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Pakistan and India at Historical Crossroads
11-13-2019
Saturday, November 9, 2019 will forever be engraved in the history as one of the brightest days for a small fragile democratic nation, Pakistan, and one of the darkest days for the so-called, largest secular democratic nation in the world, India.
On November 9, 2019, Pakistan, unilaterally silenced the all critics and propogandist around the world who spin their false and misleading propaganda against Islam and Muslims as a religion of close-minded, gun-toting, sword wielding, fanatics bent on destroying world peace with their terror. Pakistan demonstrated to the world the true beauty of Islam, the embodiment of teachings of Prophet Mohammed PBUH, its peaceful and inclusive nature, its respect for all faiths, regardless of their colour or creed, and most of all Islam’s commitment to ensuring world peace by respecting the freedom to worship.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has demonstrated to the world the true teachings of the Quran about protection minorities residing in Muslim lands. Surah Hajj, Chapter 22, Verse 40, commands Muslim leaders to protect Jews, Christians and other non-Muslims who live in Muslim lands. Their houses of worship should be defended from attack and their right to worship according to their choice respected. The right to self-defence was granted in Islam in order to protect freedom of religion.
On the other hand, on November 9, 2019, India, under the leadership of Narendra Modi demonstrated to the world the true colours of right-wing Hindu fanaticism – the new face of fascism in the world. The one that plans to wipe-out all minorities, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits, basically anyone who is not Hindu to purify India from adherents of all other faiths. Ultimately giving India its rightful place in the world as Hindustan – Land of Hindus.
Kartarpur Sahib, the holiest shrine in Sikh faith, resting place of Guru Nanak, his final abode, and a Gurdwara lies just few miles from an Indian border on Pakistan side on the river banks of Ravi. For nearly five decades, since the 1965 war between India and Pakistan destroyed the only bridge linking the Sikh pilgrims their holiest shrine. The Sikh pilgrims had to go through a bureaucracy of obtaining a visa, travel through Atari-Wagah border, and make a journey of 125 Km. for nearly five decades millions of Sikhs who were not able to afford the journey would come to Kartarpur border on the Indian and pay homage from the distance.
Until last year, when PM Imran Khan took charge of Pakistan, and one of the first things his government undertook is to facilitate the Sikh pilgrimage to their holiest shrine by eliminating the bureaucracy, and decided to open the borders at Kartarpur for Sikh Pilgrims, which would allow 5000 visitors to make this journey seamlessly every day without restrictions, and just in time for Guru Nanak’s 550th birthday on November 12.
While the Sikh people around the world were applauding Pakistan’s efforts of building inter-religious bridges, and reducing the gap, the Supreme Court of India delivered a unanimous verdict of five judges on a controversial seven decade old case in favour of Hindus to demolish a 16th century mosque in Ayodhia, India, the Babri Masjid, ordering the construction of Ram Mandir, a Hindu Temple, on the 5.5 acre land where Babri Masjid stood. This is the new face of fascism.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi told the newspaper Dawn, "Could it (verdict) not have waited a few days? I am deeply saddened at the insensitivity shown at such a joyous occasion." Qureshi added, "You should have taken part in this happy occasion and not attempted to divert attention. The dispute is a sensitive issue and should not have been made part of this happy day," referring to Pakistan’s gesture of goodwill towards Sikh nation, majority of whom reside in India.
Coincidentally, while the Supreme Court of India five judges’ bench was ordering the demolition of the mosque to build a Ram Mandir. The Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled in favour of Hindus and Sikhs in a similar case, Lahore’s Shahid Ganj Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship), where courts invoked law of limitations.
Shahid Ganj, built in 1653 was a mosque, until 1799, when Sikh army captured it and converted into a Gurdwara.
“The two sites (Babri Mosque and Shahid Ganj Gurdwara) share a close resemblance in terms of litigation, but not in terms of the outcome,” Sardar Ramesh Singh, the chairman of Pakistan Sikh Council, told Anadolu Agency.
Ramesh gave credit to the Muslim community for conserving Shahid Gunj Gurdwara and not converting it into a mosque after the creation of Pakistan.
“The land of Babri Mosque has been taken away from Muslim minority in India, whereas the Gurdwara of minority Sikh community still stands at the same site in Muslim-majority Pakistan,” he said.
“Only a few Sikhs were left in the surroundings of Gurdwara, following a huge Sikh exodus in 1947. If the local community had insisted its conversion into mosque, nobody would have stopped them”, said Ramesh Singh.
Sardar Charanjeet Singh, a Sikh community leader in northwestern Peshawar city, which borders neighboring Afghanistan, said India should learn from Pakistan in terms of protecting places of worship for minorities.
“Another Gurdwara (Baba Biba Singh, named after a Sikh scholar) was also re-opened in Peshawar five years ago, with the assistance of local Muslims”, Charanjeet, who also runs a facebook page “Peshawari Singh”, told Anadolu Agency.
November 9, 2019 Pakistani government upheld the banner of Islam high above demonstrating to the world the peaceful and inclusive nature of Islam, the Quranic teachings, Prophet Mohammed’s legacy of love, and respect for the entire humanity and individual’s right to religious freedom. India unveiled its true face of fascism with all its ugliness.
Pakistan and India, both nations are at a monumental and historical crossroad – Cultural and Religious – where Pakistan has proven repeatedly to be the true bearer of peaceful Islamic teachings of tolerance, of accepting and being respectful of other religions, especially the minorities that reside within its boundaries, regardless of their race, or religious beliefs. While India is plunging itself lower and lower with each passing day as an intolerant and disrespectful of all religions, especially towards the minorities that resides within its boundaries, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and all others. The glaring difference between two nations, one as tolerant other as fascist is difficult to ignore and it is unsettling.
Footnotes: Footnotes: On November 9, 2019 Pakistan, unilaterally silenced all critics By opening the Kartarpur Boarder and demonstrated to the world the true teachings of the Quran about protection of minorities residing in Muslim lands while india demonstrated to the world the true colours of right-wing Hindu fanaticism by ruling the demolition of Babri masjid for a future temple site
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