Happy Birthday, Dad. That’s a big number! It makes me feel just as old when I think “Wow, my dad is that old, and…” =)
Also, Happy Birthday to India!
(Image snaffled from Nav A)
Midnight, August 15th, 60 years ago saw the birth of 2 nations, today the three “South Asian” nations of India, Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) and Pakistan (formerly West Pakistan). Out of the slowly crumbling British Empire they emerged, and from that day the fall of the remainder of the empire was a mere inevitability.
But the fall of the British Empire is not what is celebrated here; indeed, it is the emergence of the new nation of India. It wasn’t just independence from 90 years of direct British rule – it encompassed independence from foreign rulers that stretched back, variously, to the 13th century. Finally, Indians would rule their nation for themselves.
If there was a price to pay for this, it can be boiled down to the bitter pill of partition. Whatever the politics behind it, the millions upon millions affected – my family included – didn’t want it. To this day, it is one of the most shameful periods of the history of a people that have so much in common, save religion. Indeed, to this day it remains a sore point, and, in Kashmir where the lines of a map don’t make much impression on the lofty mountain ranges, a source of conflict that drags on both countries’ abilities to do anything about social welfare. It is an exercise for the speculative fiction writer to ponder what may have transpired in a unified India incorporating the “partitioned” states.
Today, many problems remain, and are prevalent. It is something that needs working on, but for once, we can say there is clear hope. India is unmatched for growth upside, and finally is punching its own weight on the international scene. I’m not usually a nationalist or anything like that, but for today, I am Indian :)
Aw. You seem so proud!
There’s obviously a lot I need to learn about Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi independance & separation.
I wonder why it is that the monotheistic “religions of the book” (or whatever they call it) have the most trouble getting along with other religions…..
haha I am indeed :D It’s much like the American Independence day – completely arbitrary really, but a nice way to mark a day out :)
I think there’s a lot to learn all over the world when it comes to history – and so many perspectives, it’d take a lifetime!
The monothestic “Abrahamic” (from Abraham) religions have a requirement built into them – that there is one god, and that’s the only god, and all others must be converted or killed (except most of the time the followers are too polite to follow through on the second part). Hinduism for one just says, “hey, have as many gods as you want, as long as you follow these basic ideas – do unto others etc (karma), do your duty (dharma), respect your elders etc – and we can all get along”.