The relationship between India and Pakistan has been a controversial issue since the call for partition in the run-up towards independence from British rule. History speaks for itself and provides us with ample examples that help us understand the intricacies of this relationship. The partition of the subcontinent in 1947, that has resulted in chaos and conflict ever since, has its roots in the divide and rule policy utilised by the British rulers which created fault lines of religion among the populace. Post-partition, the animosity has continued to thrive with three India-Pakistan wars, countless ceasefire violations, conflict over the state of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the existence of external support and bases for acts of terrorism on Indian soil. Ever since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, it resulted in chaos for both nations. This has recently escalated into a dangerous situation.
However, at the level of the individual, society and culture, both countries do have commonalities, albeit ones that are not as prominent given the tendency to focus greater attention on the enmity. Ensuring long-needed peace is possible if more focus were to be directed to the similarities and the building of people-to-people relations. A relook at the way we look at India-Pakistan in history is needed – societal relations need to be the bedrock rather than a uni-dimensional emphasis on conflict between the two countries, conflict between Hindus and Muslims, and data on those who died consequently. In the modern era, possibilities for this paradigm shift do exist and the wheels of change are in motion.
Today, with the liberalisation of societies in India and Pakistan, people are trying to mend relations. Exchange of media content such as movies and soap operas, cultural exports like music and artistes, grassroots initiatives such as having partner schools, and mutual interests such as cricket are providing us with opportunities to explore previously unseen dimensions of the “other”, to realise the extent of commonalities. Many in the current generation do not believe in having worldviews that divide people as inherently different and opposed to one another. The trend of differentiation is disintegrating. However, relations between two countries cannot be truly successful until and unless there is a sense of true friendship and therefore a faithful bilateral relationship between both must be established.
Sushmita Arunachalam
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