**DIVIDE AND RULE **
I am not aware of instances of communal tension in India before colonial rule. I suppose the caste system took its toll, but was there religion-based discrimination as well? Given that India gave birth to Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism etc, I believe society must have been secularist. The British employed the “divide and rule” policy. Surely we recognised this trick well before Independence. Why then has our society degenerated so much? Can you also point to some resources that could help understand our secular values in a historical perspective?
Nitin
There were communal tensions even before the British took over. They rarely erupted into violence because the disgruntled did not dare to question the autocrats who ruled over them. You will notice that Hindu-Muslim riots were almost unheard of in the princely states, though they were quite common in the British-ruled areas. The British could have reduced communal passions, but found that it paid them better dividends to keep the people divided. Mohammad Ali rightly remarked that the British did not divide and rule, but that we were divided and they ruled.
I agree with you that our national leaders up to Nehru were secular and above religious prejudices, The decline came after his death, when politicians began to play the communal card to win elections.
My own reading is that the primary causes of civil unrest are unchecked growth of population and consequent shortage of employment opportunities. There is also a resurgence of religious fundamentalism. It has always been a feature of Islam, and now it has surfaced among the Hindus also in a vicious form.
**OF PATRIOTIC FERVOUR **
*I am a software programmer from Bangalore, and have been a great fan of your writing. I am quite non-political, but the events of the past month have incensed my feelings greatly. I agree with your secular line, and although I do not hold Islam responsible for the attack on the Indian Parliament, I do hold Pakistan responsible. Do you think it is high time we shed our cloak of patience and tolerance? After all, these virtues make sense only against someone who understands the importance of the same. Surely it is time to take into account the blood spilled and the lives taken in the Kashmir valley? I am proud to be an Indian. This is my motherland. The sight of our national flag fills me with joy. Goosebumps break out on my skin every time I hear the Jana Gana Mana. I am sure these feelings are shared by millions of my countrymen and women, but still we talk about exercising restrain when an upstart neighbour employs underhand techniques to bully us. I am sure we have given Pakistan a really long rope, and they have only tried to knot it around our necks. Don’t you think it is time to pull that rope before it hangs us? I think a billion voices (Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian and others) will have but one answer: yes.
Shreyas *
I share your patriotic sentiments and am also emotionally moved by the tricolour and the national anthem. But I think it is wrong to pass moral judgements without first examining the point of view of the adversary - in this case, Pakistan. You obviously have not been to Pakistan. I have; many times. I was born there and lived there till Partition. Despite the division, I have close friends who stay with me in Delhi, as I stay with them in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. We are the same people, divided by religion, and now nationality. My suggestion to you is to cultivate at least one educated Pakistani as a friend, have a heart-to-heart dialogue with him on all aspects of Indo-Pak relationship, including Kashmir. You might modify your views from belligerence to accommodation.
**KHUSHWANT IN A GREEN PATKA **
I have noticed that you have always been pro Pakistan. You may have been born in erstwhile Pakistan, but you have to remember you live here in India and enjoy the protection given to you by our soldiers. Now that you are bald, I think they should put a sherwani on you, and push you across the border. Nobody will recognise you anyway. India doesn’t need you. I don’t know how tehelka have you on their panel. Maybe they don’t pay you in cash, but foot the bill for your drinks. That’s why you sound so sozzled in the Ask Khushwant column. And please have someone in tehelka put a picture of you in a green patka and not a red one as they show you now.
Thanks for your kindly advice. I reject it with the contempt it deserves. I am not pro or anti anyone or any country. I do my best to be fair and unbiased. Instead of wanting me to return to Pakistan, I would advise you to go and spend sometime talking to educated Pakistanis. You might be able to shed some of your jingoist bigotry.
**A VISION OF INDIA **
In your opinion, how and by when can we see India as a developed country, in terms of availability of drinking water, clean hospitals, roads, houses, telephones, employment etc.
I am unable to answer that question with any precision. I cannot look into the future clearly. I feel we have not set our priorities correctly. Items like potable drinking water, food and shelter for everyone, should have been on the top of our list. We put heavy industries, armaments, nuclear research, space research etc as our primary objectives. We achieved spectacular successes in these fields, as well as production of food grains. Drinking water and shelter were ignored. It should be taken care of in the very near future.
**POPULATION BEFORE CORRUPTION **
What do you think is India’s biggest challenge - corruption or population?
Sriram
Both go hand in hand. We’ve had corruption from times immemorial; over-population is a phenomenon of recent times - since infant mortality and epidemics were brought under control. Our first priority should be population control. If everyone can be provided with food, education, shelter and jobs, I am sure we will be able to curb corruption.
**A SOUTH ASIA THAT HAS NO BARRIERS **
I have always dreamed of a South Asia where people of the SAARC nations can travel freely, and get to know each other’s culture and languages. Do you ever see that happening?
Bill
It is not likely to happen in the near future. The biggest stumbling block is the inability of India and Pakistan to sort out their differences. Once travel between these two countries is freed of visas and passports, I am sure Nepal and Bangladesh will fall in line. Open travel will also enhance trade to the benefit of all the countries.