Author: Mayank Patel
Publication: Ivarta.com
Date: September 29, 2008
URL: http://www.blogs.ivarta.com/india-usa-blog-column168.htm
Across the world, Present generation grapples
with past wrong committed by previous generation. From South Africa to Germany
and from America to Australia, Most groups have acknowledged past misdeeds
and apologized for the suffering caused by their action toward others. Thus,
making genuine progress on path of truth and reconciliation.
However, Indian Muslims have taken opposite
path of denial, distortion and deflection. They have received more than generous
help from allies like Marxist, Fabian Socialist, Islamist etc. who are co-travelers
on this path. In fact, it is the allies who have encouraged and lead Indian
Muslims on this path. On behalf of Indian Muslims, Allies have used denial,
distortion and deflection tactic to justify even the most unjustifiable mistakes
like partition. Indian Muslim"s pro-partition role is proven beyond reasonable
doubt. 1945-46 Provincial Elections were fought on a single agenda of partition.
Partition became possible only because overwhelming majority of Indian Muslims
indirectly voted for it in that election.
Any objective analysis of current course and
arguments favoring course correction is usually greeted by an old tactic of
shooting the messenger. Three bullets are very popular with shooters.
First bullet is "Present Generation of
Indian Muslims should not be blamed for Partition". Shooter conveniently
and cleverly presumes non-existent intent behind analysis. This is absurd.
A course correction and acknowledgement of past generation"s mistake
could never imply culpability of present generation. On the contrary, Acknowledgement
would reassure all that apple has indeed fallen far from the tree. This would
strengthen trust, improve communal relations and lead to reconciliation and
closure.
Second bullet is much more lethal. It is "165
million strong Indian Muslims cannot be wished away". Let me clarify,
I would not wish away anybody regardless of numerical strength. There is also
certain belligerence behind this quote. This virulent belligerence is quite
understandable if not agreeable. After all, Indian Muslims are 165 million
strong and allies who have vice like grip over India"s media, academia
and politics are stronger. However, it does not change the fact that current
path of denial, distortion and deflection could never lead to peace, truth
and reconciliation. On the contrary, The Logical end of this path is civic
strife if not civil war in which there are no winners and all losers.
Third bullet is the denial bullet. There are
dozens of denial bullets. One of the most popular Denial Bullet is silence
hypothesis. It claims that Indian Muslims are silent and allies who claim
to be speaking and acting on behalf of Indian Muslims are not true representative
of Indian Muslims. It further touts this alleged silence as proof that there
is no alliance and Indian Muslims disagrees with current path of denial, deflection
and distortion. There are many holes in this hypothesis.
Firstly, Silence is not same as acknowledgement
of past mistakes. Secondly, there is no such thing as silent disagreement.
Disagreement is always vocal. On the Contrary, Agreement can often lead to
conspiracy of silence. Thus, Alleged Silence can never be interpreted as a
disagreement with current path. Finally, Indian Muslims are speaking with
their votes and participation in massive political rallies. They consistently
vote for allies who favor denial path. In fact more an ally denies and asserts
innocence of terrorist outfits more vote it receives. These votes provide
allies a claim to speak and act on behalf of Indian Muslims.
The current path of denial is compounding
past mistakes. More-over, it makes Indian Muslims over reliant on Allies.
This over reliance is unhealthy and dangerous. Allies have their own ideological
beef against Hindus and have selfish interest is making matters worse. There
are many reasons for breaking the alliance and changing course. Perhaps the
best reason is to end a history of wrongdoing and leave a legacy of honesty
for future generation.
