Such articles which create uncertainty and doubt about the Partition should not be published in national newspapers.
ISLAMABAD: I wanted to express my concern about an article written by Kuldip Nayar titled “The Idea of Partition Recedes in Shadows”.
In this piece, Mr Nayar has attempted to analyse the issue of the Partition of the subcontinent in 1947. It must be noted that this is a highly-sensitive topic of discussion for both India and Pakistan; both the nations have very different perspectives on it. It is also worth mentioning that circumstances and dynamics have drastically changed since the time of the event concerned.
In his article, Nayar poses the question: “Has partition served the purpose of Muslims?”
He answers his own question in the very next sentence by stating that he “doesn’t know”. By saying, “Muslims as Muslims have been the biggest losers” in the same paragraph, he not only raises doubt about the spirit of Muslims in the subcontinent at the time but more importantly attempts to create a major dilemma in the minds of current Pakistanis reading this article about whether partition is justified.
Mr Nayar makes a similarly controversial comment concerning the Quaid-e-Azam’s famous August 11 speech which holds great political, moral and cultural significance for Pakistanis. This speech is also special as the Quaid-e-Azam, in his great words, discussed and proved that the partition was the only solution of the problems persisting in India.
I must reiterate that Pakistanis and Indians see partition very differently. Pakistan was achieved on an ideological basis, the Two-Nation Theory, which defines our existence and our constitution. It is arguable whether we have close connection with Indians on the basis of culture, race, and traditions, etc. However, at the end of the day, ideologically speaking, we are two separate nations: Pakistan and India. This ideology being the Islamic ideology through which we exist and have achieved our great nation.
Such articles which create uncertainty and doubt about the Partition should not be published in national newspapers, especially those which are popular and influential in our country. Instead, I would suggest that steps should be taken by the media and other relevant institutions to clarify what the partition and independence really meant and means to the Muslims of our country.
Muhammad Zahak Jamal
Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2014.
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