Indo-Pakistan Reunification: A Second Look.

Indo-Pakistan Reunification: A Second Look

Sometime back around August of last year I posted a series posts on my blog on the matter.The idea of Indo-Pakistan Reunification was somewhat an idea I was forced to think about in the eventuality of a Debate I was to prepare. In the post Indo-Pak Reunification dated 28th August I published the speach I had prepared in which I spoke against Reunidication, dismissing it as a dream.I also followed it up with another post What I feel about Indo-Pak Reunification dated 1st September where published the counter view.

On the eve, what the media calls a new found initiative to for the perusal of peace between the two the countries I would like to revisit both those posts.I would like to start with the counter argument.
I would like to add Tarun's Blog ,Voice from a 2.5-World Country did a great post (Delusion of Grandeur) on the matter

The COUNTER Argument

Indo-Pakistan Reunification : Castle in the sky

In my mind the former is just a Dream. A Dream based on fantasy not on fact.
A Castle in the sky. You may want something to happen but it does not necessary translate into it happening.

Esteemed Judges and this most recptive August Audience.
I Akshay , from Maharashtra Institute of Technology speak against the topic.

To further my argument that Indo-Pak reunification is not possible I will delve in four conditions I feel are required for a successful reunification and in doing so I will show how these conditions simply don't exist in the present scenario and how they may not exist in the future.
Unlike the many most my colleagues who have spoken before I'm not going to indulge myself in mere Anti-Pakistan rhetoric instead mention hard fact.

The first condition , which I feel is an absolute necessity for the case of reunification to be drawn out is Peace.

I bet that know one in the audience would describe the relationship India and Pakistan share to be "Friendly".

Far From it..

In the 57 years of existence of both these nations the situation has oscillated from brief periods of calm to border disputes, open war, cold war,diplomatic blockades ,insurgency to even a Nuclear armchair.

Let me also remind you that India and Pakistan have been at war thrice.
The first being in 1961 .
Then again in 1971.
And as recently as 1999 in the Kargil conflict.
There are still underlying issues which are thorns in the peace process and with no proper composite dialogue being shared between the two nations I see these issues to remain largely unresolved.
Without the prevalence of Peace I feel the case for reunification is grim.
Far from grim it is highly unlikely.

Moving on .
The existence of an visionary leadership is required to use the case .
Let us take the example of Germany where Gorbachev took the real iniative reunite both East and West Germany.
India and Pakistan lack such an Enlightened Government.
Pakistan is head my a Military dictator as President who is hiding behind a pseudo-democratic government.
India is not far behind. India with rampant corruption and bureaucratic red tapism is not exactly a prime example of good governance.
With such unimaginative governments ,the case for reunification is unlikely to be pushed.
Let me remind you that Indo-Pak reunification is not a small triviality it requires a true iniative.. Which is lacked on both sides.

Let us look at prevailing Social Condition , the world has seen a hardening on religious lines.
The same is the case in India Pakistan ,
In Pakistan there is small section of society,certain cleric peddling hardline , extreme views who are spreading hate on the basis of religion..
In India with the existence with the existence of religious hardliners like the BajRang Dal the picture is quiet the same.
Reunification will further complicate the already complex religious equations thus leading to strain on India's secular Fabric causing only more communal violence.
This in my mind would have disastrous effect , a disastrous effect we cannot afford.
Thus making reunification a impossibility.

Summing up I would like to say the case for reunification is like a skeleton .
A body with no mass , no flesh.
Thus should be dismissed as impossible.

Ending
toady is the 41st Anniversary of Martin Luther King's speech.
I have a dream.

I too have a dream
a dream where India and Pakistan co-exist in Peace.

The only difference between my dream and that for reunification is that mine is closer to reality.
Thank you.

The FOR Argument

Indo-Pak Reunification : it CAN become a reality

What I think on reunification really doesn't really matter. My microscopic thoughts will never make a difference.
But after listening to the sometimes redundant reasoning to 52 different speakers on the topic I'm bound to have a perspective idea on the matter.
Most will dismiss the idea on it's face value, stating mutual distrust , religion and sometimes even hate..
For example when I told one person in my class that ,I was speaking against Indo-Pak Reunification... He was went on an Anti-Pak spree saying.
"Woh Salle Pakistanis" (Those Pakistanis >> where "Salle" is a derogatory word)
I know he did not mean it's just the media in both the countries spread this mutual mistrust.Thus it's almost cool to bash the other country.Degrade them on each others national television ,it's a sort of entertainment,it the perennial coffee table conversation everyday people have , all segments of society.

The thing is people are fickle minded and their thoughts on subjects change like a compass changes direction.

And there is one thing I can say with certainty that things that seem impossible today will become possibilities tomorrow.
The same is the case with the "India - Pakistan" relationship ,these two countries were one in 1947,before partition (for those who don't know the history here's a link
Partition of India)
and hopefully can become one in the future burying their past differences.

