The writer is a lawyer based in London and tweets @ayeshaijazkhan
It may seem like we have little to celebrate on our 68th Independence Day with August 14, 2014 poised to be a showdown between disgruntled demagogues and an inept heavy-handed government. While one would have thought that at least a sacred day, one that symbolises our painful birth, would have been spared street confrontation and be celebrated with some semblance of unity, there is no such luck. It does not seem to matter that the country is reeling from crisis after crisis, cannot provide electricity to its people or that it is confronted with a formidable terrorist backlash. Even as Pakistan burns, what matters to the political upper class, or their detractors, as the case may be, is who grabs the throne.
Under such circumstances, it is easy to be cynical, to degrade the struggle that led to Partition or to rubbish our raison d’etre. Yet, despite the wanting conditions in the country, at its core, Pakistan was a sound idea. It isn’t the reasoning for our creation that is at fault, but what we did with Pakistan thereafter that has led us to this mess.
Pakistan wasn’t created because Hindus and Muslims can’t live together. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jews and Jains can and should be able to live together. However, it is also indisputable that religion plays a fairly potent role in defining communal identity, whether in the subcontinent or the Balkans. It is equally true that even in highly evolved, democratic and secular states that legally guarantee equal rights for all their citizens, the dominant culture is that of the majority.
Let’s take, for instance, the simple example of celebrating Eid in a Muslim-minority country, such as the UK or the US, both countries that I have lived in. While both guarantee equal rights to citizens irrespective of religion, and by and large, Muslims are free to practise their religion in these states without fear, Eid is not a public holiday in either place. Hence, if this important Muslim celebration falls on a weekday (as it mostly does), working Muslims find themselves in the awkward dilemma of having to ask for a day off. While most employers are cooperative in granting the day off, there may nonetheless be important work meetings scheduled on that day as it is not regarded as a holiday in the public conscience and thus, those who care about their careers may not feel taking a day off is the best course. Contrast that with Christmas when work slows down for a solid week allowing the majority to celebrate at ease and travel to be with their loved ones.
The point is that the majority, those who belong to the dominant culture, take much for granted while the minority struggles for recognition in the public space. Those belonging to the minority group also diverge in their approach as a result, with some making such a production of their religious identity that they inevitably ghettoise and harm their economic prospects, while others, perhaps distancing themselves from this group, become so private about their religion that their societal success makes little to no impact in gaining recognition for their community within the mainstream public sphere. And thus, the minority group as a whole cannot help but feel that it remains at the fringes and detached from the mainstream.
It is, therefore, to my mind, not contradictory at all that a secular-minded Jinnah would feel so strongly about Muslims as a bloc and lobby for their rights vis-a-vis the majority Hindu population. It is also entirely understandable then that the impetus for Pakistan came from the ‘minority provinces’, where the Muslim League was much stronger, than the ‘majority provinces’ that ultimately formed Pakistan. And while there have been some valid critiques as to why that has prevented democracy from taking root in Pakistan, the idea that Pakistan, as a homeland for Muslims, where they would be free not just to practise their religion, but also to prosper economically and promote their arts, architecture, language and heritage is necessarily exclusionary and the reason for the poor treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan today is tenuous.
Surely, there may have been some Muslims with an exclusionary bent of mind who joined the demand for Pakistan. Any large movement has divergent views within it. But certainly, the leadership was not of that view. Some of the religious groups being treated abysmally in Pakistan today, in fact, played a very active role in the creation of Pakistan and were assured full rights as citizens of the country, rights that were later encroached upon. Jinnah specifically also stated that Pakistan was not to be a theocracy and it is no secret that the likes of Maulana Maududi stood against the creation of Pakistan. The truth is that every country has its left-wingers and right-wingers, its tolerant and intolerant citizens. How a nation-state evolves and the groups that impact that evolution may change over time. Certainly, Erdogan’s Turkey, for example, has taken a course vastly different from Ataturk’s Turkey. Much of the Muslim world, including Iraq, historically the cradle of civilisation, is in upheaval today, which may well have been unpredictable a few decades ago.
To blame our creation for the way things stand today, therefore, is disingenuous. This Independence Day, I would rather aspire towards the Pakistan that could have been than lament the Pakistan that is.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 14th, 2014.
