Talking peace: Unlearning the ‘textbook of hate’
Indian peace activist urge their Pakistani counterparts to call for changing the 'India is enemy' curriculum.
ISLAMABAD:
Veteran journalist and columnist from India Kuldip Nayar asked the civil society of Pakistan to push for modifying the ‘Hindu dushman hai’ (Hindus are enemies) history taught in Pakistani schools.
“If Hindus are enemies, who will you hold a dialogue with?” questioned Nayar while insisting that the “distorted” history taught in schools has to be changed if India and Pakistan wanted to achieve sustainable peace.
He was talking to an audience comprising members of civil society and journalists at a roundtable organised by South Asia Free Media Association on Tuesday. A delegation of Indian journalists and parliamentarians is in the capital to promote the process of peace dialogue.
Nayar also wanted India to initiate a cut in defense budget, to be reciprocated by Pakistan. “Instead of purchasing guns and bombs, we need to feed a large number of poor people,” he said. He said the two neighbours had already seen too much of bloodshed and wars. People on both sides of the border now wanted peace. “People-to-people contact is essential to resume the process of dialogue and confidence building measures,” he said.
Nayyar added, “There has been a visible increase in the number of people coming to light candles for aman (peace) at Wahgah border from Indian side over the past few years. This was an outcome of our efforts,” he said, asking the civil society in Pakistan to emulate them and push for an equal response from their side.
He advocated for relaxation in visa regime for more people to be able to visit each other and more frequently. Nayar also expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of Urdu language in both the countries.
He said the youth was more inclined towards information technology and western values than preserving their own culture and heritage. He suggested the two countries to work to preserve their common cultural heritage.
Shahid Siddiqui, editor of an Urdu daily in India, also expressed concern over Indian youth’s interest in western culture. He said the process of people-to-people contact was initiated by him and his colleagues at a time when it was considered a sin.
Dr Mungrekar, a parliamentarian from India opposed the visa restrictions for people coming from Pakistan to India. “People from Pakistan are only allowed to visit three cities which is wrong,” he said.
On a lighter note, Nayar said he had witnessed a change in Pakistan during his recent visit after a gap of eight years. “At least India is no more the enemy number one for Pakistanis, it is America now,” he said.
He agreed with other speakers that the existence of core issues should not impede the process of confidence building measures.
Kishwar Naheed, Tahira Abdullah, Ashfaq Saleem Mirza and others also spoke at the occasion.
In an informal chat with The Express Tribune on Wednesday, Nayar held that Pakistan’s looking towards Arabs will not be good for the region as it would definitely impact India.
He believed this was another reason why sustainable peace between India and Pakistan was vital for the two countries in particular and the region in general. “At present, I fear Pakistan will move towards Arabs in the absence of an opening with India,” Nayar said.
The veteran journalist, who is roughly 24 years older than India and Pakistan, suggested that people should not expect anything colossal, instead endeavour to resume talks on both sides of the border.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2011.
Veteran journalist and columnist from India Kuldip Nayar asked the civil society of Pakistan to push for modifying the ‘Hindu dushman hai’ (Hindus are enemies) history taught in Pakistani schools.
“If Hindus are enemies, who will you hold a dialogue with?” questioned Nayar while insisting that the “distorted” history taught in schools has to be changed if India and Pakistan wanted to achieve sustainable peace.
He was talking to an audience comprising members of civil society and journalists at a roundtable organised by South Asia Free Media Association on Tuesday. A delegation of Indian journalists and parliamentarians is in the capital to promote the process of peace dialogue.
Nayar also wanted India to initiate a cut in defense budget, to be reciprocated by Pakistan. “Instead of purchasing guns and bombs, we need to feed a large number of poor people,” he said. He said the two neighbours had already seen too much of bloodshed and wars. People on both sides of the border now wanted peace. “People-to-people contact is essential to resume the process of dialogue and confidence building measures,” he said.
Nayyar added, “There has been a visible increase in the number of people coming to light candles for aman (peace) at Wahgah border from Indian side over the past few years. This was an outcome of our efforts,” he said, asking the civil society in Pakistan to emulate them and push for an equal response from their side.
He advocated for relaxation in visa regime for more people to be able to visit each other and more frequently. Nayar also expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of Urdu language in both the countries.
He said the youth was more inclined towards information technology and western values than preserving their own culture and heritage. He suggested the two countries to work to preserve their common cultural heritage.
Shahid Siddiqui, editor of an Urdu daily in India, also expressed concern over Indian youth’s interest in western culture. He said the process of people-to-people contact was initiated by him and his colleagues at a time when it was considered a sin.
Dr Mungrekar, a parliamentarian from India opposed the visa restrictions for people coming from Pakistan to India. “People from Pakistan are only allowed to visit three cities which is wrong,” he said.
On a lighter note, Nayar said he had witnessed a change in Pakistan during his recent visit after a gap of eight years. “At least India is no more the enemy number one for Pakistanis, it is America now,” he said.
He agreed with other speakers that the existence of core issues should not impede the process of confidence building measures.
Kishwar Naheed, Tahira Abdullah, Ashfaq Saleem Mirza and others also spoke at the occasion.
In an informal chat with The Express Tribune on Wednesday, Nayar held that Pakistan’s looking towards Arabs will not be good for the region as it would definitely impact India.
He believed this was another reason why sustainable peace between India and Pakistan was vital for the two countries in particular and the region in general. “At present, I fear Pakistan will move towards Arabs in the absence of an opening with India,” Nayar said.
The veteran journalist, who is roughly 24 years older than India and Pakistan, suggested that people should not expect anything colossal, instead endeavour to resume talks on both sides of the border.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2011.