Peace with equality By Dr Ramesh Kumar Wankwani

Every war is followed by hopes of peace. Aman ki Asha is an effort for peace that provides such a hope, that will help ease tensions and prevent a third war between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan. They have fought wars in the past, but this is not an option anymore. The current efforts to maintain harmony between them gives rise to hope that peace will eventually prevail.

The people of Pakistan and India truly appreciate the efforts initiated by the Jang Group of Pakistan and Times of India. We would like to convey this message to the rulers of both countries.

Pakistan Hindu Council keenly desires peace. This subcontinent is a land of sufis, saints and holy men. If efforts are made to promote peace, India's concept of limited war can be restricted, which is what peace-loving people desire everywhere. The whole purpose is to prevent war and end conflict.

Someone has finally come forward and shown an interest in maintaining peace at a very public platform. We should not let slip this golden opportunity. We should understand that this is a message of peace, which was spread by sufi saints like Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Baghat Kunkwar Ram, Baba Bullay Shah, Sufi Baba Ajmer Sharif and others. Now concrete steps need to be taken to attain the goal of peace at the earliest.

Media is known as the fourth pillar of the state. It can play a key role in generating awareness regarding hope for peace. The media in India and Pakistan have started efforts to promote peace. If these efforts fail, the future of people in both countries will be dark.

It is the need of the hour to understand the desire of people for peace and judge it accordingly. Before the partition of Pakistan and India, Hindus and Muslims lived together and brotherhood prevailed. Despite having separate identities and religions, they have much in common. Both nations lived peacefully together and expelled the British from the sub-continent through collective efforts.

Despite the division of the sub-continent, many things can make this region a region of peace. Pakistan and India are separate countries, but the people trust each other and love peace and brotherhood, and also respect each other's geographical boundaries. Besides this, there are a large number of people from both sides who respect and follow the teachings of our sufis and saints.

India has a larger population, but its government should know that if the Times of India continues its efforts, peace is bound to prevail.

India has for long been committing a mistake in not maintaining peace in the region. As the bigger country, India will have to face bigger losses in case of war as Pakistan too is a nuclear power. India's claim that it will fight a small scale or limited war is foolishness as wars only lead to destruction and devastation.

To give a realistic shape to the hope for peace, the first step is to create equality. If equality is established, then there will be no hurdle in the way of maintaining peace.

Despite the passage of 62 years, it seems that many Indians and Pakistanis have not accepted each other's existence.

The main conflict between Pakistan and India is the Kashmir issue, which should be resolved according to the wishes of the Kashmiri. Besides this, reduction in the arms race, and exchanges in the fields of tourism, culture, trade, sports, education, print and electronic media will help reduce tensions between the two countries. Such exchanges will also provide a suitable environment in maintaining peace. With frequent visits and meetings of intellectuals and authors of India Pakistan these wishes and hopes can materialise into reality.

The Pakistan Hindu Council desires that dialogue on vital issues should begin on the basis of equality. This will not only help in changing the scenario, but it will also have positive effects on this subcontinent.

Once again, heartiest congratulations to the Jang Group of Pakistan and Times of India for initiating efforts for peace in the region.

The writer is Patron, Pakistan Hindu council

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

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