The DCO had earlier approved the change in name. A committee member told this newspaper that none of the members opposed the proposal, and this included the two ulema on the committee. The Indian media had lauded the decision, appreciating Pakistan’s recognition of a man who had opposed the British rule without distinguishing between a Hindu and a Muslim struggle. Once again, it has showed how our government balks at the mere threat of trouble by rightwing groups. Our false notions of ‘being true to our religion and our country’ have been exposed to the world all over again because of our actions. That we marginalise our minorities — even the heroes within them and even after death — has rendered all our claims of being moderate, liberal and enlightened false. What is distressing is that a step taken in the right direction has been retracted. It will leave behind no imprint. That we thought about honouring a freedom fighter is not something to be proud of. That we chose, once again, to let the reactionary right bully us and make the wrong decision for the wrong reasons is something to be ashamed of. That we did not have the strength to stick to our decision and stand up for what was right is mortifying. That we failed to honour a hero is a dishonour to us, more than anyone else.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2012.
COMMENTS (21)
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@mrXYZ: You got to be kidding. Oh yeah, show me your heroes, I suppose General Zia was one of them. You people taking religion too far, look at your country, rampant corruption for the last so many decades and then you call yourself Muslims. I was raised in Mardan and things were different, we respected others who were not Muslims like me but they were Friends to me and could have stood up for me if needed so. Hypocrisy rules Pakistan now and I don't see an end in sight, going down slowly till there will be no Pakistan for the so called Muslims. We are the laughing stock and butt of the jokes around the world. Wake up and stand up for your rights, don't emulate Saudis, they are the lackeys of Americans, don't you forget that.
We must have the courage to see our problem : Can we treat both Ghazi Ilm Din Shaheed and Bhagat Singh , almost contemporaries , as our heroes ? We have to resolve contradictions in our thoughts and beliefs .
@mrXYZ: How can you call a way that caused the murder of one million innocent people and forced migration of 15 million -- to this day history's largest forced migration -- "civilized and rational"? Also, you are wrong and Hassan above is right: Muhammad bin Qasim and other marauders who invaded India were butchers, fanatics and terrorists.
Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
@deep :"I dont think you guys should beat yourselves about this – we dont have the courage to name anything after Jinnah who barring partition was considered a mainstream leader – even our text books acknowledge his role"
I suppose ring to pre-1930 Jinnah who was a Congress member not the post 1937 Jinnah who promoted divisiveness on religious grounds and called for theDirect Action Day. IT is those actions due to which he is not respected in India, Also unlike most other Congress leaders who spent years in jails to fight British occupation and people like Lala Lajpat Rai died facing lathi charge (which incidentally Bhagat Singh avenged by killing Colonel Saunders) , Jinnah has not spent even a day in jail
But Indi ahas several places named after Iqbal and Tarana-e-Hind is sung on every Republic dayand is honoured as a national song. Plus there are streets and even cities named after Muslim rulers (Aurangabad, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad). If course we also have Tatanagar. Askok chakra is on our national flag though he promoted Buddhism and Ranjit trophy is the largest domestic sports event in India named after a Sikh king. India has never considered the religion of a person in determining whether they should be honoured or not. If Shahid Bhagat SIngh was not a Muslim, he wasn't a indu either - he was an atheist born in a Sik family.
While in may areas India and Pakistan have similar problems (poverty, illiteracy, hunger) - when it comes to using religion as a yardstick for everything, you cannot compare India and Pakistan. . .
I cannot understand.. How Bhagat Singh is a hero of Pakistan?? He may be a hero of subcontinent before partition, but how can one claim that he is a NATIONAL HERO of Pakistan? If someone says Yes, he is. Then tell me please what he did for Pakistan? I am willing to talk logically.
@mrXYZ:
Ahmad Shah Abdali attacked India 5-6 times , once on invitation of Shah Wali Ullah , each time his soldiers entering homes and putting to sword tens of thousands of people , raping women , taking thousands of men women and children as slaves to be sold in slave markets , leaving utter devastation and destruction behind . He was impartial in his massacres, desecration of women , and plunders . Muslim men women and children were as much victims of his barbarity as Hindus and others . Yes , we do need reading our history without prejudices , and stop idealising butchers rapists mass murderers as our heroes .
@jagjit sidhoo.:
You are spot on as always without malice.
How narrow minded we are? Not fit to be a part of global village!
@hasan: what do you mean by looters and shameless barbarian like qasim etc i think you should read the history of sub continent again u seem more like a depressed hindu to me than a pakistani ......
bhagat singh was a hero (rebel) and maybe he did something good for the sub continent but according the history pakistan was established trough negotiations and argumentation and not trough revolt islam teaches to obey the ruling government and not go for revolt unless they do you harm or interfere in your religious matters such as stop you worship Allah etc . during the british rule people had more liberty in religious matters than nowadays in pakistan or india their lives were more secure the people had no reasons to revolt . demanding liberty or a separate homeland for muslims and hindus is another thing . that is why quaid azam succeeded because he took a civilized and rational way to get freedom.
there should not be such an big issue about bhagat singh there are lot of other heroes of our nation and if some people consider him as a hero thats fine they dont need a chowk named after him to be recognized as a hero . And for our youth there a lots of ideals for them to look up if they really want to follow them .
Bhagat Singh was defended by Mr MA Jinnah (Quid- e - Azam) while Mr MK Gandhi (Mahatma) declined to do so . Why blame some people now for refusing to honour his memory ?
Every country needs heroes for their youth to look up to and emulate . Not naming the chowk after Bhagat Singh will not affect him (he has done the maximum that any true patriot can do for his motherland), the loss is to the Pakistani youth who have lost a hero they can emulate.
I dont think you guys should beat yourselves about this - we dont have the courage to name anything after Jinnah who barring partition was considered a mainstream leader - even our text books acknowledge his role.
As long the chowk is not named after gaddafi...or the current turkish guy who is wooing pakistan.
this editorial if went un commented from Pakistani people will sadden further.
Welcome to Pakistan, We have no one to blame but ourselves over the issue of subjugation to the Extremist views of the Right wing Religious bigots that rule our society.
The only heroes we welocme are the thugs, inhuman, shameless barbarians like Qasim, Ghauri, Abdali who looted and destroyed our forefathers and this land... we dont have to honor any other heroes. we pakistanis have sold our motherland to the chinese and our people to the americans.. we are the worst of all who can even sell our family members for dollars.
I feel so ashamed. Though the feeling was good till it lasted. Seems we have a long way to go. I thought for a while that the mindset typified by desecrating the grave of Professor Abdus Salam is finally changing. Alas it was not to be.
Bhagat Singh has gone since long and he would have been turning in his grave if he knew that the country whose Independence he gave his life for stands mutilated. Not honoring him is really a favor to him and his cause. Being an atheist the havoc Religion has caused to his homeland would have pained him immensely. It is better to let his Soul rest in Peace.