LIVING in the past is integral to human psychology, playing a crucial role in memory formation and the creation of history. For centuries, humans have studied history to shape the future. Without recorded history, heroes would not exist. While living in the present keeps us lively, reflecting on the past encourages thought, contemplation, and innovation. Conversely, thinking about the future often induces worry, especially in a society where values are rapidly deteriorating. When hope in the future diminishes, we tend to glorify the past.
Growing up in a Punjabi family, where elders’ words held the weight of historical truth, I was deeply shaped by bedtime stories, especially those about the partition. Punjab suffered greatly, with one million deaths and ten million migrants. I long for the peaceful coexistence of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and others, fostering a diverse, tolerant, and prosperous society. The lasting impact of Britain’s divide-and-rule policy is evident, displacing and sacrificing millions. Honouring our forefathers’ sacrifices means improving the lives of future generations.
Instead of becoming one of the top ten military powers, imagine if South Asia had emerged as two economic powers after World War II. The subcontinent, home to one-fourth of the world’s population, with tremendous growth opportunities and the largest labour force, could have fed the world with its agricultural abundance. The region, rich in natural resources and with a climate ranging from the chilling cold of the Himalayas to the intense heat of the south, could have transformed its fortunes through advancements in agriculture and production. Unfortunately, the subcontinent missed this opportunity by nurturing the seeds of Britain’s divide.
China, through trade and indigenous production, achieved unprecedented economic growth and became the world’s second-largest economy. This achievement should make us question why the people of the subcontinent were not given the same opportunity to prosper. In the post-partition era, relationships between India and Pakistan deteriorated, placing a heavy burden on the two billion people living in the region. This situation has created an attractive market for arms sellers and their accomplices.
An opportunity lost poses a threat. Today, our society is rife with frustration, hopelessness, extremism, religious exploitation, hyperinflation, and economic disparity. Poverty, the root of all evils, corrodes morality and legality. I urge Indian and Pakistani authorities to reassess their strategies and prioritize people’s welfare over maintaining security states. Both sides of the border yearn for interaction and trade, sharing cultural, historical, linguistic, and societal similarities. History’s distortion has painted us as enemies, fostering incorrect perceptions. I hope both nations align with the people’s aspirations for a better relationship.
It’s never too late to start anew. With intent, there’s a way. We must learn from our neighbours and be sincere, prioritizing our own welfare before aiding others. Focus on public welfare, eliminate corruption and elite control, foster tolerance, and bridge societal divides. End the blame game, take responsibility. Achieving this requires consensus among all institutions, with powerful entities setting aside ego and dominance. Course correction is essential for progress. Otherwise, history will not forgive us. This land has seen rulers from Qutub-ud-Din Aibak to Bahadur Shah Zafar. Today, no one knows where these emperors and elite disappeared. Some of their descendants might be living in poverty, like many common people in the subcontinent. Time spares no one.
—The writer is a contributing columnist.
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