Chapter 8   Factors leading to unity in the subcontinent   In this part of the book, we shall identify the factors that lead to unity in the subcontinent. Many indeed are the elements that have fostered the unity of India. These may be enumerated as: geography, economy, culture, religion and spirituality.   However in order to create a durable unity, we must find out not only the points which help in uniting the people but also those that obstruct unity. In other words, we have to identify the centripetal and the centrifugal forces that are at work in the nation. Before we come to that, let us try to observe and understand the general principles that Natur

Chapter 12   The Armed Forces in India   We have today in India a fine and living example of this national and secular approach in the Armed Forces. It will, therefore, not be out of place to make a study of their working. For indeed, they represent a fine example of unity in diversity, secularism and patriotism. Not only have they a magnificent record of bravery, valour and selfless service but also and, far more important, they have been one of the chief instruments in keeping the unity and integrity of the country intact. What are the factors that have made such a record possible? We shall bring out some of the significant ones.   • The jawan and the of

Manekshaw interview on Kashmir   Sam Manekshaw, the first field marshal in the Indian army, was at the ringside of events when Independent India was being formed. Then a colonel, he was chosen to accompany V P Menon on his historic mission to Kashmir. This is his version of that journey and its aftermath, as recorded in an interview with Prem Shankar Jha.   At about 2.30 in the afternoon, General Sir Roy Bucher walked into my room and said, 'Eh, you, go and pick up your toothbrush. You are going to Srinagar with V P Menon. The flight will take off at about 4 o'clock'. I said, 'why me, sir?'   'Because we are worried about the military

Chapter 3   The Islamic Invasion of India   As stated earlier, Islam, soon after its birth in Mecca and Medina, began to conquer the nations in Africa and the Western part of Asia; and quite inevitably, it was then the turn of India and the invasions began in the eighth century. In the eighth century A.D., there began a series of invasions, which had a profound and lasting effect on India. These were the invasions of the Muslims, first through the Arabian Sea into Sind and later, by the Turks through the passes on the northwest of India. These invasions came through the northwestern passes, the Khyber Pass and the Bolan Pass. This was the beginning of the Mohammedan conque

Chapter 6   The obstacles to the unification of India and Pakistan   In this part of the book, we shall try to identify the obstacles to the unification of the subcontinent. Undoubtedly the chief obstacle is the institution of the Army in Pakistan. The people of Pakistan seem to show a keenness to work together with India, particularly in matters concerning trade and culture, but it is the Army and its offshoots like the ISI that have a vested interest in the perpetuation of the division.   The Army in Pakistan   We now take a look into the functioning of the Pakistani Army. The Pakistani nation has for the most part of its history been u

Chapter 1   Political unity in ancient India Introduction   It is widely accepted all over the world today that Indian civilization has achieved greatness in the things most important to human culture, that is, in the mental, spiritual, religious, intellectual, ethical, and aesthetic fields; and in all these matters when seen in the whole, and in its deeper intention there is revealed a great largeness and profundity of development and growth. In fact, one might say that there is revealed here not only a great civilization, but one of the half dozen greatest of which we still have an existing record.   But while all admit the greatness of the achievement of India

Chapter 10   The political system in India   However, all this needs a national approach and consensus, something which is totally missing in the country today. This unhappy situation arises out of the political system that we have adopted in India. This system, which we have borrowed from the West, opens the door to a peril of stupendous proportions. For we are now faced with a Westernisation, inspired on one side by the Parliamentary form of Government and on the other by the militant Socialism of the Communist bloc. As a result, the politics of this country has become very divisive and is hampering all development and growth. The solution to this lies in creating a na

Chapter 9   Summary of causes of Partition   We may summarise the chief causes of the Partition of India The policy of divide and rule of the British The aggressive attitude of the Muslim League The Congress policy of appeasement of the Muslims   The psychological foundation of the different parties   We have described briefly the events that ultimately led to the partition of the country. But events are after all only manifestations of the psychology of the people and the vision that the leaders have of the nation. It is, therefore, important to see the vision of India that the different parties had and the inevitable co

Chapter 11   Hindu-Muslim unity   At the same time attempts will have to be made to bring the two communities together and solve the Hindu-Muslim problem on a permanent basis. The question is: On what basis do we solve the problem? We could be guided by this quotation from Sri Aurobindo:   "Of one thing we may be certain, that Hindu-Muslim unity cannot be effected by political adjustments or Congress flatteries. It must be sought deeper down in the heart and in the mind, for where the causes of disunion are there the   Page-177 remedies must be sought. We shall do well in trying to solve the problem to remember that misundersta

ICG Asia Report N°73 16 January ICG Asia Report N°73 16 January 2004   UNFULFILLED PROMISES:   PAKISTAN'S FAILURE TO TACKLE EXTREMISM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS   It has been more than two years since President and Chief of Army Staff Pervez Musharraf pledged to reform Pakistani society by reversing the trend of Islamist extremism. In a televised speech, he promised a series of measures to combat extremism. One of the key issues was to bring all madrasas - the religious schools that educate many Pakistani children - into the mainstream and to increase scrutiny of them by controlling funding and curriculum. President Musharraf's call for an end to the prom