Friendly neighbours

Even sane journalists and defence analysts of India these days advocate the strategy of keeping Pakistan on the boil and tying them down to their Western frontier. Forget peace overtures with that country, they say- in peace times they are busy destabilizing us. Keep them busy fighting a war on the west of their own making. Let us get on with the business of development. I have friends here who belong to the Pakistan Civil Services. The cab driver who picked us up from the airport was a Pakistani- a post graduate from Australian National University who decided that driving cabs lets him be in control of his life- a remarkable attitude to life. They are no different from us. They speak chaste Urdu (for a South Indian like me it is basically Hindi with some additional strange sounding words) and are quite affectionate towards Indians- (it is hard to believe how much). Although I have been a keen Pakistan watcher, I hadn’t really met a Pakistani in flesh and blood until I reached Australia. They are just folks like us. One people divided in the name of fuzzy religions.

But it surprises me how much animosity exists in certain parts of Pak media towards us. Things aren’t very different with Indian media. But they reach a crescendo during brazen external interventions like Mumbai attacks, Parliament attacks and Kandahar hijack. Then they sort of die down and get busy with gory tales of rape and murder in Indian hinterland, tinsel town gossip and displays of wealth by the nouveau riche. But what explains this animosity in Pakistan? I was listening to talks by this guy called Zaid Hamid in Youtube. His theories are strange to say the least. I am told (with a wink and a nudge) that he is an “Agency’s Man”- the “Agency” being a hushed reference to the ubiquitous ISI of Pakistan. Hamid has many interesting theories- that Mumbai attack was orchestrated by Indians…even that Ajmal Kasab’s real name is (clutch your stomachs now) none other than Amar Singh. He is a Pakistani patriot who believes that Pakistan should be ready for the next Panipat war which kick-started a thousand years of rule of Hindustan by the “righteous”. He also declares that the Swat agreement is a result of disillusionment with the English justice system and if Pakistanis want instant justice; let there be Sharia. There are such many more amusing nuggets that I shall not care to recount all of them. He seems to be heard widely and is favourably commented upon by Pakistanis. If this is the Agency’s man then may his God save his Agency.

It is this elitism/ chauvinism that supposedly lost them East Pakistan - A belief that the Bengalis are not sufficiently infused with religious and martial fervour and subsequent refusal to transfer power to them in spite of Mujib winning a legitimate election. The scope for forgetting the past and moving on with development appear pretty slim right now. But a peaceful subcontinent busy working towards development of its’ impoverished populace can make a lot of difference. What divides us in the trajectory of development in post colonial era? I do not hold many strong beliefs or convictions (except for a few naïve beliefs like vodka martinis go well with crab fajitas and that Bengali women are beautiful) But I subscribe to this theory about democracy. The beauty of democracy is that it enables a generational shift of power from the elite to the underclass. Watch the shift of post-independence breed of Oxbridge intellectuals, maharajahs and landed gentry of India who dominated politics to the present lot of politicians among whom there are cowherds, tailors and school teachers. Most of India’s states are today presided over by ordinary people who spent a lifetime in politics. This imperceptible shift has occurred during our life time. We sneered at it in the beginning. Today there are a lot more seasoned politicians from the masses who are holding or have held high office. Yet one might say, don’t we still have dynasties? Yes, we do. But many dynasties are sprouting without the baggage of the past. I believe this transformation is what prevents India from breaking up or fighting too many internal wars. But dangers lurk in every corner, let me hasten to add.

This transformation could never take roots in Pakistan. With democracy interrupted by bayonets periodically, even today, the leaders of mainstream parties are from the elite. There really was no leftist movement representing the Aam admi cutting across regional affiliations. The leader of the Mohajirs (so called under-class of Indian muslim migrants) sits in UK, reluctant to face politics at home. Take a reality check. The Bhutto family, the Sharif family, the Chaudhries of Gujrat, Imran Khan… They are all riding on family wealth and connections. For a young bright Pakistani, joining the Army appears to be a more legitimate method of wielding political power eventually. Can you think of a Pakistani who rose through the ranks of the dust and grime of electoral politics?

Do you then blame the disgruntled common man for gravitating to the mullah with piety in his eyes and fire in his heart? Do you grudge him for following the preacher who leads a life of modest means and constant prayer? I suppose not. In similar circumstances, we could be also swayed by these pious worthies instead of wealthy politicians riding in Toyota Prado with gunmen for protection. Maybe two or three generations of power shifts to the underclass through democratic elections could see beginnings of change. Let us wish them that. Instead of wishing them a million wars of their own making…