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There is a serious dearth of places in Karachi that can engage or motivate children. And I’m not talking about places with balloons and clowns, but places where kids can learn. The only thing that comes to mind is the WWF’s turtle watch centre on Sand’s Pit beach. Aside from that, I have never seen a museum, exhibit, or cultural activity which is specifically for children. Until now, that is.
Recently, the Citizens Archive Pakistan, a body of volunteers working to record our past for future generations, launched an exhibit titled ‘The Birth of Pakistan’. I was delighted to attend the interactive display with my two kids at the Mohatta Palace.
On a lazy Sunday afternoon, we headed off to the exhibit and happily paid a grand total of Rs. 20 at the gate as an entry fee. That’s not a bad price to pay for access to the palace – so grand are its structure and interiors, that you can feel the ghosts of our past there.
The exhibition was on the first floor, divided into a photography and interactive section. The former was great, including pictures from across the country by Kohi Marri, Amean Jan and Shamyl Khurro. But what took the cake for me was the interactive section.
My children are the grand kids of people who migrated from India to this new country with just a dream. Thanks to CAP, my children not only got to see what the dream was all about, but experience it. They stepped into a Pakistan Railways carriage (part of the exhibit), saw a recreation of an immigration and registration desk for migrants, and received a ‘passport’ as a momento from a recreation of an original passport office from the time.
It was quite something to see the look on my children’s faces as they wrote little messages of hope for Pakistan and pinned them to the hope wall: they had pride in their eyes, pride for this country, and for the people who helped make it a reality, something which many of us have forgotten.
Why aren’t there more exhibits like this – on a rotating or permanent basis – in different cities across Pakistan? Who has determined that our children are not interested in our culture, traditions, or past? The fault is our own entirely, for we who are unwilling to teach are blaming young minds for not wanting to learn.
In the exhibition’s guest book, my daughter wrote: “Thank you, Mr. Jinnah for giving us a home to live in, I love Pakistan.” I was left wondering why, when a six-year-old can express this simplest of sentiments, we regularly fail to? For in spite of all the problems that Pakistan faces, it is our home.
(Photo by Eefa Khalid)
Faisal Kapadia is a Karachi-based entrepreneur and writer. He blogs at Deadpan Thoughts.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
The writer is the Editor Lingua Urdu at Global Voices. He is also the Director Digital Strategy and Social Media at Mind Map Communications. He tweets @faisalkapadia.
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Comments (102) Closed
Apr 28, 2010 08:03am
Mr Faisal,
Salam, thats great that Jinnah made a country to live in..
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Apr 28, 2010 08:10am
Every city must have exhibition halls & libraries.
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Apr 28, 2010 08:35am
Really there is serious dearth of not only for Exhibitions but also for the others like outing, picnic , healthy theater and also sports in the whole country not only in karachi but also in other cities like Lahore and even the smaller cities like Faisalabad, Multan , Hyderabad ....
Good article !
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Apr 28, 2010 08:25am
You should have displayed more pictures of mass migration of Muslims from India. Mobile exhibitions should be held in villages, towns and cities. Flag Staff House in Karachi should not be ignored. The exhibitions should also include recorded speeches of Quaid, Late Liaquat Ali Khan and other persons as well. Photographs of refugees on foot and on top of railway wagons as well as hospitality extended to refugees should also be displayed.
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Apr 28, 2010 11:27am
Great effort.
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Apr 28, 2010 09:33am
Really a great idea! wish could do something same in Lahore!
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Apr 28, 2010 11:11am
Dude..
I don't think you have visited the exhibition and everything that you mentioned is already there so maybe you should go again and pay more attention this time.
The exhibition is outstanding and one should appreciate their effort..!
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Apr 28, 2010 11:30am
Great piece again. I think we should have more places like this and to some extent also like PAF and Naval museum. Armed forces have done an okay job in this respect but city administration needs to do a bit more. Museums, museums of natural history, aquariums, safari parks, heritage villages...we need lots of these things in ALL the cities.
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Apr 28, 2010 11:39am
Ya.. Jinnah made a contry to live in and now its your turn to make it be proud of.
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Apr 28, 2010 12:08pm
Faisal,
The conclusion was the best part. Whether Pakistan is good or bad the fact remains that it is our home. It seems that the people who made did their part and the generations that came later (including ours) are not upto the mark. As you said may our children will understand the things that we could not. May be the problems that look clueless to us would appear very simple to our children when they grow up. Although we have not been the direct cause of the present situation of Pakistan but we could not play any part in its betterment or anything similar. We are always thinking what one person can do against so many massive odds.
I must thank all those that arranged for the exhibition and I would certainly request that the frequency of such events should increase. We should aim not only to educate our juniors but also to promote, encourage them to come forward in their tiny strides.
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Apr 28, 2010 01:23pm
Faisal and Sam...... you guys are very encouraging and very supportive for the people who really do good work. very nice to see comments like this.
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Apr 28, 2010 02:36pm
Jinnah gave the Pakistan and look what you guys did to it.
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Apr 28, 2010 03:27pm
I think what happened in past is bad.
If you see overall condition Pakistan still fighting for basic needs and development.
