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Garma
Garam More |
Terrorism in Punjab |
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While the euphoria of the 50th anniversary of the creation of Pakistan and India is over, we need to take stock of where we stand today vis-à-vis our relationship with people across the border. The generation that witnessed the dislocation of millions of people across Punjab and the mass murder of hundreds and thousands of people in the name of religion, still keeps the memories alive of the homes and villages they were forced to leave, friends and relatives they have not seen in 50 years, and the sweet smell of the soil that they grew up on. The wall of hatred that was built as a result of the partition of the Punjab has been kept intact and strengthened by the vested interests on both sides of the border. However, the need for the people on both sides of Punjab to communicate with each other is very much there. The total lack of communication between the peoples of Pakistan and India in general and the Punjabis in particular is finally beginning to decrease and a limited level of contact through exchange of scholars, journalists and common citizens has started. A positive step in this direction will be to allow open communication between the two sides in order to not only reduce tensions at the state level but also to allow the people to visit each other. Such open contacts will lead to better relations between Pakistan and India and also help foster an atmosphere of friendship between the people across the border. While respecting the borders of the two nations, it would be mutually beneficial for the people to be able to visit their towns and villages, and meet friends that they had to leave so abruptly in 1947. As a result, the Punjabi language and culture on both sides of the border has not been able to benefit from the tremendous variety that exists in various regions of the Punjab. While the Punjabi language on both sides of the border was enriched - by Hindi and Sanskrit words and idioms in East Punjab and by Persian and Arabic words and idioms in West Punjab - they have nevertheless remained mutually exclusive. With greater contacts among scholars and others, Punjabi language and culture will be enriched. The mutual difficulty of reading - in Gurmukhi for the Punjabis in West Punjab and Shahmukhi for the Punjabis in East Punjab - needs to be addressed in order to enhance communication. Among other options, scholars need to write and publish in both scripts so that people on both sides can benefit by the rich literature that is being created. With current computer technology, this is not a difficult undertaking. We hope that leaders in both India and Pakistan will work to break down the barriers created as a result of the division of Punjab by allowing increased contacts among the people on both sides of the border. Reflection on the traumas the befell the entire globe at mid-century - the Japanese aggression against China, the Nazi holocaust, the launching of atomic bombs against civilian populations - is the order of the day as the generation which experienced this period is passing on. A window of opportunity is left for us to heal the deep wounds of Partition through open discussion among those directly affected. Failing this reconciliation with our region's tragic past will only allow our animosities to burn brighter - a future none of us wants. The time to act is now, and political leaders, scholars, and all people of conscience on both sides of the border must reach out to affirm our common cultural heritage and respectfully celebrate our continuing differences. Source: Sangat |