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It is unfortunate that many people did not supported the creation of Pakistan. The likes of Jamiat Ulema Hind, Jamat Islami, Hurs & Sindhi, Baluchs & Pashtun nationalists. To his credit Jinah & his steno-typist did a good job for those who benefit from Pakistan. Those who were against its creation are suffering physically & economically. As a Pashtun I am thinking why my forefathers did not do the right thing by supporting creation of Pakistan that now I have to suffer the consequences in form of suicide bombings, bomb blast & all sorts of jihads. Lets see for how long this tragic story continues.
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What’s there to celebrate? Survival doesn’t warrant celebration, it warrants concern and introspection. Instead of progressing, we’ve been steadily regressing ever since the mid-1970s.
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Lol..What a great logic to make a new nation i.e…you dont get holiday in the united country..lol….Thanks madam for one more ingenious reason…..lol..again….
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very poorly written article. The author is justifying partiotion because they need minority rights which actually and ironically are in much strongly implemented in India and other parts of the world. Pakistan is surely in the bottom in upholding minority rights.
The article is totaly hypocritical to the situation Pakistan is in.
@moderator – pls publish my comment
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Ms.Khan is less than truthful when she says Eid is not a public holiday in US & UK where she claims she has lived. Of course, they are not holidays mainly because US and to a certain extent UK has so many immigrants from all over the world and if everyone’s religious day is to be a public holiday, there will be no days left in the year to do any work.
In all the years of living in US & UK, does Ms.Khan imply that she has never heard of ‘Floating Holidays’ offered as a benefit my many companies in these countries. These days ranging from 2 to 4 are paid holidays for the employees to use at their discretion. Many employees use these days to celebrate Eid, Diwali etc. Now, please tell me how many Muslim countries, starting with Saudi Arabia, are this considerate to the minorities in their countries?
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Good article! Be prepared for pseudo-intellectual rants from burger kids…
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Jinah did not have to have any vision or develop cadre of Muslim Leaguers. Angloes wanted to create a proxy in the area which would destabilize India, soviet Union and even China. No Muslim Leaguers went to jail or died fighting British.
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Sad that even after 70 years Pakistanis don’t know why Pakistan was created.
To put it simply, Pakistan was created for the political Islam of South Asia.
That’s why Pakistan failed also.
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But Eid IS a public holiday in India, as well as other Muslim holidays such as Muharram…. Etc.
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@Hassan Khattak:
“Those who were against its creation are suffering physically & economically. “
Are you sure it’s not the reverse?
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Happy Birthday Pakistan
++++++++++++++++++++
The Inaugural of Nandipur Power Station truly represents todays Pakistan.
Double cost , triple time taken and one forth rated power generation.
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I am tired of all these lies that the so called liberals tell. Pakistan was created to be a Muslim country- by Muslims, for Muslims, of Muslims. Period. We should not rest till that vision is fulfilled. The model is and always will be a caliphate with shariah.
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@Hassan Khattak: Not only the JuH, JI, Sindhis, Baloch and Pashtun nationalists but nearly half the Muslim population that stayed back did not support the partition. The flimsy concept of ‘Two Nation Theory’ propounded by Jinnah and his lackeys evaporated within 23 years of partition. Till today, Pakistanis still debate the reasons for creation of Pakistan.
Jinnah tried the glue of religion to bind different ethnicities rather than shared culture and equal power sharing.
What is happening today is the result of a faulty ideology that stands at skewed foundation.
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@IndianBrother: I am amazed at a lawyer’s complaint for not having Eid holidays in the West but the entire country slowing down for Christmas. Diwali is not a holiday too in the West. But in India Eid is still a holiday.
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@Salim Alvi: He was a lawyer, Sir. He won the case (partition) and his job was done.
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Christmas in the US has over time transformed into a secular holiday season as the days around it coincide with Hannukah and Kwanzaa.
Good Friday, a day of significant religious importance to Christians and in fact the basis for the Christian faith, is not a federal holiday in the US.
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Author’s example of how Eid is not celebrated in USA/UK and then tying it back to why Jinnah didn’t care about hindus as much as he cared about muslims simply makes no sense.
Pakistan was mainly carved out for muslims and it was Jinnah’s poor vision where he fancied he was laying foundation of secular nation.