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Apr 28, 2010 03:30pm
"My children are the grand kids of people who migrated from India to this new country with just a dream."
- Author
I wonder what really was that dream and if you have really, honestly realized that dream? Can the author please elaborate in a couple of lines (or maybe more).?
I really want to know because, I hope that wasn't just about a homeland for Moslems based on religion. I hope it's a little more Earthly, maybe like it was about rejoining your relatives and family who lived in that region?
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Apr 28, 2010 04:58pm
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Apr 28, 2010 05:15pm
Great ! Breeze of fresh air!
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Apr 28, 2010 07:43pm
If the intention of this exhibition is to teach children the modern history of Pakistan, then it should go further back in time when the first shot of independence was fired back in 1857. Remember that shot of independence was not only for the independence of India alone, it was for Pakistan too.
I think people will appreciate it more a get a balanced sense of history and pride.
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Apr 28, 2010 08:02pm
It is a same piece that we celerate every year in August. However, in this 21th Century, do we all groups agree with same aim and goal? People living in big cities and countryside in different provinces.
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Apr 28, 2010 09:47pm
That's right gentlemen. However it is. Whatever it is. It is our home. In spite of our politicians, In spite of our security, economy, education, violence, poverty, it is our little place in the world.
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Apr 28, 2010 10:35pm
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Apr 28, 2010 10:41pm
I wish i was in Pakistan right now, and surely would have visited this place. I am glad that people thought about this idea and made it possible. Its about time we people do something for the country and make it as great as Jinnah wanted.
God bless Pakistan!
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Apr 28, 2010 11:22pm
I wish I was there to see this event, I have read some of Pakistan's history and it is very interesting. With help of (ALLAH) and Jinnah's effort we got the great country, now it is our turn to live for that dreams. Thank you I had great time reading it.
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Apr 29, 2010 12:54am
The writer, after making an exhaustive plea for the spread of history, the history of Pakistan--certainly a noble cause--he blames the elders for not fulfilling the obligation of teaching the history to the young. Should the elders be blamed for this serious neglect? Yes. But the question is how could the elders have a regard for the past when they showed no regard for the present. Just two years ago, when the elected leader of the country had been killed in a broad day light and the crime scene was conveniently white washed, only showed the utter disregared for the country. Is it possible for the elders to explain this disregard to the children, let alone explaining how ideas such as of the poet Iqbal in the 1930s played heavily in the formation of Pakistan.
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Apr 29, 2010 01:08am
C'mon Mr Kapadia, did you get your assistant to write this?
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Apr 29, 2010 01:09am
This sounds so great, I'm bookmarking it for our next trip to Karachi (whenever that may be...) Thanks!
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Apr 29, 2010 03:13am
More than 61 years have passed since the death of founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. But even today, nothing about Jinnah seems ordinary
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Apr 29, 2010 03:39am
Late Mr. M. Ali Jinnah was great personality -In the first phase of his public life (1904-1920), three main influences shaped Jinnah
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Apr 29, 2010 04:27am
History, like religion, is the opium for the masses![Apology to Mao !!].
History is a sword that the victor (read- rulers - whether it is in a democracy or autocracy) uses to cut through public emotions, memories and reasonability. A historical representation, as it is generally projected all over the world- Pakistan and India not being exceptions, always hides more than it reveals. One of the most difficult things in the world is to live by truth. Gandhiji and many others before and after him tried doing so and paid heavy prices for it. Today's rulers are aware of it and therefore do their best to - 'not' to live by truth. Therefore, all these exhibitions of history are nothing but a mean to meet their designs of social (re) engineering. Of course - Pakistan today does need an exercise to install confidence in the state among its young. But isn't there a better way to do than go on harping on the historical tragedy of partition and the tragic fall out of massacre and pain of uprooting on both sides?
Seeing us together on foreign lands, the general public world wonders if we are really the same people whose forefathers massacred each other and the who have fought three - four regular wars in last 50 years? History fails when hearts meet.
Hope - someone some day, we would have another Gandhi and Jinnah who would stand up and tell the truth ( and pay a price with life for it!). Till then - we the general public on both sides shall remain the cannon fodder for the ideological wars that rulers on both sides of the border would continue, after all - as Mao said: " Enemy of my enemy - is my friend!"
Bhavani Pani
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Apr 29, 2010 08:51am
Thanks for all the support and praise, lt me try to answer a few questions
@Samyak My dads family was resident in a village in Junagadh district and their village was attacked on the incitement of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, their homes were looted and they were kicked out with the clothes on their back so as to speak. Thus for them the dream of a separate homeland meant someplace where they could be treated as equals and not be discriminated against on the basis of their religion caste or creed. Was that dream realized? Yes it was because Pakistan gave us the opportunity to hold our heads up on par with our fellow men and live the way we deserved.
@ Mohan sahab the point is to teach them of our past and our struggle, and thus yes your point is very valid and i will definitely pass it on to the CAP foundation, thank you
@ Madhu I think if we would have stayed together the problems would have been a lot worse for the Muslim community then they are today in Pakistan. However that is just my opinion. Some feel a united India would have been a super power by now, but I highly doubt it.
