I think that these are good people whose minds have been brainwashed by decades of false propaganda
NEW DELHI: Ninety-nine per cent of Pakistanis are good people. Sometimes, I am really sad when I read comments by some Pakistanis on social media, especially on Facebook. I have repeatedly said that 99 per cent Pakistanis (like 99 per cent Indians) are good people.
In response, some people from within India furiously attack me, saying that Indians and Pakistanis can never be friends and that Pakistanis are barbarians and terrorists.
I am a humble disciple of the great French thinker Jean Jacques Rousseau, and my teacher taught me that men are good by nature, and my experience in life has confirmed the truth of Rousseau’s statement. I found from my experience of 69 years in life that 99 per cent of people are good. However, my teacher also said that good people are often corrupted by society and the wicked, and that is why some Pakistanis do bad things (like some Indians). As for statistics, these can always be manipulated. So I often do not rely on them but choose to rely instead on my own experience in life.
I am your teacher, who wishes to teach you the truth and good things. I am your teacher not because I am inherently superior in intellect to you (I am sure that when you reach my age many of you will become far superior to me), but because of the knowledge I have acquired after tremendous study and reflection over half a century.
Then I think that these are good people whose minds have been brainwashed by decades of false propaganda. So, I tell myself that I must continue to be patient and not lose my cool, and should continue patiently explaining the truth.
Justice (retd.) Markandey Katju
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2014.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