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You write: It is, therefore, to my mind, not contradictory at all that a secular-minded Jinnah would feel so strongly about Muslims as a bloc and lobby for their rights vis-a-vis the majority Hindu population.
When you define your interests as representing a particular religious group – expect all the unsavouries to join you. And eventually the unsavouries will define your movement. For instance the RSS can do all it can to present a Modi that represents all of India – but when you have fought with one religion in mind, it is difficult to keep the likes of Togadia silent.
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Ya right! India has a majority of hindus but we do have public national leave for Eid and other muslim festivals, Is this is a valid reason for separtaion?
There are more muslims in India than Pakisthan and we live in mutual harmony, I am a christian and some of my neighbours muslims, I love the briyani that they share with us for Eid and they love the cakes we share for Christmas.
Please do not perpetuate this kind of crap. Religion and faith is of atmost importance, but its a private thing .This is what happens when your personal faith is held as your main identity in society.Recommend30
The idea of Pakistan “To protect the interest of Sub-continents Muslims” never materialised.
1. First, The country shut its doors to Indian Muslims in 1951.
2. Then the country implemented policies which were disliked by Easterners
3. Now Identity crisis
Pls. take pride in your culture and not in Arabic culture !
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Let’s take, for instance, the simple example of celebrating Eid in a Muslim-minority country, such as the UK or the US, both countries that I have lived in. While both guarantee equal rights to citizens irrespective of religion, and by and large, Muslims are free to practise their religion in these states without fear, Eid is not a public holiday in either place.
Well, while Eids (Ul Fitr and Ul Adha) are public holidays in India, I hope Holi and Diwali are public holidays in Pakistan too.
If not, I do not see the purport of the quoted statement.
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Happy birthday Pakistan. Hope you get over your difficulties and gallop to progress.
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How I wish I could support what you are saying. My heart wants to but my conscience just would not allow it. I believe Eid is an observed holiday in India. And, I know for certain that the Indian Haj Pilgrams are better taken care of by the Indian Government than the Pakistani pilgrims by the Pakistani Government.
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” Pakistan was a sound idea. It isn’t the reasoning for our creation that is at fault, but what we did with Pakistan thereafter that has led us to this mess.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Summary: Pakistan is a sound mess.
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For your information, Major Muslim holidays (such as Ramzan, Bakrid, Muharram) are public holidays in India where only 14% of the population is Muslim. Can you say the same thing about Hindu Holidays in Pakistan?
Also, please remember that there will always be minorities in every country and it is the responsibility of the government to protect all citizens, and the constitution must ensure equal rights to all.
If the leadership of the movement for Pakistan really want to give rights to minorities, then how do you explain what happened post partition? Why are there only 3% religious minorities today in Pakistan?
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may i suggest you to read Jinnah by Jaswant Singh. Jinnah never demanded separate homeland till Nehru made blunder after cabinet mission plan. @Virkaul:
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@Ayaz mirza:
Jinnah demanded a separate country in 1940. YEs Cabinet Mission was acceptable to him and rejected by Congress because it did not agree to one person one vote system that Indian wanted.
@Author: Pakistan wasn’t created because Hindus and Muslims can’t live together. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jews and Jains can and should be able to live together:”
First sentence is patently untrue. The whole concept of Two Nation Theory is that Hindus and Muslims are separate nations and cannot live together.
Second statement is true and can be observed in India. Pakistan of course killed, forcibly converted or pushed out Hindus and SIkhs and hardly any remain in Pakistan now.
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2nd attempt ET pls publish; not different from others comments above!
“Pakistan wasn’t created because Hindus and Muslims can’t live together. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jews and Jains can and should be able to live together.” Really? Do tell…it happens every day in the land to your east as well as the ‘secular’ West!
“…I would rather aspire towards the Pakistan that could have been than lament the Pakistan that is.” What ‘could have been’ can still ‘be’ – provided you have the resolve to leave behind the baggage of 68 years and look forward to progress and integration, not just externally, but among your citizens too!
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So Pakistan was created so that people can have holiday on Eid. Good work, I wonder then why you are staying in London where you don’t get Eid Holiday?
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@abhi:
That is a very insightful reply.
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Eid holiday for Muslim is allowed in US. People in US may not prefer it as a national holiday. You can try dividing America for that.
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/
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