@ Spilt milk Sorry to disappoint you, but i do my own work.
We all agree there should be more exhibitions like this, the only way to make this possible is to visit the ones that are available today :) Do it our of curiosity if nothing else trust me when you go you will understand.
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Apr 29, 2010 09:03am
HP
thanks for your comment. I agree with what you have said. These exhibitions are seen as a way to let our children know about our history (which is not very old) and secondly to let them have some fun also. You are about fighting for the basic needs. When we have made the nuke we have not been able to generate ample electricity. We have not been able to build the required dams. Above everything we could not maintain peace in the country. But still it is our country and we have complete faith in our people and their skills. I must say that the courage and the hopefulness of the Pakistanis must be saluted. We are a true believer of Iqbal's verse "Pewasta reh shajar se, Ummid e Bahar rakh".
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Apr 29, 2010 10:16am
@ Dear Prof. Ramesh
If we go by the personal life, then its better to be left aside, as there are many who will raise questions about Nehru's personal life and Gandhi's relation with his son.
It has to be commended what Mr. Jinnah single handedly did in such conditions, ill health, with number of great leaders on the otherside and then got a Pakistan under their nose.
If Mr. Jinnah wouldnt have left Congress and Led Muslim League, nobody can doubt that he would have been the Leader No. 2 after Mr. Gandhi.
We have to cherish and celebrate both Leaders, both fought for Independence from British, one in Khaki Dhoti and the other in English Suits.
@ Mr. Bhavani: Learning from History is very Important, so we dont repeat the same mistakes. Atleast our Future Generation should realise this. Although we hardly learn from it... If we remember what happenend in Gujarat, Post Babri Mosque or even in Pakistan in Parachinar, Swat or 40 years ago in Bangladesh...
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Apr 29, 2010 10:20am
A child
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Apr 29, 2010 10:27am
The Quraan has everything we want to learn. We do not need any other book.
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Apr 29, 2010 10:28am
every idea, philosophy, thought or reformative movement reflects the aspiration of ideologue, philosopher, thinker or leader for common good of people or a class of people; but the followers not having same level of intellect and out of sheer greed are only interested in sharing the spoils.
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Apr 29, 2010 11:09am
Grievance is mutual. My grand father family left Kunjah district Gujarat as a result of partition their house was also burnt. but more importantly partition resulted in to burning of bridges between the two communities. We became suspect for each other. My grand father and others left behind friends. Who is responsible for partition is a moot question on which we are not likely to agree. Who instigated those killings, acts of arson will remain unanswered and will result in counter accusation. Whether first act happened on this side of border or on that side depends on our personal prejudices. It is 63 years. time to start a fresh. I wish you and every Pakistani a happy home to live in. Expect my Pakistani bretherens to reciprocate the feeling.
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Apr 29, 2010 10:39am
Motivating or engaging children in a thought provoking debate or ideas, is an exercise we all need to adapt. It would also assist in making sure that the future generations are not manipulated in the name of God as they would be trained to think rationally and liberally over such issues.
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Apr 29, 2010 12:02pm
As long as we learn from history and ensure that we do not repeat it - fine; but the whole problem arises when 'siyasat' manipulates it to drive passions and uses it to keep its seat 'garam'. This is the bane of our two countries!!
Bhavani Pani
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Apr 29, 2010 12:10pm
Jinnah Got Freedon, now it is up to you, what you make out of it.
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Apr 29, 2010 01:24pm
Faisal, Great article and an awesome exhibit. It's very nice to see positive attitudes.
Keep up the great work!
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Apr 29, 2010 03:50pm
Mr. Kapadia, In 1947, people of the subcontinent did not build a home, just a wall.
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Apr 29, 2010 05:16pm
Faisal - you shouldnt have dragged Vallabhai Patel into this. He was the home minister during those times and had he been a bigot - the mohajir population in Pakistan would have been 50% instead of 10% that it is as present. By the way being a Kapadia you must belong to the same community of Khojas that Jinnah did - you may have gone to Pakistan, but the majority of Khojas and Memons are still in India.
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Apr 29, 2010 06:28pm
Is separating people on the basis of religion, by man made boundries, protected by heavily armed military and fences a good idea? Does it provide security, freedom, comfort or better humanity? Is there a mention of separate nations for separate religions in the Koran, Gita, Guru Granth Sahib,Bible? Does the influence of Allah or Krishna extend only to the Wagha border?
We can keep separating people on the basis of their differences (religion, color, language, height etc) till we have a zillion nations each just a square feet in size.
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Apr 30, 2010 07:39am
Mr FAISAL KAPADIA,
Why should history Pakistan start only with 1947?
Why should only "pain of partition" be part of exhibition....why not show movement which shaped future of Muslim League....the whole process which start with 'idea of Pakistan' to 'gaining support' to final 'partition of India'.
Why not tell kids events after 1947.....
By only focusing on partition, you are just infusing hate in mind of children.
History is much wider topic.....give it some scope.
