JEDDAH, 14 July — The history couldn’t maintain its course of foreign enforced division of North and South Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula and East and West Germany in Europe. The divided Yemenis shared a common religion, language, culture, history and traditions and so did the Germans — the divisions were unnatural.
In the South Asian subcontinent, on the other hand, the Muslim nation of the subcontinent forced history to change — the vast diversities between the Muslim and Hindu nations changed the course of history well in time. Pakistan was emanated by the religious, social and cultural diversities of the subcontinent.
While referring to the deep roots of common culture shared by both nations, it must be explained that the ancestors of the overwhelming majority of Pakistani Muslims were Hindus. Hinduism doesn’t permit import of foreign values, whereas in many aspects of life Islam just gives some basic principles and leaves its details to the society. Those converted from Hinduism benefited the flexibility of Islam and maintained their previous culture except its parts contrary to Islam.
Does course of history of the subcontinent set in 1947 need a change after half a century? The so-called “common culture” of the two nations living together for centuries in the united India couldn’t make them one nation. If we correctly define “culture”, the Indian Muslims even do not share the Indian culture and they are striving to maintain their identity.
More than a common culture, there are other vital compelling issues of the two nations where they cannot compromise. Beliefs, customs and practices of the followers of both the religions are far apart and contravening each other.
During the last two decades, Muslims and Hindus are practically reviving their religions and provoking the diversities. How, after half a century, those geographically divided nations can overlook their international borders just for the sake of common culture. With attractive argument of the culture, the wish to enfold the two nations must be appreciated but how a dream could turn into reality, which even couldn’t be dreamed.
In Pakistan, Urdu is the only medium of communication of every Pakistani irrespective of the area he belongs to. The young ones of Indian Muslim families, patrons of Urdu for centuries, are illiterate in Urdu but well-versed in Hindi. Punjabi is a language shared by both the Pakistani and Indian Punjabis with the exception that Indian Punjabis have introduced some Hindi words in it. Punjabi culture, on both sides of the border, is much similar.
Above all the delusions, the Pakistanis do share a love of real common Muslim culture across the Pakistani borders with their Arab and non-Arab Muslim brothers. While the Pakistan movement was at its peak and tensions between the two nations were high, the Muslim writers, poets, musicians, singers and film artists used to work together with their Hindu colleagues and their joint commitment to the art continues till today.
Let’s not persuade ourselves with the weak argument of culture. Let’s come to build a viable relationship, the relationship of good neighborliness recognizing each other’s sovereignty, an everlasting reality. Those repeatedly parroting the “common culture” must come to the question without parti pris. Peace is the only “common culture” urged by the poor of both countries.
