This post is a continuation of the earlier one...which was infact a third party's view on the entire Jinnah-Jaswant episode that kept our think-tank busy for almost a couple of weeks. Why I decided to post it was simple...the article reflects my vision of "Pushing for Pragmatism".
The 1947 partition, the events that led to it and the events that followed it have surely left an indellible impression on our nation's psyche. What we are today is a direct result of what happened in 1947. Despite having "moved forward" in these years, we cannot ignore that part of our history that still influences many of our nation's policies...primary being the foreign policy with Pakistan. Is the principle of Akhand Bharat still not discussed in public forums? Or how we could join hands with Pakistan (expecting them to reciprocate in the same manner) and fight burning issues like terrorism, countering China and not wilting under USA's demands?? Is all of this a mere walk towards finding Neverland? No. Probably an idea of a single nation from Balochistan to West Bengal is quite preposterous. But the idea of co-operation and acting in unison with each other is something we wouldn't mind putting our money on. After all it just takes political will to make it happen. While discussing all of this, reliving the memories of our past and analyzing Jinnah, Nehru and Patel is probably the right thing, for our answers perhaps lie in the analysis of the views of these men. Therefore it would be quite puerile of someone to say, "Why should I care about Jinnah??" Agreed.
But in the context of Bhagat's article, I wouldn't mind if someone actually asked, "Why should we care so much about a man who died some 60 years ago?" The Jaswant Singh-book raised a furore, albeit only within his party. There was an immediate expulsion of the former party stalwart. The book was banned for sale in Gujarat. And the media gave full coverage to it...perhaps more that what it deserved. And then there was an endless debate on the book whther it was right on showering sympathy, probably, on the Architect of the Indian Partition. I ask, was the debate constructive? Have we benefited? I yes, how? Was it at all needed? Why should I hear the same things about Jinnah or Patel that I've heard all my life and is written everywhere around me? Is it not important to read or hear something totally obtuse from the standard...which could infact be true (which is what people claim is written in the book)?
I would have been happier if the topics of discussions on the "Big Fights" would have been whether it was right on the part of the Guj. Govt on banning the book and robbing its citizens of the fundamental rights. Perhaps that would have beenmore meaningful.
Our politicians should do what they were voted for...and generate results. It was quite a futile exercise that ended in benefiting no one...except our new channels who continued to add to their turnover by selling their air-time.
(Would be happy to learn if someone thought otherwise)
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This, I guess can be bifurcated into two issues:
ReplyDelete1) Your frustration regarding the illegitimate, ill wanted and meanningless reporting by the media (electroninc in particular owing to its greater appeal to our senses).
2) Your frustration regarding the endless debate on the Indo-Pak relations.
If we go back to the roots of democracy and the system we have created, we find media to be the fourth estate of democracy, unfortunately due to the monetization of the medium of communication (air waves cost money) media has seized to be news and have become infotainment.
Can you help this? Yes. How? Create news of your own, just like this! Well done!
On the more corroborative view of Indo-Pak relationships:
Both India and Pakistan are democracies, but with a different outlook. India has always been an outward looking, idealist state where the first prime minister establishes science and management institutes to enable progress where the Pakistani first Prime minister spent much of his time creating an inward looking closed Islamic republic.
These views are not reconciliable, not bettable.
Nations have a life span more than that of individuals and hence cannot and should not change stands with the coming and going of its leaders.
I believe this book had provided a perfect chance for all of us to have a debate about the roles of all the national leaders in partition. Jinnah may be the person who mooted the idea but its not like he alone is responsible for the partition. Nehru, Sardar Patel, Gandhi, Mountbatten, Churchill, Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Azad and others also need to take the blame. We need to accept the role played by Congress and Hindu Mahasabha in partition. Otherwise Congress and RSS will continue to blame Muslims for all the atrocities of the partition.
ReplyDeleteMiken, its strange you refer to Pakistan as a democracy! Media is to be blamed on many counts. But i would spare them this time. The soul of my subject lies in, why are we so concerned about something that happened 60 years ago and cannot be reversed. I probably feel, we are better off without Pakistan as a part of us. So probably, it shouldn't have irked the BJP top brass in the first place (remember, it was the action taken by BJP that sparked off the debates within media circles?). Mr. Rajnath was quick to use the gun on this issue...rather more of chintan and less of bethak could have done his party more good. Inturn, we would have benefitted as people more with a strong and stable opposition. There are no 2nd thoughts when i say that BJP has been an irresponsible opposition since May 2004.
ReplyDeleteAnd the cynic in me says, why should have Jaswant Singh in the first place written something like this when he knew it would prove to be quite caustic? Cummo old man, you've had your time. What's your point in writing this stuff now?
ReplyDeleteAt present, nothin sells if there is no controversy around it..then be it a book, a movie, a reality show or for that matter my thoughts...
ReplyDeleteWho is interested in reading a autobiography of a person whose updates are fed to us daily. And to include such an incidence made it controversial. And such incusions, make us relive the past so that we repent each and everytime. It hurts our mental state and this gives yet another headline to the newspaper!!!