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Apr 30, 2010 09:43am
Mr. Bhosle,
The exhibition starts with 1940- It details the Gandhi-Jinnah Letters, The 1940 resolution, the June 3rd Plan, The voices of people from the Muslim League and Congress-
To correct you, the exhibition does not focus on 1947 alone- It goes right up to the 50's-We are not interested in just the trauma of 1947, but what lead to partition, what Pakistan inherited and what its leaders did subsequently. Please have a look at our website and read some of the reviews in local papers-
Thank you
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Apr 29, 2010 08:21pm
Abdul... you ignorant soul. Go back to the madrassa you came from. Thats what our young generation been reading for so many years and look at you who we have. Keep and preach religion to your self. we have too much dose of it.
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Apr 29, 2010 08:29pm
Mr. Kapadia:
Beautiful article.... your description of your 6 year old's simple yet profound comments was heartwarming. I wish to take my kids to this great exhibition some day and show them what their grandparents sacrificed for to be called Pakistani. I hope to visit Pakistan and Mohatta palace soon.
I truly admire the great work you, Mr. Paracha, Ms, Siddiqui, Ms. Zakaria, Mr.Shafi, Mr. Husain and many other dedicated Pakistanis are doing against great odds and perils to keep the true spirit of Pakistan alive.
It may be a cliche but at times it does feel that the pen is mightier than the sword.
Keep up the great work, gang.....
Ali
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Apr 29, 2010 09:36pm
Faisal, I disagree with your assessment that Muslims would have been treated much worse in United India, for the simple reason that, in a democratic, secular and pluralistic society with one man one vote, things never go wrong due to political checks and balances. Pakistan is almost 100% muslim and look what is happening there.
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Apr 29, 2010 10:01pm
In India, the partition is never mentioned in the history text books, it is white washed. Only when you meet people who got displaced, be it muslim or hindu, you understand the enormity of the situation.
While past cannot be erased or corrected, it can be studied and debated. May I ask the author if believes the hindus migrating from Pakistan to India suffer as much as the muslims migrating from India to Pakistan? Is it part of the exhibition? If it is a one sided story, is it not going to perpetuate the hatred? On the other hand, do you really believe Muslims in Pakistan are safer than Muslims in India? Baroda riots and Babri Masjid are often quoted and I dont condone these acts. But these incidents pale in comparison to the killings and hatred against sunnis, shias, ahmadis and other minorities.
Other than the partition, what is your heritage?
Gandhi atleast went to jail. Did Jinnah go to jail or simply demanded what he want? At what cost?
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Apr 30, 2010 05:47am
Inshallah whatever we will make out of it will make him proud. We are a proud nation and we always will be. despite of all the problems arising in the country, we still managed to be a nuclear power, and the 1st muslim nation to be so. and the number 1 muslim army in the world. Alhamdullilah. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!!!!!
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Apr 30, 2010 05:51am
Well Mr. Ramesh, to be great (and that too, to be a great politician) one has to be clever. and yes, JINAAH was, is and always will be great, clever and smart. Just by being humble and polite and not being clever, how can one be a great person, and that too a politician???
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Apr 30, 2010 06:13am
Nmastay Pnpuri sahib
That is the point man: mutual Grievances.if we could have understood this thing clearly from the day first of partition or even before that cataclysmic event of 'so called freedom', resulting in great split of our great civilization of indo-pak,we would have been left better off.Problem with us South Asian is that we r devoid of self criticism, introspection.We spare no effort to put blame on others for any wrong done to us even if it is of our own making.Even our so called leaders in those eventful days were not free from cultural and communal biases and master in putting blame onto each others community.They even used Religion for political gains and personal agendas;what was the gift of these prejudices ....Slaughter of millions of innocent and poor people on both sides of chasm,fissure and perpetual animosity between our two countries.It is time to wake up,get rid of these communal prejudices and look for and revive our thousand years old great indus civilization of coexistence and harmony. We cannot go back into time to rectify those blunders done by our leaders but we can save our future by coming close, not by reliving the past which has given nothing but poverty and hatred.
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Apr 30, 2010 06:31am
Oops ! missed!!!
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Apr 30, 2010 06:42am
It seems that History of the Indian sub-contient is managable as long as personal obsessions of political leaders such as Gandhi or Jinnah are accessible. For example, Gandhi's practice of "Satyagrah" in the eary 20th century or Jinnah's immaculate outfit as if dressed for a session in the English Parliament. Or Nehru's affairs. Could this be a subject of history? History has to answer the larger questions such as what is civilization and what is disaster and certainly what is decay? In the 1920s, the story teller Munshi Prem Chand wrote a book called "The Chess Player." The story deals with the loss of Muslim power in Delhi. Similarly, a book name "Samskara" is published. The theme of the book is the loss of Hindu identity. At the heart of both books, now could be viewed in films, essentially unravels the decline of both Hindu and Muslim civilizations in India. Words such as "decay" and "decline" could be dropped so easily but what is hard to do is to caliberate the nature of the damage done to the people effected. This is one reason to learn and understand history. It is an attempt to walk on this earth with a head intact.
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Apr 30, 2010 07:08am
Let bygones be bygones. Do not live in the past.
This is one lesson Indo-Pak history of the past six decades that has stared in our face every moment of our collective lives. And yet, we staunchly refuse to acknowledge it.
