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

Chapter 3   The Bangladesh war   Prelude to the 1971 war   Sometime in the early 60's, Ayub Khan's son, Gauhar Ayub, led a procession through the streets of Karachi, a city where Ayub Khan had lost in the elections. The procession turned violent and the resulting killings sowed the seeds of ethnic polarization. It completely alienated Pakistan's largest city from Ayub Khan, and accelerated his downfall in 1969. The revolt was especially strong in East Pakistan since it had been seriously neglected during Ayub's period. The gap in per capita income between the two wings had doubled in percentage terms, so that in 1969/70 the per capita income in the West wa

Chapter 7   The return of Jinnah to Indian politics   A very important event that took place in 1928 was the return of Jinnah from England. When he rejoined Indian politics he was a totally different man and this time he pursued a radically new policy with regard to the Muslims of India. It was at that time that the Indian leaders decided to formulate an Indian Constitution acceptable to all political parties. This idea was taken up at the Congress session of 1927 in Madras. As a result, a committee headed by Pundit Motilal Nehru was set up. An All Parties Conference met at Lucknow in August 1928 where a constitution was framed and was accepted by the Congress party. Howev

Chapter 7   The present situation of Pakistan   All these have put Pakistan in a most unenviable situation. Pakistan is being talked all over the world as a failed State.   Here is an extract from Brahma Chellaney:   "Economically, Pakistan has become a basket case under military rule, which has scared away investors with its bellicose rhetoric and cosy ties with fundamentalists. It is doubtful whether the present military can keep Pakistan together. Pakistanis are more disillusioned than ever, realising that the Musharraf regime is no better than the   Page-108 politicians it replaced The military, however, can flourish only as lo

India's spiritual heritage   An article written by Glen P. Kezwer, Ph.D. Glen Kezwer has been practising and studying meditation for the past twenty years at a meditation institute in northern India. He writes:   Spirituality is an intrinsic part of Indian culture and life. Every Indian home is adorned with a poojaa shrine containing a picture of Lord Krishna, Shri Ganesh, Lord Shiv, the Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati, or some other deity surrounded by candles and incense and garlanded with a maalaa. It is here that people stop for a praanaam to the devi or devtaa, or to ring a bell and sit with eyes closed and hands folded for a few minutes every day. For the wors