Pakistan. I like to think that it will overcome the turmoil which she is into which frankly she has herself to blame. In political discussion we talk about country as it is a person. But a country is more vivid and vibrant than that.
Thanks to news and media we have a very one-sided view about Pakistan, as an extremist state which vehemently support Islamism in practice and thought and law. All of it is not incorrect but most of it certainly is.
I got interested in Pakistan's news and discussion as a fun factor initially. As an Indian thankfully we are taught in school to be tolerant and acceptability toward different religion. Of course doesn't work all the time but at least most of us refrain from "my religion is right and your is wrong" discussions. Our outlook for most part isn't a religion basis. I think as we grow up we become more religiously corrupted. That's why today on social media people who were childhood friends find themselves endorsing opposite ideological substance based on their respective religion even they are in each others' friend list.
Anyway when I started to watch Pakistan's news debate and discussion thanks to common language, it was funny initially because it seems they were much in denial and very quick in blaming India for their inner problems. That's a natural, all country does that it brings you together if you target external threat. Do you remember how India was united at Kargil war or after 2008 Mumbai attack. Don't we blame ISI and to some extent big brother China for providing arms to north-eastern insurgency groups?
But after the initial fun factor I got from Pakistan's news channel debate which pointed out they have superior missile technology and they ruled India for 1000 or so years and they won 1965 war and they are more cultured and countless other stuff, I also noticed that many people at the core of it does NOT really believe in two-nation theory and the idea that Hindu and Muslims can't live together. Many intellectuals can really gaze the difference in Pakistan as a peaceful cohesive multi-culture place pre-independence has now become chaotic. Many people realize that until and unless they don't eradicate some core philosophies they can't be progressive. There are people who are ready to take the blame that there was something wrong in strategy either in partition or even in the war Pakistan fought afterward.
Now let me tell you a small story. There was a kingdom, it was prosperous and Men and women were equal, they had equal say and participation, though women didn't match the physical strength they were much at par on psychological and mental strength. No men in the kingdom could think as women are lesser to him. Then something happened, another king started attacking this kingdom in small skirmishes. Due to being a soft target, women were often kidnapped and troubled. Then to overcome these problems Men had responsibility to protect women, they asked their women to not to wander alone, not to go out of home at odd timings and certainly not without male companions. Women agreed citing their safety and then it became norms for generations. But subconsciously women started agreeing to men rules even when their was no threat because ultimately men were protector.
Friends it's a story of protector becoming master. Now think of all the underworld don and mafia, Didn't they all started as protector? maybe for their family, neighborhood, clan or kingdom. It doesn't take much for protector to become master.
Coming back to the context I think that Pakistani army in the same line became master from protector. Pakistan always felt the danger from India and it forced them to trust their army as their savior. For one reason or another Pakistani army always came into play and their status as the key decision-maker is undeniable.
India on the other hand did remarkably good citing the vastness it has. That doesn't mean there are no problems. The internal problem which India faces today in terms of maoism, poverty and overpopulation is more deadly than any external problem we can think of. But even then India is progressing forward, the reason I think is India has given due respect to multi-culture and multi-linguistic aspects.
Since Pakistan was created on the basis of Islam, Islam has become core concept and most of them always see India as a Hindu state which on ground is far from truth. But then since they have spectacles of religion it sort of gives color of religion in almost all matters concerning India. (so called) Atrocities in Kashmir or Demolition of Babri mosque or Gujarat riot or any communal issue assert them of their views.
But I always felt that since India and Pakistan were virtually the same country, The common people are same and have acceptability, they might not always be right but they at core are tolerant and progressive. Many in Pakistan realizes that maybe partition was not a great idea given the count of death and displaced and new problems it added. That doesn't mean we should try to correct it, It will be horrendous, I don't see India and Pakistan becoming one country again not in next 500 years. But that in no way means that India and Pakistan can't be a friendly neighbor.
Its always a matter of choice, whether you want to hate someone or love someone or for that matter be neutral. India is much ahead in development index, but that shouldn't make us arrogant. Instead of ridiculing, mocking and blaming maybe India should help Pakistan in realizing it's mistakes and correcting it.
It's easier to be a friend than to be an enemy.
One question recently came up by nationalist Indian when Shivsena threatened noted Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali proposed concert was that would you listen to a Pakistani singer when Indian soldiers are getting killed by Pakistani soldiers?
Well tell you what not all of us are so void of art as you are, Are there not soldiers in our army who like to listen magical ghazals by Ghulam Ali? Music and art break barriers and boundaries. As a human we all are naturally found of good immaterial from where it's coming. you could have guessed that I am a fan of Ghulam Ali, But I really abhor Atif Aslam singing, even then I think he has all the right to perform because lots of people adore them.
If hating Pakistan is a certificate of being a patriotic Indian, i don't want to own that certificate.
Another question normally asked on social media is that look how Pakistan treats their minorities and we give our minorities special privileges.
I don't believe in giving special treatment to anyone but I also don't take Pakistan as role model for treating minorities. There is a reason India is India and not Pakistan. The bad in Pakistan can't be a justification for bad in India. If you consider Pakistan bad why the hell you are citing is an example for your deed. Do you say that look how Hitler treated Jews and how we are treating? I am not
comparing Pakistan with Hitler, i am just pointing out the corrupted mentality of these "true" Indian.
Some people have this mirage of having a Hindu India, I think the Hindu India is one where all the religion has a say. Hinduism in it's core believes in polytheism and also monotheism and also atheism. So an India where Hindus are superior or are first class citizen is not actually a Hindu India.
So if your idea of Hindu India is based on Saudi Arabia model. Your understanding of Hinduism is rather shallow.
It's a common misconception that people own the land, Maharashtra is for Marathas, Tamils own Tamilnadu, Muslim owns Pakistan and Hindus own India. The reality is that your lands own you. You are the one who will be part of the land one day. Land will be there much much after you are gone.
It's such an irony, people with extreme ideology blames Pakistan for extreme ideologies. You are behaving in the way for which you are blaming other. The word for that is Hippocrat.
Bottom line is I decline to hate Pakistan or Pakistani and I don't care if it doesn't suits your definition of "proud Indian".