For YOU the past was about HOPE and tragedy. For ME the past was about hope and TRAGEDY. But, for US, why can't it be just the PAST?
Whoever Jinnah was, whoever Gandhi was and whoever Nehru was; they were all people who led an entire subcontinent from slavery to independence. They committed mistakes. But let those mistakes overshadow their achivements -- which were bigger and more profound.
Time to unlearn?
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Apr 30, 2010 09:45am
Mr. Memon
We must all learn from history- This is not a question of bygones be bygones- The Pakistani children must learn about their past, only then will they be able to tackle the problems of the future. History teaches us valuable lessons, disregarding it would be foolish-
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Apr 30, 2010 01:29pm
One thing surprises me even more.
Agreed that concept of undivided India did not go further and history of Pakistan and India would start differing from 1940 onwards.
But before that we were ruled by British for 150 years. Why is the movement of freedom against British only part of Indian history and not Pakistani history? Wasn't that part shared by all the people of undivided India?
Can some Pakistani friend throw light on this subject?
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Apr 30, 2010 02:40pm
Aww! It seems I missed something
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Apr 30, 2010 02:45pm
There can be one more dangerous effect of such type of exhibitions.After visiting such exhibition some people will certainly think that if country is not following the principles ( read here ISLAM ) for which it was formed,dividing it again is the only solution.And see the events of last 10 years in pakistan,a very large section of hardliners,in the name of Islam, are repeatedly trying to get the control of the country.
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Apr 30, 2010 10:21pm
Firstly, since when did going to jail become a precursor of being a leader!! This thought process of desis that unless a person has gone to jail, he or she cannot be a leader is not only foolish but condones the fact that going to jail is something to be proud of in our younger generation. And 'Yes' Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah demanded in very clear and strong words that he wanted nothing less than Pakistan in 1940 at the Lahore declaration.
Secondly, no Muslim community in Pakistan can openly say that they have murdered or killed other Muslims within the country and be safe and even be praised like the Shiv saniks, RSS and other fundamentalist Hindu parties are in India. Once it is known who the perpetrators are, they are punished to the full extent. Unfortunately, an Indian Muslim cannot expect the same rights or support from the Hindu fundamentalist pleasing system prevalent in India which always overshadows everything that happens there. Also, we all know where 90% of the violence in Pakistan eminates from no matter how peace loving our Indian brothers pretend or try to show Pakistan in particular or Muslims in general as the perpetrators in all the TV channels, films, articles and conversations etc. Shouting lies does not make them the truth.
Lastly, why would an exhibit about the Independence of Pakistan highlight the migration of the Hindus to India. I am sure there are enough NGO's/books/exhibits etc that would portray the Indian side of the story to the Indians.
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Apr 30, 2010 10:23pm
and...???
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Apr 30, 2010 10:29pm
Junaid, I admire you for your patriotism, but being a Nuclear power and the largest Muslim Army in the world should not be our claim to fame.
I would rather see Pakistan being famous and admired for a country which helps to foster and create peace and harmony in the entire world, fights injustice both inside and out, has the largest number of universities, schools, PhD's and hospitals in the entire Muslim and non-Muslim world and also a country where there is no one to give zakat to and not be a country which has one of the highest per capita debt ratio in the world to one which is free from hunger, crime, injustice and tolerence for everyone.
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Apr 30, 2010 10:41pm
Reduce India to one tenth of its population and then compare it to Pakistan and you will realize what all we have done with our beloved motherland. Please clean up your mess first before trying to feel pity for someone else...long live Pakistan and all those who love it!
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Apr 30, 2010 10:48pm
In all the comments, I haven't seen one which praises CAP for their efforts and time and most of all their patriotism. Sharmeen and his team need all our support and appreciation as well as a big thanks for keeping the candle burning and making us believe the fact that there are people out there who can see past themselves and their little world and do good for the betterment of our country and society in general. All the work CAP is doing is truly inspirational and I wish them all the best. Thank you for the energies you all have been putting into this wonderful organization and we hope to see much more inspiring work from you. My support will always be there if and when required!
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May 01, 2010 12:40am
Muhamad is history too. Forget this arab and Move on or time will freeze on his belivers hard to make pace with changing world.
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May 01, 2010 04:08am
Hi Faisal,
Wonderful topic and I have already asked my wife and kid to be prepared for a visit. I hope we can arrange such exhibitions in future. Keep writing old friend.
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May 01, 2010 04:12am
Well Abdul you are right in a way but I would suggest we do not mix relogion with history and education. All moral knowledge is good and I think we should look back 60 years and see where we stand today, then use a mix of religion and current affairs to set our path.
Khalid - Let us all be tolerant enough to welcome all view points, hope you dont mind, thanks!
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May 01, 2010 09:21am
Before the military rule, Pakistan was in right street of growth. But after 1971 war, Country moved to reverse line where many extremists and fundamentalists are dragging Pakistan to 16th century.
Its upon the younger generation now to move the country in right direction, So that country can grow stronger in Economic and Political filed.
