Pakistan is celebrating its independence day today and no, Indian Muslims are not. And if this fact surprised you, then this letter is for you
The much awaited, much cherished dream of Independence of the country came at a huge cost i.e. partition of India and Pakistan. A tragedy of such magnitude that it rendered black, all that had previously been seen as a reason for much happiness and rejoicing. Thousands of lives were lost on each side as Hindus and Muslims struck at each others' hearts with equal hatred and violent, brutal force. No, I do not want to go into the details of the violence, for I'm sure you know it too. That black day, following independence has been etched into our memories forever. Even though, I have thankfully not been witness to it, I still see harrowing reminders of it, for example in each rhetoric of "Go to Pakistan". I'm terribly sorry for disappointing you, but I can NEVER go to Pakistan, and here's why.
Pakistan was the promised utopia, that our ancestors chose NOT to go to. The 'always already Indian' Hindus were not given a choice. But, we on the other hand CHOSE to stay in India, our country; despite being offered another land. Who sounds more patriotic? And before I get more hate comments, my ancestors did not go because they trusted their Hindu neighbors. That despite the madness that had gripped the masses, their old friends with whom they might have shared the siwayian and prasad, the khajoors and laddoos; will not turn against them- and they did not. Despite the dark times, lamps were still lighted in these small Hindu- Muslim families without the fear of being pulled out and beaten to death. When Maulana Azaad stepped up the dome of a mosque and called out to the Muslims going to Pakistan "yeh masjid ki minaarein tumhein awaaz de rahi hain", it wasn't just a call to stay back, it was a call to trust. Trust the neighbours you grew up with. Trust the land you were born in. Trust the countrymen who bled with you during the independence struggle. And my ancestors, and those of other Indian Muslims chose to trust. And there can be no greater proof of our patriotism. For, patriotism doesn't only mean love for the country but it also translates into love for its citizens. And it was this love for the country we had fought for and for its people alongside whom we fought that made us stay. And we have never ever regretted that decision.
People look up to us, rather suspiciously even during India- Pakistan matches, as if we'd secretly pull out a Pakistani flag and start waving it around. No, we don't. Pakistan has not given us anything, except meme material. It is in India that we have our homes and hearts, and it will be always be India, never Pakistan.
I was born in a village where the old Debo Nana never missed our home while distributing prasad during Chhatt Pooja and Siwayian at our home on Eid. And if this sounds extraordinarily utopic to you, then you're the intended person for this letter and if you feel bad/ guilty/ sorry for having a wrong image of us, congratulations you're an Indian. If not, do question your patriotism please.
The much awaited, much cherished dream of Independence of the country came at a huge cost i.e. partition of India and Pakistan. A tragedy of such magnitude that it rendered black, all that had previously been seen as a reason for much happiness and rejoicing. Thousands of lives were lost on each side as Hindus and Muslims struck at each others' hearts with equal hatred and violent, brutal force. No, I do not want to go into the details of the violence, for I'm sure you know it too. That black day, following independence has been etched into our memories forever. Even though, I have thankfully not been witness to it, I still see harrowing reminders of it, for example in each rhetoric of "Go to Pakistan". I'm terribly sorry for disappointing you, but I can NEVER go to Pakistan, and here's why.
Pakistan was the promised utopia, that our ancestors chose NOT to go to. The 'always already Indian' Hindus were not given a choice. But, we on the other hand CHOSE to stay in India, our country; despite being offered another land. Who sounds more patriotic? And before I get more hate comments, my ancestors did not go because they trusted their Hindu neighbors. That despite the madness that had gripped the masses, their old friends with whom they might have shared the siwayian and prasad, the khajoors and laddoos; will not turn against them- and they did not. Despite the dark times, lamps were still lighted in these small Hindu- Muslim families without the fear of being pulled out and beaten to death. When Maulana Azaad stepped up the dome of a mosque and called out to the Muslims going to Pakistan "yeh masjid ki minaarein tumhein awaaz de rahi hain", it wasn't just a call to stay back, it was a call to trust. Trust the neighbours you grew up with. Trust the land you were born in. Trust the countrymen who bled with you during the independence struggle. And my ancestors, and those of other Indian Muslims chose to trust. And there can be no greater proof of our patriotism. For, patriotism doesn't only mean love for the country but it also translates into love for its citizens. And it was this love for the country we had fought for and for its people alongside whom we fought that made us stay. And we have never ever regretted that decision.
People look up to us, rather suspiciously even during India- Pakistan matches, as if we'd secretly pull out a Pakistani flag and start waving it around. No, we don't. Pakistan has not given us anything, except meme material. It is in India that we have our homes and hearts, and it will be always be India, never Pakistan.
I was born in a village where the old Debo Nana never missed our home while distributing prasad during Chhatt Pooja and Siwayian at our home on Eid. And if this sounds extraordinarily utopic to you, then you're the intended person for this letter and if you feel bad/ guilty/ sorry for having a wrong image of us, congratulations you're an Indian. If not, do question your patriotism please.