Who would have predicted in 1944 that Europe would stand united as the largest bloc of countries going into the 22nd Century?
It would have been just a dream a dream of a few.
A dream they worked on and brought to reality the same is the case with India Pakistan Reunification .
It is just a dream ,but if we work on it CAN become a reality.

Certum est, quia impossibile est
(It is certain because it is impossible)
-Tertullian (c. 160-c. 230)


Would like to hear your views as always.




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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well an india nepal unification is going to happen sometime in the next 20 years.
Althought that will not sit well with china.
India bhutan merger is also likely because bhutan is in the chickens neck.
Regarding india pakistan merger..... why would india want to merge with them.

Anonymous said...

India & Pakistan REUNIFICATION:

Once upon a time, we lived as brothers - side by side - we intermarried, were educated together, worshipped together, played and worked together.

After the European foreigners invaded to "colonise" us, the condition of their departure was PARTITION and civil war.

BUT... there are some of us who do not forget mangrove trees where Indians were hung by the British... Muslim, Sikh and Hindu alike... some of us do not forget the trains with the burned bodies nor the wells that overflowed with Indians.

We have since the times of antiquities been together, as brothers... as ONE family.

It is time to put the rivalry behind us and come together. Peace must be the way forward. We can be a shining example to the world that the Ancient Roman and now modern Western philosophy of DIVIDE AND CONQUER can be reversed.

The great sins of brother fighting brother and sister fighting sister can be reversed if only we show the will to do so.

So let us come togther... Muslim, Sikh, Hindu all of us Indians.

We did not draw the line of partition and we did not want it.. it was thrust upon us... it is now time to put this behind us and move forward into the modern age as one unified and united peoples... all of us Indians.

Mohammed Ansar said...

India & Pakistan REUNIFICATION:

Once upon a time, we lived as brothers - side by side - we intermarried, were educated together, worshipped together, played and worked together.

After the European foreigners invaded to "colonise" us, the condition of their departure was PARTITION and civil war.

BUT... there are some of us who do not forget mangrove trees where Indians... Muslim, Sikh and Hindu alike... were hung by the British; some of us do not forget the trains set on fire by the Vritish invaders which carried the burned bodies of our brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers...nor the wells that overflowed with bodies of massacred Indians.

We have ALWAYS since the times of antiquities been together, as brothers... as ONE family.

It is time to put the rivalry behind us and come together. Peace must be the way forward. We can be a shining example to the world that the Ancient Roman and now modern Western philosophy of DIVIDE AND CONQUER can be reversed.

The great sins of brother fighting brother and sister fighting sister can be reversed if only we show the will to do so.

So let us come togther... Muslim, Sikh, Hindu all of us Indians.

We did not draw the line of partition and we did not want it.. it was thrust upon us... it is now time to put this behind us and move forward into the modern age as one unified and united peoples... all of us Indians.

Unknown said...

It is definitely a long told story. But, the fact remains that the governing bodies have ensures that there remains a boundary. It is higly unlikely that the unification would bring harmony. However, with the growth of education, people might realize that they can live together. With almost no developments to improve the education, the unification would remain as dream.
I am studying in a different country now. But, born and brought up in India, I was constantly under the impression that only Indians were right. Now I have Pakistani friends as close to me as my Indian counterparts. Believe me, it is not hard to stay together. Again, I would iterate that many people might not have the luxury of education as me. My thoughts have changed after having met them and realizing that nothing is different. I think a rapid education would solve the problem. But, I don't see any efforts by both the governments to improve that. I hope that there would be a day when both the educated countries would reunite. Until then there should be someone to carry the burning flame of reunification.

Anonymous said...

INDO_PAK_B.DESH_AFGAN_NEPAL MERGER TO FORM MAHA_BHARATH IS THE NECESSITY OF THE TIME & WISH OF THE PEOPLE, NOT OF FAKE POLITITIAN'S
This is a Historically and Geographically unified land mass.This unification will come true (may be after years), but this is the historical solution to all kinds of problems in these area, and for the prosperity of the People. Really it is the Right of the people in this land mass (may not be for the fake polititians). This will result in the progress of the region as in 1+1=3 theory.
There is no meaning in fighting each other (which was an idea/ result of split n rule of the early century) in this era of Gold rush in the Moon/Space and space colonies.
Germans, Koreans etc. realised this early.
Hope that the National leaders and Relegious leaders will come out of the pot to see the shining open world. Surely a common currency and single trade zone, will eventually lead to the unification.

Anonymous said...

Dear Friend,

A very thoughtful thought, I would say. Now heres what I have to say.

I see it as our duty.

Unification would certainly be bad for us but good for them.

We must nod feel impeded for they are bad.

We must do it for we are good.

Our love towards them shall win their hearts sometime.