I personally don't think, what Pakistan is now, is what Pakistan Jinnah wanted
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May 01, 2010 10:59am
The migration of Hindus from Pak is part of our history too & not just for Indians. Before you talk about Indian Muslims have you ever considered how Hindus feel in Pakistan. I can assure you they feel marginalized and the system ignores them and their rights. You have to help fix things here first before you take the high road and give lectures to others.
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May 01, 2010 12:28pm
I totally agree with you
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May 04, 2010 07:16am
Thanks Faraz!
I never saw any discussion on 'freedom movement' (as it again appears from this blog) and hence I got the impression that how much it is thought as Pakistani history. Thanks for your correction.
I am very much interested to read your history books (and also it should be done vice versa) to understand the gaps. I believe bridging such gaps can go a long way.
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May 03, 2010 10:23am
The freedom movement is part of our history too and taught in schools as standard ciriculum.
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May 01, 2010 05:26pm
Can not even compare Jinnah with Gandhi or others. Read the book from Jaswant Singh which is well written. If you can not accept the harsh reality of life, its your problem that how you digest it.
On the other hand to my Beloved Pakistanis. Please, try to be yourself and don't try to copy others. Do not try to have foreign extremist groups take on places in your home country. Look what they have done now. Democracy should win. Unfortunately, your country has been ruled by Army for more than 52 years out of 61 years, this is not acceptable. How can you allow the safety keeper, gate keeper of your home to make the policies and procedures of your home, You can not even allow this to happened in your HOME, how did you allow that to happen to your HOME COUNTRY. Please, wake up.
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May 02, 2010 07:47am
Mr Kapadia
I appreciate your thought and i agree with your suggestions. Now a days people like foreign language, dress, fashion even styles of homes.
Main thing is World Media. Which is creating sense of inferiority and second thing is Our education system that is not fulfilling the demands of New age. Competent teachers can produce better generation. Its a blessing of God that now we have independent media but its not an end, its means to an end. Now our judiciary is independent, Army is not interfering in politics and after 18th amendment in constitution , it is considering more powerful as compare to past. These things are the base of any country and I am optimist about the future of Pakistan that our country is going on the right direction and our young generation is knowing the Ideology of Pakistan.
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May 02, 2010 11:20am
Ashar, What a great Ideas. I appreciate your comments. If people like Mr.Ashar enter politics, Pak will definitly see development & growth.
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May 02, 2010 11:43am
... and include Azim Premji the third richest man in India, Habil Khorakiwala the owner of largest chain of Wokhardt group of Hospitals, and many many many more including descendents of cousins of Jinnah.
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May 03, 2010 12:04am
Let me try to put some verifiable facts on tables and see if Pakistani media can be liberal enough to just print them in their blog:
There were 25-30% Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan before Partition and now there are few left. Majority of them came to India but some are still living in Pakistan. 1% of Pakistan population is still Hindu/Sikh.
There are few Hindus/Sikhs left in different parts of Pakistan
India had 20-25% of Muslims before partition and lots of them moved to Pakistan but still there are large number of Muslims living as integral part of India. India now has maximum number of Muslims living in any country greater than Pakistan or Indonesia. Muslims constitute to 15-20% of India's population.
This implies lot of things silently about both the tolerance level of both the countries.
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May 03, 2010 12:18am
Pakistan was created on the basis of religion. It was created so that Muslims can live freely and Prosper. Pakistan was created by Jinnah presumably feared that Muslims will not be able to live in a Hindu majority India. Hindus will suppress Muslims and will not let them Prosper.
Lot of Muslims went to Pakistan in the hope of a better Future. So that they need not live in Hindu Majority India. So that they can live and prosper freely in Pakistan. what has Pakistan given to Muslims ?
(Bollywood/politics and what not. 4 out of 13 presidents of India have been Muslim . Presently vice Presidnet of India is Muslim, health minister, renewable energy minister, railway minister (of state) Prime minister from minority. Defence minister from minority. most powerful lady (Soniya gandhi ) from another minority.)
Can Pakistan even think of having a Big Film star/ Cricketer / Politician from Hindu community in Pakistan?
India has proved to be time and again a very tolerant and mature country. The concept of Pakistan has not served its purpose.
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May 03, 2010 02:16am
Mark's comments must be made history.Period!
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May 04, 2010 12:54am
If you live in Pakistan and India, how often you, when visiting homes of friends and relatives, a book sheleves containing books of literature and history? If you live in the West, how often, with the advantages of book stores and with money to buy books, you bump into books in a book shelves if there are books to store? Why not be straight forward and answer the question: Nada, Zilch, zero. With no idea of historcial facts and without ever going through a single book of history, for some mysterious reasons, the people would show strong opinions. Do those opinions or views carry any significance? On "The Great Depression" or "The Civil War" of America, the book shelves are loaded with books looking at the same event from different vantage points. By comparision, on events such as "Freedom Movement" of the Indian sub-continent, with few books written on the subject, we the people, with few exceptions, have not even bothered flipping few pages. And we wish to express views.
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May 04, 2010 05:15am
Aslam, you hit homer run.
The Issue with our country is we talk religion religion and nothing else. We blame others for every ill. Last week I was on a taxi ride in Chicago, during my long ride through the Traffic I started having a conversing with the driver. He was a Pakistani driver, all he was talking about how bad Hindu India is. How bad the people are. He talked about Gujarat...
