Yes. I wanted to speak out on this, to the world. I have been speaking to myself for the past 17 years. Not a single day, i have gone to bed without speaking to myself on this, in the past 17 years.I could not find an answer.I have been asking God to give me an answer. I still hope, He will not let me down.Now, i will speak out on this, to the world.I am sure, i am not alone.Like me, thousands are waiting to speak.I will speak on their behalf.I will tell my story, to the world.It was a typical arranged marriage. Her Indian grand mother living in our neighbourhood, one day in 1991, brought her Pakistani grand daughter's photograph to my home, showed my parents and proposed the alliance. My parents gave me the photograph and looked for my response. I liked. I never bothered, whether she will like me or not but took it for granted that she is going to like me, in my photograph. My photograph and message went back to her parents, living in a Gulf country. The strange photo chemistry worked. They all came, except the girl, we all liked each other and finally the marriage was held in that Gulf country, registered in the court and we were legally declared and registered on our respective passports by our embassies as husband and wife.Little we realised that there are unwritten taboos between India and Pakistan.Little we realised that we can NOT simply assume that we are just humanbeings, created by God.Little we realised that we can not simplify things. We can not take things for granted.Little we realised that we are breaking the "holy code of conduct" written on our behalf by Jinnah, Gandhi and Nehru.Little we realsied that we belong to born enemies.Little we realised that we are supposed to hate each other.Little we realised that there is an invisible wall, greater than the great wall of China and mightier than the mightiest is standing between us.Since then we are living in Gulf. In the past 17 years, I have never visited Pakistan. She had visited my home in India, just 2 times in the past 17 years. The fear of the "unknown" is haunting us.I wonder how many readers of this sad story, have Hindu/Muslim/Sikh families across the border?. How many of them have found their spouse or sweet heart across the border? Can they understand the anguish and pain of such divided hearts and millions of divided families?.We are told that there can only be either black or white. Every one says that India and Pakistan are like south pole and north pole. But, we can NOT choose one over the other. We love both and we need both. The "better half" of us, is holding either an Indian or Pakistani identity. In my case, my children hold Indian identity. We love our nation and will NEVER giveup this identity. But we can NOT hate each other's homeland, as expected by our homeland. We have all the greatest icons of love. Taj Mahal, Laila-Majnu and what not?. But in reality, we prefer to watch them from a distance. We are living in the non existing Indo-Pak world, which REALLY existed before 1947. We are a living anachronism. We are living Veer-Zara's. We are a living tragedy, no one wants to listen or talk about including our own selves.But i have one answer. If i were reborn and God gives me another chance to decide, I WILL DO IT AGAIN. Will she do it again...?. I do not want to ask.
My advice to others - NEVER do it.The question i would like to ask is:Is it possible for me to settle with my family in India, without changing my wife's Pakistani nationality?. She will never change it and i have no right even to talk about that. I respect her decision.My constitution does not prohibit marriages between Indian and Pakistani nationals.My constitution does not take away my right to work, study, practice my profession ,serve my nation and pursue better life because my spouse is a Pakistani national.My constitution gives me full guarantee and freedom to marry whom i like and live peacefully in my nation.It's all too good in paper but in reality looks like a nightmare.I do not know, what others think about me?.I do not know, what my friends think about me?.I do not know, what my NATION thinks about me?.I do not know, what my mom, brother, sisters and relatives think about me?I do not know, what my wife, who trusted me, thinks about me?I do not know, what my children will think about me?I do not know, what YOU think about me?For some strange reason, i feel very light today. I think, i can sleep well today.Even i can CRY well today.Is there a solution for such "undivided and indivisible" Indo-Pak families?.What is our crime?. Do we have a place on this earth to live ?.
Look at our matrimonial ads. Parents from the 30% are every day seeking alliance from well settled brides / grooms in UK, US, Canada, Australia and Europe. Every one of our ruling elites, including the PM, President, nationalist party leaders and policy makers have their sons and daughters settled in these nations.
Let us look around our neighbours. While bollywood movies and Indian people are loved by everyone around the world, we pretend ignorant to the fact that there is a growing aversion towards India in the SAARC region. While the traditional hatred between India and Pakistan is well known, why India could not build a cordial relationship with any of it’s neighbours Bangladesh, Srilanka, Nepal and China?. We can not close our eyes to the fact that the entire subcontinent is gravitating towards China and very soon India may be left all alone.
The “holier than thou” attitude and unreasonable boasting of intellectual prowess by repeatedly quoting certain phrases like Einstein’s “We owe a lot to Indians who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made”, “worlds largest democracy” etc while the genocides, corrupt judiciary, quality of life, deteriorating infrastrature and weeping poverty speaks otherwise, generates a sense of hypocrisy and disillusion about India in the minds of weaker neighbours.Dr.Manmohan Singh knows these geopolitical dynamics very well and realised that he can't have an Indo-US nuclear deal under his arms and extend the hand of friendship to China as well. Simply put, China did not buy his bluff. In this context, China is emerging as a defacto leader of the subcontinent and all our "weaker neighbours" have started signing "deals and pacts" with China. Obviously, one can not have his cake and eat it too.
