The Controversy
In light of certain recent questions of nationality and the right to free determination of religious freedom, a set of remarks made by the veteran Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah has sparked controversy over the way his statement was quoted and perceived. The actor, in his interview to an entertainment portal, recently claimed that the animosity between India and Pakistan was unnecessary and unjustified on grounds of peaceful coexistence. He urged his fellow citizens to think for their own selves as present day politicians cannot be relied upon especially since they change their colours at most opportune moments. He expressed his concerns over the fact that Indians are premeditated brain-washed in hating Pakistani citizens, and that such an orientation is imposed upon them by the state machinery for ulterior motives. Indians should hate Pakistan for reasons as are most historically justified.
Shah believes that Indian actors and personages from the Indian entertainment industry are treated with ‘unconditional love’ across the border. They supposedly receive equal fan-fare in Pakistan as in India. Shah contends that our artists and superstars must frequently visit Pakistan, as he himself does, in order to strengthen cross-border ties. He believes that interaction between the two nations is most important in solving the deadlock of animosity which presently prevails. He comments severely upon the section of population which is firmly antagonistic to all of Pakistan’s designs.
Shah, in his statement, is said to have remarked that among the dignitaries of Indian cinema, Dilip Kumar is highly esteemed in Pakistan and also greatly respected among the masses. He expressed grief over the fact that Pakistani artists were not allowed to perform in the Indian domain, criticizing the antagonistic Indian foreign policy towards Pakistan which is unwarranted. Shah is of the opinion that Pakistanis in general are pleasant towards Indians and very hospitable too.
The Historicity of the Conflict
Taking all of this into consideration, some very narrow and nonsensical arguments arise, which need to be answered as early as possible. Pakistan is an Islamic state, wherein Islam is the state religion. Muslims are granted first class citizenship while all those who do not profess Islam or any branch of it are accorded unequal or second class citizenry. This has been a consistent state policy in Pakistan ever since its inception. The numerous civil and military regimes which have ruled Pakistan over the years have made no attempt towards equal citizenship of people belonging to all religions within its boundaries. Instead, minorities have been consistently and systematically persecuted under the various governments.
Violent Co-existence
Since the date of Independence, the two republics of India and Pakistan have been involved in several battles, skirmishes, proxy wars and other conflicts. The first war of 1948 and the subsequent attack on Kashmir relates to the very beginning of this strife. Indian or Pakistani foreign policy has never been able to diplomatically solve the question regarding the occupation of Kashmir. Both sides have in retaliation deployed their forces in the land territory of Kashmir. India has come out with its AFSPA or Armed Forces Special Powers Act. The post-independence era saw more than one conflict with Pakistan in the form of 1965 and 1971. The later ended with the birth of a new country Bangladesh, carved out of the former East Pakistan territory. It is needless to say that years of brutal persecution were behind this historic event. The dispute over Kashmir has been the direct or indirect cause for all of these conflicts, except the 1971 war which was triggered by the internal disturbances at Bangladesh.
Illegal Infiltration and the Kargil War:
The last century ended with a border skirmish with Pakistan which caused considerable physical and material damage to the Indian defense forces. The regular Pakistan army breached the international line of control and infiltrated deep into Indian Territory. Later the Indian Defense forces successfully took hold of the situation and got their position emptied. Is this not reason enough to sustain a sense of distrust towards these most treacherous enemies who back stab us again and again?
Intolerant Domestic Life:
A discussion into the internal domestics of the Pakistani state shall further serve to illustrate our argument. A non-Muslim lawyer or a legal practitioner is not allowed representation in any of the courts within the legal jurisdiction of Pakistan state machinery. All high posts in the administration of Pakistan are held by Muslim citizens. Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists and other professors of other religions are barred from holding any high public or executive posts. A large section of the non-Muslim population is thus marginalized and subjected to daily humiliation at the hands of the majority.
Religious Fanaticism:
The religious orthodoxy in Pakistan is very strong, to the extent that any refutation of Prophet Mohammad or any of his teachings is considered blasphemy. Persons found guilty of blasphemy are condemned to heresy with remarkable effectiveness. Often this tool is used by the majority to do away with personal vendettas and grudges with the minorities. The orthodox section of Muslims, among them judges of several High Courts, firmly believes that it is the honorable duty of a Muslim to silence the blasphemy of a heretic.
Disruption of Hindu Community in Pakistan:
Hindu families in Pakistan are told to expect no amount of sympathy from the law authorities, and thus are dependent upon local leader, extortionist and militia etc. for their protection. As per reports, an estimated two million Hindus pay regular sums for their protection. Hindu social and community life is completely regarded. Hindu manners and customs are vehemently frowned at.
State Monitored Education:
Schools curriculum at primary and secondary levels revolve around the state policy. The ideologies of the Quran, a severe hatred towards Hindus and India, and insistence upon Shahadat and Jehad are taught to children in schools. The history of a combined India and Pakistan is seldom taught, and all force is laid upon the establishment of an extremely narrow mentality which looks upon India with nothing but hatred.
State Sanctioned Atrocities:
Hindu temples are subjected to rampant destruction and vandalism. In 2010, the last Hindu temple at Lahore was destroyed. In 2014, a police constable guarding a Hindu temple was gunned down by militant. In the decade of the 1990s, hundreds of Hindu temples were explicitly destroyed in response to communal riots in India; riots in which Pakistani Hindus played no part at all. Lands belonging to Hindu temples are illegally and forcefully encroached upon. Hindu girls are abducted and sold off as slaves. Hindu community life is completely shattered.
Explicit Persecution of Hindus:
In view of all this, it is quite reasonable to say that the plight of the Hindu in Pakistan is a shocking reality. This fact is testified alone by the population statistics, which records a 15-24 percent Hindu population in Pakistan during 1947-48, which catastrophically drops down to a 1.60 percent in the late 1990s. The truth of these figures is never established.
Wrong perspective:
Naseeruddin Shah’s argument about the benevolence and hospitality of Pakistani Muslims pertains only to a certain liberal and educated section of their population. Even he himself shall be forced to acknowledge the extreme narrow nationalism of Pakistanis residing in such backward and terrorist areas such as Balochistan, rural West Punjab and the SWAT valley.
In conclusion it might be said that every Indian truly hate Pakistan. The extremist religious and anti-India sentiments are so deep-rooted in the Pakistani mind, that no amount of brain-washing, even from such dignitaries as Shah, can bring into effect the purity of their intentions.
http://www.hindutav.com/these-are-the-reasons-why-indians-hate-pakistan-an-open-letter-to-naseeruddin-shah/
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