When I asked him what is his opinion of whats happening in Somalia, Sudan and Pakistan where Muslims are killing Muslim, he said that is just political. The west is doing that.
When asked how India can have so many successful Muslims, while Pakistan does not have any prominent Hindu, he had no answer. All he could talk about was hate and dislike.
Unless we start being honest with ourselves, we will never progress. Religion should be left at home, and we should move on. Sporting beards, wearing burka and talking region while brewing hate within is hypocritical.
STOP TALKING RELIGION ALL THE TIME
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May 04, 2010 05:25am
Ashar Azad Ahmed, may be you are related to that Cab driver. Totally ignorant of the fact that, we as a country have not done well in terms of our minority. Your uninformed views are quite evident from what you write.
Wake up my friend, fix your mind and views first before correcting others
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May 04, 2010 11:44am
very well said
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May 04, 2010 04:03pm
I feel India and Pakistan would unite towards the middle or end of this century. All the extremists and fanatics should be shown doors. People from all sects, creed caste ...religion should work towards giving our children a better and GREAT future!! there is nothing that can please you more than this..
thanks
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May 04, 2010 05:24pm
Pakistan is not even equal to one tenth of India as compare to technology, Bollywood, Software (In my company in US we have 200 Indian employ as compare to 2 Pakistani) .
Will pray for better Pakistan
Thanks
Sachin Johri
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May 04, 2010 09:59pm
I would request you to give examples and sight instances where you feel the Pakistani 'system'has marginalized Hindus. How many Hindu's have been killed or murdered in Pakistan in the name of communal riots? how many temples have been destroyed by mobs? How many trains/busses have been burned carrying Hindu pilgrims to the melas in interior sindh?
I am not saying that we are perfect, but when it comes to comparing Pakistan with India, Pakistan certainly has the upper hand when it comes to the rights of the minorities. Just watch any Indian movie and you will see the bad guy being a Muslim or having a Muslim name with links to Pakistan. Watch any Hindi language news channel and you will see a cooked up wierd story about Pakistani terrorists and the presenter's vile bursting comments against Pakistan (with sound effects to follow ofcourse). Fortunately we have never seen such behaviour in Pakistan. We have seperate seats for minorities in all govt institutions, as well as the parliments and assemblies etc (currently abolished upon the insistance of the minorities themselves). I personaly have employed many Hindu's, christians etc. in my own organization based solely on their merit, sometimes when there were 20 Muslims also vying for the same position. And how can you forget what is happening in Kashmir for the past many decades. Have you guys totally forgotten the way Muslim women and children, let alone the men, are treated there? Go and ask the refugees if you dont believe me!
Mr Wasim and Mr Faraz need to feel proud of their motherland and see the facts themselves before being apologetic and ashamed of their country. I dont need to wake up my friend, but you certainly seem to be sleeping on the wrong side of the bed!
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May 04, 2010 10:37pm
Mr.Kapadia, your six year old daughter can express this sentiment because she has not yet seen the grave problems and injustices prevalent in Pakistan. Religion was invented by our forefathers because at that time it would help in instilling a certain fear in people who might otherwise do wrong. But now religion has too many fanatics, too many internal sects. Creating a country on the basis of a religion(whether it be Islam, Christianity or Hinduism) is therefore totally impractical because all these sects would still fight each other. You remove a common enemy of your religion, but within a single religion itself there is so much strife.how many different countries can you create?
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May 05, 2010 01:19pm
Awesome blog and debate. I agree with you and the other guys. why mix something so beautiful as religion with something as dirty as politics. And be it India or Pak in both countries there is a divide and rule policy instilled by the British and still nurtured by our calculative and corrupt politicos. I am an Indian Hindu by birth and I wish Indo-Pak relations improve but I cannot see that happening any soon. I am sure opposition parties like BJP will never let that happen, all they care about is Hindutva (just a way to rally rural, illiterate Hindus), and religion based parties in Pak will never let them understand that a majority of India is pro Islam and Muslims are considered equal citizens in modern India. most of my friends are not Hindus, Infact no one cares any more about race, creed or cast as long as they have had a basic education in childhood. so I feel illiteracy in India and Pak should be reduced to improve the peoples view.
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May 05, 2010 06:23pm
Thank you, Mr. Quddus, for the very healthy dose of rationality. [May I also compliment and thank Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy & co for their efforts. Where they are starting is the most effective: young minds].
Andre Gide once said that people ought to keep their minds open and let in every idea that comes to it (the mind) and not suppress it or turn away from it. (Gandhi also said something to that effect ... about keeping the doors and windows of your home open and letting the breezes in.. but let me not detract). Anyway, what better way to build a foundation than to give the opportunities to young minds!
I cannot but help share with a book I read recently. Ryszard Kapuscinski's "Travels with Herodotus". Kapuscinski was Poland's first foreign correspondent to India (1950s) and Herodotus, of course, was the first historian whose commentary of records went as far as what he "India". I think every modern high school-er must be required to study history and anthropology in addition to maths, science, languages. Kapuscinski's reading of Herodotus must be included in prescribed reading. I'll leave it at that tease.
