Subcontinental Pains!

From Peshawar to Dimapur, from Soppore to Jaffna... the Indian Subcontinent is on fire! What constituted a single cohesive unit almost 60 years ago, paved the way for factionalised entities with the demise of colonial power. Centuries of common history, culture and values were forsaken for the sake of such trivial factors as religion, language and customs. The result was the formation of artificial enities, incapable of self-sustenance. The rump of India that came into existence after Partition, resembled most closely the ancient and historical grandeur of the entity that was demolished by partition. Since that day 60 years ago, the Indian Subcontinent has not known peace!

The late 40s were characterized with the "Illegal Indian Acquisition" of a Muslim-Majority Kashmir. Tribal irregulars were sent to recover the prized jewel of Kashmir for the Noble State of Pakistan. Sadly, the invasion/liberation campaign ended in a stalemate, and Kashmir continues to simmer till this day!

50s was truly India's most frightening decade, with insurgencies raging like wildfire across the length and breadth of the country. There were secessionist tendencies in regions from Nagaland to Madras. Add to this the heaps of global scorn India had to bear when it 'conquered' other colonial possessions with a combination of tactics and military power. In 'Former East Pakistan', this was the age of 'Bengali Revival'. Intellectuals questioned the need for Urdu as the sole national language, and demands for an autonomous eastern unit surfaced.

60s was the era of the fall of mighty India to China. This was coupled with the rise of Pakistan as an aggressive entity. With 2 wars fought in this decade that resulted in stalemate, the stage was set for the birth of issues that would haunt the Sub continent in the future. Pakistan, in the meanwhile had foresaken all pretensions of Democracy and rejoiced in the military rule committed to the destruction of its arch-enemy. Sadly though, It failed to sense the internal turbulence that was brewing within its own borders.

70s witnessed the humbling of Pakistan and the shattering of the myth of the 'two-nation theory'. Pakistan was militarily humiliated and the Bengalis, till recently, the citizens of Pakistan,
welcomed Indian Army as Liberators. With the formation of Bangladesh, the dream of a united Homeland for Indian Muslims was forever buried. Consequently, Internal disaccord plagued Pakistan. Bhutto was sent to the gallows, while Zia openly pursued a policy of radicalization, with the aim of bleeding India through a thousand cuts. Baluchistan was engulfed in violence as locals sought independence. Newly Independent Bangladesh resembled Pakistan more closely in terms of its democratic credentials. No sooner had it been liberated,that the father of the nation was murdered and military rule clamped.

80s was the age of Separatism. Punjab, disillusioned with the Union government, rose in revolt, seeking independence, encouraged and egged on by Pakistan which was hell bent on avenging itself for the loss of East Pakistan. Kashmir was up in flames after years of sham democracy and misrule of the Central government and its agents. In the meanwhile, trouble was brewing in the South. After years of repression and discrimination, Sri Lanka's Tamil minority revolted against Sinhala domination. The LTTE which spearheaded the movement soon made its mark as a ferocious force, committed to a sovereign Tamil State.

90s saw violence in Kashmir spilling out of control. Better armed and better financed, Kashmiri and foreign militants agonized the Indian government. Things came to a head in late 90s when India and Pakistan, both armed with nuclear weapons, went to war. 90s was the decade that witnessed radicalization of India, under the new message of Hindutva, with strife and riots becoming a part of the Indian political scene. In the meanwhile, calm and normalcy returned to Karachi in the late 90s, after years of bloody wars between the Mohajirs and the government.

The new millenium arrived with hopes of permanent peace and resolution of long standing disputes. This sadly was not meant to be. Fuelled by extremism and changing geo-political relaities, Pakistan-trained militants turned on India with increasing ferocity. Soon, they were no longer content with India alone and turned on their masters in Pakistan. Bombings, Suicide Attacks and even outright warfare became commonplace. Democracy returned to Pakistan once again, when the generals were forced to bow to Public anger following Benazir Bhutto's death. In the meanwhile, the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal was up in flames as red flames ravaged the country, devouring the ancient monarchy. In Bangladesh, military rule returned again with vengeance but beat a hasty retreat in face of the populace clamouring for democracy. The Sri Lankans returned to haunt the LTTE, displacing them inch by inch from Sri Lankan Soil.

The Sub continent that has been united since the time of the Mauryas has never known so much unrest. May be it is time to settle our differences once and for all before the box of TNT that we all are sitting on explodes!