by B. R. GOWANI
Pakistan’s Independence Day is on August 14th and India’s is on 15th. Wikipedia
united we stand
divided we fall
WRONG
united one group rules
divided there are 2 (or more) ruling-groups
divided there are 2 establishments
divided there are 2 nuclear powers
…
with division
not only new conflicts can be created
but the old animosities can also be invoked
with division
not only guns can be pointed at neighbors
but at each others’ throats too
in certain things they’re equals:
both are most dangerous countries for women
corruption runs high at all levels
not so in economics
India is much ahead
Pakistan is far backward
not so in dreams
India wants to be a super power
Pakistan is fighting death
if Pakistan dies
the grave stone will read:
here lies a country
which was conceived by communalists
born amidst violence, migrations, and refugees
took over by the military, i.e., the “dangerous duffers”
destroyed by military, politicians, Taliban
feudal lords, bureaucrats, religious nuts, …
the direct creator was Jinnah
the indirect creators were Gandhi
Nehru, Savarkar, and the British
on the other hand
“India is shining”
that’s what one of the two major parties
would want us to believe
but looking at farmer suicides
rampant poverty
caste problems
it is more like
a diya or earthen lamp
of the saying “diye tale andhera”
that is, darkness under the earthen lamp
yes, India is shining
but the light is shining upward
for the upper class
the lower class is under the lamp
darkness and hoplessness their fate
B. R. GOWANI can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com