Intellectual Bloodshed

I set out yesterday to ask my male-buddies for a suitable parting gift for my friend Saed who is going to be doing his higher studies in Sweden. He happens to be the only Asian friend that I can associate with, and that's because we share the similar culture with a boundary-line separating us. He's a Pakistani and I am a Hindustani and we have become chums because we can talk and laugh in a common language Hindi/Urdu that has a totally different written format..but same phonetic syllables. A typical Mumbaiker confronted my keen interest in making friends across border as something that cannot be done by him, because of what "they have done to our countrymen in Mumbai Blasts". He has solemnly pledged to never consider any of my friends as 'friends' because "its sad he is a paki" and that is something that goes against him at the time being. I take this as a chance to tell you what my views are along with the contradicting views. Then I will let you be the one to decide or at the least will hope that by the end of this read, you will be broadminded enough to think twice before letting your adrenalin rush into an Intellectual Bloodshed for sake of the dear ones who have lost their lives in the recent happennings in Mumbai.
My friend felt that "They" shouldnt have done this to the simple working people, some who are sole bread earning members. But, he feels proud of the spirit of the city, which has accepted the fact that they are going to get back to work not because they are not afraid, but because they cant sleep hungry in the end of the day.

Mumbai has always been this way since ages. Its a city that lives no matter who or what dies or perishes. Muslims or Hindus hardly matter in these times because if you're a Mumbaiker then you are on the streets helping people out in floods, in earthquakes, and in bomb blasts. Yet, the same religion acts as a barrier for those who have been born across the border. Indian Muslims and Pakistani Muslims wont carry the same weight for a neutral person who wants to make a friendship as compared to a Muslim jawaan who has a certain responsibility in a small forsaken land of Kashmir. Yes, at this moment religion falls low and Nationality takes priority.

What's my verdict? "Insaan ki galti Insaan hi bhuktega..Bhagwaan nahi"( A man's mistake should be paid by a man only..not by God). If Pakistan is playing Devil out here, then where did this Pakistan come from? Somewhere from the pits of the under-world??? It came from History! Pakistan was created by HISTORY. Hatred towards each other was created by HISTORICAL massacres and incidents. If facing a Pakistani makes your mind only drift back to dead bodies that you saw broadcasted in those stations, then it is the result of the hostility border in your mind! A person "does not" want to be friends with them because HE has a problem with the mental hostility, not with the person actually. And if you consider them part of a nation who killed your people, then we should remember that we are also part of the nation that is the Living dead of Aids patients, gave birth to Veerappan, decoits, rapists and also terrorists!

Gandhiji is often blamed for the breakdown of an otherwise co-existing community. Gandhiji had a vision and He stuck to it. While during the partition, some influential leaders had ulterior malicious motives which led to the painful split. Problems never ended since then..and If Indians hate Gandhiji for what he has done..then Pakistanis hate him too. Gandhiji has changed their fate forever as well. This is a pure false creation of an anemity between two religious communities. We raise questions.. had it not been for Gandhiji? for Jinnah? for Sardar Patel? My answer is If so? could it have been less painful if everyone had got what they wanted.

We will never know! Some Humans have made mistakes and some others have to bear with the consequences. This is the FACT OF LIFE. It is Injustice..yes, but it's still a fact! And if we are going to sit here and complain about it.. we are the biggest fools on earth. You and I are not scholars of Politics. So what makes us think we can solve the problems of this world that easily? If we create hostility between two nationalities beyond the actual borders of India and Pakistan..more specifically anywhere outside Kashmir...then what are we resolving?

I believe in Today's youth. I see them as a strong potential to see past the historical boundaries and come forward to create a future together. Yes, it sounds pretty cliched at present..but do you have an alternative? Any one can be a critic, but a constructive critic is one should not have the right to put down another person unless he/she has a solution to back it up. I want to tell you that my friendship is "beautiful" because it is not everyday that someone from the other side would wanna join hand in hand with me in a foriegn land. I want to see ppl redefinining friendship beyond borders, culture, and race..Just like we redefine Love beyond language barriers. I have started to become a person who has created in my own way a little world by making friends with people whom You, as a patriot, cannot fathom to be friends with. Every nationality has their flaws just like Indians have.

Is there an end to this battle of thoughts?
There wont be..because two people are looking down the same cliff from different altitudes. The cliff wont change for us. The view won't change but definitely we will change our positions from time to time. I don't have Paki friends. I have friends who are Pakistanis. That's two different things. It is a saddening truth that this can't be explained to a victim of the blasts who has lost his limb. But, folks..Death is a natural phenomenon and it may be true that its occurence and cause is unnatural. If everyone who has experienced death should have such a saddistic view then that person becomes incapable of reasoning at any point in his life. And this is not true. We are made of stronger stuff.

Our past is a fact that cannot be changed at any cost. History cannot be re-written not matter how much we are finding it un-acceptable. Somethings are beyond our understanding and I always hope one can give little bit of gap in their reasoning for these things. We will have boulders in our path in the future, but we have to start learning to dodge it instead of jumping off the road alltogether. These rocks on my path are there to encourage and discourage me. I am insecure if I am going to look at every barrier as a potential death sentence.

A fighter always fights. But, a successful fighter is one who knows when to defend and when to attack. If he goes blindfolded attacking without thinking then he might find himself in the enemy grounds gun pointing to his forehead. DEFENSE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ATTACK. A rule of thumb while playing Chess. The city is still living and people are still partying their hearts out. While some of us are sitting here feeling bad and crying with our fellow mates. But, it is not constructive..what we feel. Our body learns to heal itself and come back to normal..so does our society.We need to quit looking at other innocent people as prey for our hatred...bcause this may cause them pain, but it will cause us more. I also want everyone to be happy..and those who are in my reach will surely be receiving this message from me. I don't mind going out and reaching more souls, which is what I have done.

I agree I have my disagreements with my across-border friends at times but the realization I have is that they are worthy of my opponent. I will learn from my enemies more than I would learn from my supporters anyday. True analyzation comes out in contradiction. I wish to think that it will always be a win-win situation because both parties would broaden their point of view. If you feel sad for the souls who were sacrificed then don't sit and cry for them. Their hopes and dreams have been shattered not to shatter you. But, to give u a better incentive to reach someplace where they had once hoped to be. God has given us the power to analyze our world and given us Indians a traditional background to guide us through Life. Paki-terrorists may want our hatred,but India wants everyone's Love. Now, you choose which country's loyalty you want to satisfy...