Published at: Counter Currents, Kashmir Times
By Ravi Nitesh
India and Pakistan have completed 66 years of ‘independence’. In spite of happiness and pride, there is also a pain that owes itself to the separation of not only the societies but of hearts. We parted on our independence to lessen the ‘hatred’ and so this independence should have been the way towards a more happy society. It should have been a tool for making both of us progressive and for our relations, moving on the path of love and friendship. But we both lacked in making such a scenario. The duration of these 66 years was faced with some celebrated ups and many shameful downs. Now, after 66 years of these repeated shameful incidents and fluctuating relations, we both must understand our necessity for each other, we both must revive our relations with each other and we both must take steps together for each other in all possible ways, as the real meaning of being independent is being together and celebrating together.
Establishing a peaceful and harmonious society in both the countries is one of the most awaited tasks for both. For a common society, the independence is something that brings freedom to think and to act, creating employment and other opportunities, moving towards the path of development and making a peaceful, happy society with friends and neighbors. In context of a country, one extends this concept to make a happy society with friendly neighbors.
Today, after 66 years, we both achieved to some extent, ‘development’ in our nations, but what we lost and didn’t attend carefully is our mutual relations. Are the boundaries are more important than human lives? These 66 years of progress will be of no use if we are still not building paths on which we can move together.
When you and I are same, in culture, in language, in interests and in our values, then why can’t we match our steps together to make a change?
If we look at problems and challenges in both India and Pakistan, we will find similar challenges in both the countries. We both have our importance of being and represented as a successful country in the global world. On one side where India is important in terms of its central location in South Asia, Pakistan also has its role for not only South Asia but also with South West and Middle East regions. But to make these progresses, we must first try to solve our problems as it will let us concentrate on other issues. We must solve the issues deemed ‘controversial’ or leading to hatred in our relations. Both the governments must have responsibility to step up to build confidence building measures. Though they have started some through their peaceful meet and continuous follow ups and visits, but they must be enhanced and should survive the vagaries of troubled times. One strategy that governments can follow is to include people’s representation with larger scope. It is necessary for both the government that they must provide a safe and peaceful atmosphere to their citizens.
The common people or the non-state actors must not face the problems of fluctuating relationships of the countries. We all have right to live happily and no one should be allowed to take our rights. India and Pakistan societies are very much similar, we both belong and like the culture that we developed and lived together for so many years. Political boundaries must not be a tool to divide culture and love. Both the societies always desire to be in a rhythm of peace, joy and happiness.
After these 66 years, both the government must have a grand celebration in their countries, as well as some grand strategies for each other towards a better future, a future of love, trust and harmony, a future of people’s desire. We must now work for years of being together.
