Indo-Pak version of “How to Cure a Fanatic”

Esteemed Israeli writer Amos Oz had proffered a unique insight into the true nature of extremism and suggested a reasoned and respectful approach to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in his book “How to Cure a Fanatic.”

The case of India and Pakistan is entirely different from the two Middle East nations. But, the South Asian nuclear neighbors are dealing with the same enemies which could be abundantly found in Israel and Palestine.

Dreams to achieve developments in this region could never be materialized without resolving long standing disputes. To resolve the issues, India and Pakistan needed to come close to each other. And to come close, they have to defeat warmongers and extremists.

Islamic radicalization started gripping Pakistan in early 1970s and Hindutva engulfed secular India following the foundation of BJP in 1980.

There are numbers of political and religio-political parties, organizations, think tanks, media houses and individual journalists and analysts who promote hate and violence on daily basis in both states. And they enjoy following of the large number of people on both sides.

Of course, it is an uphill task to get rid all of these elements with the efforts of peace activists until negotiations start at governments levels. Reforms at large are required to promote secular practices and discourage hate provokers.

Mr Oz, discussed in detail how to deal with the problem. Here we try to adopt the pattern of great writer to cool down the fanatics living in India and Pakistan in a lovely artistic way.

So, we would request warmongers to listen to some Bhairavis of Roshan Ara Begum or Begum Akhtar Hassan to soothe their souls and understand true spirit of this region.

They could go for Ustand Bade Ghulam Ali Khan’s thumris for further healing.

Shehnai of Ustad Bismillah Khan and sitar of Ustad Sharif Khan Poonch Walay would also work to erase feelings of hate from their brains.

If they don’t have a touch for classical and semi classical music, go and listen to Rahat Fateh Ali and Shafqat Amanat Ali. Bet, few tracks would be enough for the treatment of their souls. Suggesting them Nusrat, Lata, Mehdi Hassan, Ravi Shankar and Ustand Salamat Ali Khan would be heavy dose, though, but they could go for it too. Ravi’s daughter Anushka Shankar’s ‘Lasya’ and ‘Pancham Se Gara’ would also be a great help.

Many warmongers who live in India, perhaps, don’t like music and have taste of history. That is why they made direct attack on Pakistan’s birth. What if I suggest them to first read Congress President and India’s first Education Minister Abul Kalam Azad’s “India Wins Freedom” and then your own Jaswant Singh’s “Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence.”

Some other acclaimed British writers and historians elaborated and discussed events resulted in creation of Pakistan. You could go to British archives too. How you could issue a one-sided ruling against a country’s birth? It is unfair.

For some sabre rattlers, a suggestion is to read Jawahar Lal Nehru’s ‘Discovery of India’ and Ch Aitzaz Ahsan’s ‘Indus Saga’ and search wisdom in Hind and Sindh.

Isn’t it pity that haters never tried to gauge the love of Pakistani youth for Virat Kohli. They must know how Pakistani youth enjoy watching Kohli’s whooping cover drives. Those live in Pakistan must imagine the respect enjoyed by the great Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar in India

I will suggest them think about cricket, not about wars.

Why they are not ready to know Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Hasrat Jaipuri, Sahir, Gulzar, Amrita Pritam are being enjoyed on both sides of the border.

Why they unable to understand that Rai Abdullah Bhatti and Sardar Bhagat Singh Sandhu are the heroes of both Punjabs’.

They must be told that millions living in Pakistan wished to see Taj Mahal once in their lives and majority of Indian want to come to Lahore’s Anarkali Bazar.

They needed to understand Pakistan is home to hundreds of Sikh gurdwaras and birthplace of the founder of the religion Guru Nanak Devji and each Sikh from India wish to see the holy sites. Similarly, Ajmer Shareef lives in hearts of millions of Muslims of Pakistan

This is new Pakistan and new India. Youth don’t have time to fight now. They would certainly prefer to watch Nawazuddin Siddiqui upcoming movie on Netflix than to indulge in useless hate debates. So, warmongers should also enjoy their life and shun the feelings of hate.