Remembrance

While there is no harm in commemorating the 1965 war, the discontinuation of Remembrance Day observation is a loss


Yaqoob Khan Bangash November 10, 2014

A hundred years ago, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand had started a war between Russia and Austria-Hungary, which soon engulfed most of the world. Even distant India, Australia and the United States — initially so removed from the main theatre of war — were roped into the crisis. The war had taken four years and its duration, scale and attrition, shocked the whole world. For Europe, the war brought the greatest amount of death and destruction since the Middle Ages, and cries of ‘never again’, were soon heard. Of course, within two decades, Europe was again in the throes of yet another world war, but that is another story.

In Britain, the First World War shocked as well as united the whole country. Even today, the main event at which all the war dead (from any war) are remembered is held on Remembrance Sunday — the Sunday nearest to November 11. Even though the Second World War was, in some ways, more horrific and certainly longer, the trauma and subsequent changes brought about by the First World War left a lasting impact.



In Pakistan, too, Remembrance Sunday was observed in the first couple of decades after independence, but after the 1965 war with India, this observation fell by the wayside and September 6 began to be observed as Defence Day. While there is no harm in commemorating the 1965 war, the discontinuation of Remembrance Day observation is a loss. It is a loss because, first, Remembrance Day was a day of prayer for the souls of those killed (both military and civilian) in wars. Praying for the dead is a good deed in Islam, as well as in other religions, and a commendable act. Secondly, Remembrance Day was a reflection on the principles for which our military servicemen and women died. In a country, it is positive to have some days on which the principles — either founding or later agreed — are reflected upon. Doing so, not only makes us realise that the sacrifice of the dead was for a purpose, but also that we must still strive to observe and achieve those ideals. We talk about our founder, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, all the time and even mention the principles he wanted to establish Pakistan on, but do we ever take any concrete measures to actualise those principles? Thirdly, Remembrance Day was a day where war was not glorified but remembered as a terrible calamity which, if possible, should not be repeated. It was a day when people were reminded how much war destroys and how little it builds, and that unless it is the last resort, it should not be embarked upon.

Pakistan today is in the midst of a virtual war. There is war with terrorists, within and outside the country, our relations with our neighbours (except China) are not friendly, and the country has severe political and economic tensions. It is also a country where the smallest of issues can flare up tensions and lead to violence. Mobs running amok, people being lynched and brutally murdered, random shooting incidents are nearly an everyday occurrence. Is this the life we really want to live, I wonder?

Today, as we remember the end of the First World War, let us reflect on what war and violence does to us, our people, our country and resolve, and act, to do everything we can to prevent such a calamity. Our war dead — be it in the first or second world wars, the 1948, 1965 and 1971 wars — gave their lives so that we might live the ‘good life’. Let us make sure that their sacrifices were not in vain.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2014.

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COMMENTS (6)

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply

Today, as we remember the end of the First World War, let us reflect on what war and violence does to us, our people, our country and resolve, and act, to do everything we can to prevent such a calamity. Yes, we do mourn the dead and remember them, but simultaneously plot and prepare for the next one!! Or have you not watched the demonstration of the NATO heads of States including the former colonialists, looking at the fly past of the military planes in formation. Yesterday we mourned those who got buried together without identification of their nationalities or faith and today we are facing the high noon, the return of cold war to the European continent, and facing the possibility of Russian retaliation to NATO provocations. Like the European Parliament President, a german, recently said that we do not have the third world war since the Germans did not experience the treaty of versilles, but recieved the marshal aid. Have a nice day sir.

Rex Minor

Gp65 | 9 years ago | Reply

"Our war dead — be it in the first or second world wars, the 1948, 1965 and 1971 wars — gave their lives so that we might live the ‘good life’"

How so? When you start a war, it is for greed. Only when soldiers die defending the country against an aggressor, can it be considered fair to say they "gave their lives - so that we we might live a good life". You are aware that all wars with India were started by Pakistan -right? http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-73654-Asghar-Khan-claims-Pakistan-attack..

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