Re: [Split discussion] Punjab vs rest
Like my professor used to say, read historians before you read their history!
It’d be interested to know that to what extent popular literature on Pakistan post 1971 is written by ‘PPP intellectuals’. I wouldn’t be surprised if the political affiliated intelligentsia defamed the national institution just to get back at Zia. I don’t know why Punjabis are vehemently hated and blamed for everything, neither Ayub Khan or Yahya Khan was Punjabi, and psychopath of power hungry civilian who denied Mujib the right to form the government was Sindhi!
Even under Benezir, it was her the Sindhi Queen who managed to oust a supposedly Punjabi party on the basis of rigging and the second time the same Punjabi party was kicked out by a Muhajir General. Yet PPP walas are forever victims of Punjabi dominance.
I despise ethnic nationalism. It exploits insecurities. I seriously believes it dumbs down the people and only cowards takes refuge in victimhood; the brave shape their own destiny through struggle! God help rest of the Pakistan, when genie of Punjabi nationalism is finally released.
If Punjabi intelligentsia can promote Punjabi language without putting Jinnah’s grave on trial, more power to them. I still think it was the best decision to make Urdu national language, and I am proud of that fact this unique and beautiful language is Pakistan’s national language. One if the main reasons why Punjab enjoys such great rate of inter-ethnic harmony is because Urdu as a lingua franca has never been looked down upon.