Getting Ready for ‘Bus Diplomacy’

Rana:

``A Govt. of the Muslims, for the Muslims, by the Muslims?`` Indeed. Yar, this is how the various groups manifest power grab. The Muslim masses, like the masses in any third world country suffer. So what else is new?

As for your other observation about Muslim governemnts entrenching themselves into shariat---I see that as more of a political reaction than a religious one. The politicians have to come up with a raison d`etre and use Islam as such. For an interesting perspective on this (Islam-- a complete code of life encompassing politics as well) please find that article in the Atlantic that I referred to in my post on the latest article on the Chowk--On Top of the World. Maybe we can continue this thread there?

As for Chowk being what kind of site....that was not my thrust. I was merely curious if you knew of a ``indian`` site.

regards.

re: Aasif
I am saying `most`. Not all. What you are describing is very true on either side of the border. But all that is after the fact. After the 2 Nation theory was already in action. 2 Nation theory was a direct cause for all that. I condemn it all.
However, the reason this even came up was in response to a query from Faraz who said that Indians have never accepted partition. I was saying that MOST Hindu/Sikhs did not care much (then or now) for the ideology behind the 2 Nation theory. Would you agree with that ?
And yes, if I am not mistaken, Punjab voted 50/50, NWFP voted outright for ONE nation. (somebody correct me if I am wrong). But all that is immaterial now. But it can explain what went on where.
Mob madness cannot and should not be justified. No matter who does it. However, the 2 Nation theory was not just about mob madness and revenge. Those were the ugly aftereffects that nobody even bothered to think of. And One of the main reason I despise relisious bigotry so much. 12 million migrations, 1 million deaths is a tragedy not a solution. And to think that the people in positions of power at the time were more concerned with how many Muslim died and how many Hindu/Sikh died. Imagine being an uneducated person on the wrong side of the border, hearing the announcements of the fate of towns on the radio in English (which you don`t understand) and then wonder what is going on when you hear the religious (sic) chants getting louder and louder and finally realize they are zeroing in on you.
There are plenty of such stories I have heard growing up, from my family. I do not wish to trivialize the issue, but I do see mob madness as something you should not try to rationalize. It is defending the indefensible. The fall of man. Sad thing is it still happens. The demographics in a lot of places in India have not changed at all since partition. There are still more Muslims in India than Pakistan.
Although I do not believe that I am responsible for the actions of my ancestors, or the actions of co-religionists, all I can do is echo Saadat Hasan Manto`s words ``Mishtake ho gaya``. And that BTW is also the reason Naseeruddin Shah says all you need to know about partition you can read in 3 pages of Manto.
regards

Beena, please email me: GG_Agar@ibm.net