Hope, we are not moving towards taking pride in glorified tragedies like “slumdog millionaire”.
We all know very well that 150 years of Hindu-Muslim hatred has culminated into the birth of Pakistan. After partition, the Hindu and Muslim population in either countries have become easy target for the majority to vent their anger and frustration against the minority.
After 60 years, the 10% Hindu population of Pakistan has dwindled down to less than 2% while 10% of Muslim population of India has almost doubled to 20% , in proportion with the national average. Most of the Pakistani Hindus have migrated to India, while almost all the Indian Muslims who were not cut by the geographical division have remained intact as Indians, despite descrimination and alienation.
The abscence of a moderating force has pushed Pakistan into the grip of Islamists while Hinduism in India has done the remarkable job of severing the umbilical cord between the Muslims and the Mullahs. An Indian Muslim might be economically and politically weaker than his Pakistani counter part but definitely commands more respect in the world arena and knows how to play by the rules of the game.
The Mumbai terror attack is a crucial milestone in the Indo-Pak rivalry. It has proved beyond doubt that it is impossible for India to teach any kind of lesson to Pakistan by any war. Whatever "other options open" is irrelevant for Pakistan because it is seen as a hero in the eyes of "Muslim world", for the very resons that India can NOT bully Pakistan any more.
Today, the people of Pakistan have got fedup of "Allah + Army" combo and they are eagerly looking out for an opportunity to get out of this mess. In fact, most of the Pakistani intellectuals have started enjoying the vulgar assault of Indian media on Pakistani establishments and they welcome it as a necessary anti-dose for their illness. But, it should NOT be misinterpreted as a disillusion against their state of Pakistan. The desire to see their nation strong and prosperous is "deep rooted" in the heart of every Pakistani as much as that of an Indian for India.
India can not continue with it's "outdated" mindset against Pakistan. We don't have an answer for the "roti, kapda, makaan" dream of 1.2 billion population. It is a silent volcano and tsunami brewing right under our arse. Jingoistic slogans of "Bharat mata ki, jay" is pushing all the neighbours towards China and creating an aversion for India in the SAARC region.
India should gracefully accept the bitter reality that Pakistan is a strong and sovereign nation and will NEVER get cowed down by India.
Pakistan is ready for a "real" dialogue. It is anxiously waiting. India should accept to "live and sleep" with the enemy. India should break the barriers. Pakistan is waiting.
Dear Mr.President
You talk so well and we all believed that finally "US of A" has got a human being as President and not an animal. But of late, we are loosing our faith in your actions. Being the son of an African black slave, whose forefathers have suffered under suppression, descrimination and injustice for 400 years, we thought you will understand what your nation has done to the Muslims. But, Isarel had been killing 1000's of Palestinians and continues to kill every day right under your nose, you have decided not to speak a single word against Israel but you have shocked the entire world by extending your full support for Israel. You claim to be a church going Christian and what are you going to say in front of Jesus, next time you visit the church?.
By your actions, you look like another wolf in sheep's clothing. Better, for a CHANGE, try to practice what you preach. Otherwise, you will be doing a great injustice for your own black race and they will be pushed again back to slavery for another 400 years.
Dear President Obama
Today, America has elected the son of an African black slave as it's President. Mr.President, you will be surprised to know that Prophet Mohammed had appointed, 1400 years ago, an African black slave, Hazarat Bilal as the first moezzin (prayer caller) and the treasurer of the state. Also, for your kind information, Hazarat Bilal is the first person who embraced Islam when Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) brought the peaceful message of Islam for the mankind.
Everyone should practice their faith fearlessly and live true to themselves. Hypocricy wouldn’t work because when i die, God will not ask me what’s my nationality, which religion i followed and how much patriotic was I ?. Rather, i will be judged by my actions as a good human.
I am an Indian Muslim and i follow all good things in my religion but i will NOT accept that one has to be a Muslim in order to enter “jannah”. I can’t imagine a jannah without my good Non Muslim friends.
Our Prophet(PBUH) brought Islam for humanity and he preached universal brotherhood. His own uncle, Abu Talib, who protected him from non believers of Islam never embraced Islam till his last breath. Prophet respected his decision and left it to God. What other example is required for secularism, tolerance and equality in Islam?.
Islam is a revolutionary concept which shattered all the social inequalities and removed the very concept of appointing a religious high priest as a guardian of social values. It brought freedom, equality, and justice for the mankind. Prophet(PBUH) appointed Hazarat Bilal, the black African slave, as the first moezzin (Prayer caller) and treasurer of the state. How many so called Islamic countries practice these great values, is a question they love to avoid. Whereas, Europe, Australia, France, US and UK have all opened their borders for everyone and have allowed them to settle and live a better life.
In fact, if one has to embrace these values of universal brotherhood and humanity, patriotism and motherland becomes antithesis to Islam. Let us be honest. Patriotism has brought wars, hatred and has divided the humanity. One can easily get away wih murders, genocides and massacres in the name of patriotism. It is a lie and evil against mankind and every human being will ultimately move on and settle in any country which provides better life & oppportunities, including we Indians.
