The Pain of Partition

August 15, 2022 marked the 75th anniversary of India's independence. Unfortunately, it also marks the 75th anniversary of India's partition. The gory, ugly and remorseful partition, whose effect still haunts the people, especially, the minorities in India. Here, Dr. P. C. Singh keeps a perspective to ponder upon.

This year, on the eve of Amrit Maotsav of India’s Independence, when the nation was being reminded of the hard-earned independence after years of struggle in the country, we are still oblivious of the pain faced by the minority and its leaders. A large number of books, plays, and films cover the partition of the subcontinent causing killings of thousands, rapes and displacement of people from across the border. However, the anguish expressed by some noted media persons and artists from minority community must not be ignored. It is a sheer chance that they belong to Muslim community, and their outburst is not uncalled for.

The well known Bollywood artist Naseeruddin Shah’s feeling that the nation is probably heading towards civil war may be interpreted as merely emotional outburst, but what about the shocking reaction of a noted Journalist of international repute - Saeed Naqvi. Naqvi who comes from a noble family, brought up and reared in Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb of Lucknow, in his book entitled as 'Being The other: The Muslim in India' and in number of talks covered by electronic media - particularly, JLF & Asia Society in London, speak of the Muslim Mind in India today. He is pained to be reminded of the couplet of a noted Urdu poet-‘tum jab wahan gaye to Mujahir ban gaye, hum to apne hi ghar me gairhajir ho gaye’(you became Muhajir after migrating from India to Pakistan, we who decided to stay back have become stranger in our own country).

A person like Naqvi who grew up in the atmosphere of Nehru’s secular India, where everyone and specially, the minority had a great faith and trust in the first prime minister, is suddenly at pain to recall how Nehru who promised that there would be no partition failed to honor his promises. The whole context indicates towards a growing feeling of alienation among them. Following the advice of Nehru and Maulana Azad, have they made a mistake? Have they been ditched? That the Muslims are ignored and feeling isolated in the India today, has also been shared by other well known artists who have been closely associated with left orientation and secular tradition of India.

Names of Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi, and others must not be defined by their religious identity. For the fact remains as rightly emphasized by Saeed Naqvi that after all they hail from this community and cannot delink themselves from their cultural matrix. The right thinking scholars from non-Muslim background have been on the forefront of expressing concern over this development, but the pain of partition felt by Muslim intellectuals and artists is unprecedented and a matter of great concern. The Muslims have been left behind by the majority community - is a fact that has been acknowledged by many and their marginalization in different walks of life has also been identified by the governmental agency like Sachar Commission. It is not beside the point to note that there has been several historical and political reasons behind it. The Muslims have remained a backward lots also due to shortsightedness of their leadership. But their growing alienation as expressed and reflected in the outburst of their intellectuals - elites is a recent phenomenon. This pain of partition must not be ignored and must be given due attention by the people and the national leadership.

Dr. P.C. Singh (Author)

Dr. P.C. Singh A doctorate from JNU and a Masters from Delhi School of Economics, he has more than 25 years of experience of research and teaching. He has been involved in doing research in academics, and Mass Media including television & print. He has worked in various mainstream media houses like SAHARA INDIA, INDIA NEWS, NEWS LINE, PATRIOT etc. He has to his credit a book and numerous articles published in Indian Express, Telegraph, Hindustan Times, Pioneer, India Abroad, Think India Quarterly. He is at present, professor at JIMMC, Noida.