And for the organizers of CAP: great job! I hope you will expand your efforts to include Pakistan before partition, before Mohenjodaro, to the time of Lucy and even before that....Cheers to that and to a thousand new blooms.
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May 05, 2010 06:34pm
Awww, don't bite that tongue, Mr. Siddiq! :-) Nice one, nice wit...Cheers
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May 06, 2010 04:22am
I agree with Faisal here ... Given the circumstances these days, we have forgotten our history and people who forget who they really were, dont have a future.
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May 06, 2010 01:12pm
Mr. Wasim you said it. I am an Indian and I feel education is the basis for everything. If your children are educated properly and their minds turned to a career, then I feel this whole Jihad thing will not happen. Pakistan should make it a point to educate these children in the tribal areas and rehabiltate them. Give more power (or empower) to woman. People should be able to live in peace with their brethrens, whether they are Muslims, Hindus or christians. One thing I can vouch for is the majority of Muslims in India are better educated than Pakistan and they dont indulge in Jihad etc. I am a christian and the state from where I come from has a Mosque, a Church and a Hindu temple side by side. We are secular. All religious books be it the Quran, the Bible, The Torah or the Baghavad Gita can be read and interpreted in different ways. There are some in your community who would have done that. Which religion says to kill people. Life to us has been given by God and only he can take it. Thanks Mr. Wasim for your comments
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May 07, 2010 06:50pm
Thank you Faisal for a wonderful article. My grandparents also migrated to Pakistan from a village in Junagadh district and my only source of information on their journey were their stories. History books some how never eveoked the sense of pride that was in their stories. I would love to go visit this exhibition with my Dada, im sure it would result in many stories that were forgotten!
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May 09, 2010 07:52pm
We see lots of comments here, this a positive sign of maturing Pakistan. However most of the time when we talk about creation of Pakistan, we just talk about migration and unfortunate killings which took place then. Muslim league leadership was more active in India then however creation was not possible without Muslim majority provinces joining Pakistan this included East Pakistan. We seems to ignore this fact in our discussions. Migration and killings/rape of unfortunate people across the borders was consequence not the primary reason for creation of Pakistan. I have noticed that some people believe they or their forefathers have given freedom to all the people living in current federating units in Pakistan. This is wrong impression, federating units themselves either opted for it (like Sindh) and other still complain that they were forced and cheated to become part of Pakistan (Baluchistan). There used to be millions of people living in these area before Pakistan was created, they had and still have their language and culture and they wanted to safeguard their economy and future as well.
The way some people describe creation of Pakistan creates impression that geographical boundaries within which Pakistan was eventually established was a vacant land and most of the people came over from Indian side and they also liberated few natives living in Sindh, Baluchistan Sarhad (pakhtonkhaw), Punjab and east Pakistan. Some times our approach is some what closer to Israel , people their believe that when they captured and liberated Palestine it was a vacant land.
Mazhar Memon
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May 12, 2010 03:00pm
Mr. Chinoy,
I am a Indian living in the US. My honest opinion is that both the countries (India & Pakistan) focus too much on history not too little. The advantage societies like the US have is that they are not burdened by history.
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May 14, 2010 10:25am
why do i c more Indians commenting here than Pakistanis??
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May 14, 2010 10:37am
Sharmeen...
I agree what you have said cause Mr. Bhosle must not have gone through all of it...but he was not wrong on his part...it is absolutely correct that every child must know the history of his motherland....
Now my point is in this exhibition of Your's aren't you promoting hatred towards India in the minds of the generation who doesn't even know how to hate someone....because children's are some form of God and you may call him whatever you want he won't mind.
Thank you
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May 14, 2010 12:23pm
Amitim:
You are wrong, Since historians are observers and participants, the works they produce are written from the perspective of their own time and sometimes with due concern for possible lessons for their own future. "All history is contemporary history". History is facilitated by the formation of a 'true discourse of past' through the production of narrative and analysis of past events relating to the human race. The modern discipline of history is dedicated to the institutional production of this discourse.
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May 14, 2010 12:25pm
I agree with Rajiv Chowdhary - What Nr. Patel has to do ?
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May 25, 2010 10:30am
Sorry Mr. syd. your intention is good but we indians do not like that.Even if there are little problems in INDIA, we are living peacefully. our contry is progressing fast with an anual growth of 8-9%. If INDIA & PAKISTAN united again,we will loose in many area, I mean there will be bomb blast everywhere and we can not live peacefully.
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May 25, 2010 10:07pm
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May 27, 2010 06:28pm
Mr. Kamran I think u come to know about history after the release of jaswant's book..HA HA!!
U just want to take...which u like.
Do u knw the age of jaswant singh when India got independent, his post etc?
He has shown just his point of view..thats it.
Do u really think pakistan will prosper in current scenario amid terror, extremism, etc.
We do have internal issues , but we try to overcome same.
I don't think ur administration think.
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May 28, 2010 04:13am
@ Ashar Azad Ahmed : I can only say you are totally IGNORANT of the facts .... probably "a cab driver" as mentioned in some comments :-)
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