This refers to the column “Pangs of Partition: Facing the reality of Pakistan.” With all due regard for the writer’s frustrations and disgust at the failings and follies of Pakistan’s liberals, and for that matter, even the hyper-Islamists, all rumors about an imminent demise of Pakistan are mere wishful thinking. Apart from that, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was no sage either. There is plenty of material now about him in the public domain.
If one refers to Rafiq Zakaria’s “Sardar Patel and Hindustani Musalman,” and “What Price Freedom” by Mohamed Reza Khan (Indus Publications, Karachi, 1977), one would learn how Azad colluded with Patel to disempower Indian Muslims for generations to come.
Likewise, in the first few years of independence, Azad had spent all his campaigning skills to dissuade Muslims from organizing any political party of their own. I didn’t want to go into these ugly details but it was difficult to let ignorance distort our perceptions and understanding of history.
With the bulk of the Muslim leadership opting for Pakistan, suddenly on Aug. 15, 1947, the Indian Muslims found themselves partyless, leaderless and visionless.
Pakistan was all they had fought for and died for, but what next after Pakistan? Not another Pakistan for sure. So let the writer think hard, but constructively. Pakistan may look like a ‘tinderbox’ to the likes of M.J. Akbar, but there should be no mistaking about the resilience of this unique historical phenomenon.
For the doubters, I suggest that they read Syed Hasan Riaz’s seminal volume, “Pakistan Naguzeer Tha” (Karachi University Press) and Jaswant Singh’s “Jinnah: India-Partition Independence.”
The most outstanding ‘nationalist’ Muslim leader was Rafi Ahmad Kidwai (1894-1964). Sadly, there is no definitive work about him. Perhaps, a future historian may discover some really interesting material about him. (M. H. Faruqi, London)
Class XII results
It was a pleasure reading a very detailed report in Arab News (May 29) on the fascinating performance of all of the international Indian schools throughout the Kingdom in Class XII examination. Every year, when the results are declared, we feel very happy and glad to see the children of all International Indian Schools (Embassy schools) doing exceedingly well in both Class X and Class XII exams. The results reflect the amount of teaching that is imparted during the whole year.
This stupendous performance certainly raises the question in the minds of parents as to why should they pay three times the fee to several private schools that are imparting the same syllabus when the end result is going to be the same and there will be lesser competition in the latter.
Besides, in the light of these results, the ever-increasing complaints about the mismanagement in the Indian schools, non-availability of qualified and experienced teachers, failing teaching standards, disorder and indiscipline among the students seem ill-founded and exaggerated.
If it were to be a few students who are getting top ranks and A+ grades, I could understand the argument that some are born geniuses and in some cases the parents put in extra efforts, but, if the majority is getting such grades, it points toward the good standards of teaching in general. Whatever the case be, I would like to extend my best wishes to all of the students who have excelled and the ones who will be following them.(Safi H. Jannaty, Dammam)
Letter to the Editor: Indian Muslims and partition
