Taking potshots at Pakistan for continuing to be what he called a "failed state", Kerala's Governor Arif Mohammad Khan said that no other country has suffered socio-economically and politically in recent times as much as the neighbouring country.
“The only reason for this is Islamabad's refusal to learn or to course correct on some of its glaring past mistakes,” Khan said.
Khan made these remarking after launching two books authored by Brighter Kashmir Editor-in-Chief Farooq Wani - The Changing Colours of Chinar: Recollections of a Kashmiri Journalist and Sheikh-ul-Alam (RA): Kashmir's Mystic Sufi Saint, at the India-Islamic Centre here.
A distinguished gathering of former civil servants, academicians, litterateurs and members of the media attended the book launch function. Former GOC of the Indian Army's 15 Corps, Lt Gen (Retired) Syed Ata Hasnain, former J&K Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, noted political commentator and academician Professor D.K.Giri and well known strategic analyst and author Col. (Retired) Jaibans Singh, besides others were among those present.
Governor Khan said: "When there was talk about the Indian subcontinent being partitioned sooner than later, in 1946, prominent Muslim leader of the Congress Party, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, had given an interview to Shorish Kashmiri, a journalist associated with the Lahore-based Urdu magazine, Chattan, in which he had predicted that religious conflict would tear Pakistan apart and its eastern half would carve out its own future.”
Governor Khan said this prediction came true in 1971, when the Bengali-dominant eastern half of Pakistan broke away from the western half to create a separate country of Bangladesh after India defeated Pakistan in the War of Liberation.
Keeping the region of Kashmir in context, Governor Khan further said "Maulana Azad was never in favour of partition, nor were the people of Kashmir prior to 1946. While the Maulana said he did not want to see his people (Indians) homeless, and therefore, refused to advise anyone to choose between India or Pakistan, the people of Kashmir, mind you not the politicians, the people of Kashmir, sacrificed a lot for peace and to live in a normalised environment.
He recalled the Maulana as saying that 'if a country is created on the basis of religion or faith only, that country's people will sooner or later lose faith in that religion and bring ruin upon that country.
"The British themselves were interested in the creation of Pakistan; in the partitioning of the Indian subcontinent," Governor Khan said, adding that "communal politics has hurt civilised society and religion beyond measure.
"There is no question that the people of Kashmir have sacrificed a lot in their quest for peace. In 1948, if I correctly recall, when the Pakistani raiders attacked Kashmir, it was the local people who bravely stalled them. Had they not done so, it would have taken just one-and-a-half-days for Pakistan to reach Srinagar from Rawalpindi to gain control, but it took them five or more days to travel between these two points, why, because of people like Red Shirt volunteer Maqbool Sherwani, who was nailed to a tree in Baramulla for sending the raiders down the wrong path," the Kerala Governor said.
Governor Khan said: "I blame the local Kashmiri leadership for failing to learn from Maulana Azad's wise words that 'Pakistan, when it comes into existence, will face conflicts of religious nature. As far as I can see, the people who will hold the reins of power there will cause serious damage to Islam. Their behaviour may result in the total alienation of the Pakistani youth who may become a part of non-religious movements. I must warn that the evil consequences of partition will not affect India alone, Pakistan will be equally haunted by them. The partition will be based on the religion of the population and not based on any natural barrier like mountain, desert or river. A line will be drawn; it is difficult to say how durable it would be.’"
He further quoted Azad as saying, "We must remember that an entity conceived in hatred will last only as long as that hatred lasts. This hatred will overwhelm the relations between India and Pakistan. In this situation it will not be possible for India and Pakistan to become friends and live amicably unless some catastrophic event takes place".
Diverting from politics to culture and spiritualism, Khan made a reference to John Raj's translation of Rajatarangini.
"From 1354 to 1373, Sultan Shahabuddin was the ruler of Kashmir. His Chief Minister was Uday Shri. There was a time during Sultan Shahabuddin's rule when his kingdom was under some kind of financial stress. Uday Shri told Sultan Shahabuddin, 'there is a statue of Lord Buddha that we have. I recommend that we melt it and convert the remains into coins to solve our financial issues.'
John Raj quotes Sultan Shahabddin as saying, "The people who have lived and ruled here before us built these statues to celebrate their lives, religion, status and glory and you (Uday Shri) are asking me to melt them? What kind of suggestion and advice is this that you are presenting before me? Is this our objective?"
Governor Khan said: The words were that of Sultan Shahabuddin, but the meaning, the import of it, clearly reflected the spirit of Kashmiriyat that existed then.”
"Ths spirit of Kashmiriyat that we refer to, hear and speak about often? It is this spirit promoted by spiritual luminaries like Lal Ded (a.k.a. Lalleshwari) and Nund Rishi. Is it even possible to think or contemplate Kashmiriyat without making a reference to these two spiritual legends? Lal Ded was admittedly a Shiv Bhaktini. The books that I have read on Kashmir refer to her as 'Mast-Ghast', in other words, she was a wanderer with a devil-may care attitude towards life, its problems and challenges, and one who never bothered about her looks, etc."
Quoting Lal Ded as saying, 'Shiv chhale thali, thali Rozan; Mavzan Yuaun Tru Musalman. Tirth Yuachuk Tru Panun Pan Parzan. Swachch Hai A Sahib Ast Zani Zan.' If there is any consciousness within you, you will be able to see, locate Lord Shiva anywhere."
Khan further said that in the Vedanta, there is mention of Lal Ded or Lalleshwari speaking rapturously about Shiva.
"Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti (There is only one truth, there is only one power and he or she appears before us in many forms) has been spoken of in various texts and faiths. We have to accept the sovereignty of the Almighty, whether we follow Bhakti, Vedanta or Tassawuf. There is no exception, no alternative. We are emanating from that one all powerful force and we are all beholden to him for our actions. No one has given me or any other person the right to guide or advise, or correct another individual in society. If I think a particular activity or work is good, it is my duty to lead my life on that guideline only. If I lead a successful life and other people are exposed to it, it is almost certain that they will also try to emulate me along those very same lines," he said.
"Someone went to Iman Jaffer Sadiq and asked "Sir, I am going forward to pursue my education further, please guide me? Iman said: ' If you are going for your education, take care that you control your tongue'.
Mahatma Gandhi said: "My Life is My Example".
"My question is why are people so keen and eager these days to teach others about reading the Khalma or being wise. Should you not become wise yourself first and have a thorough understanding of the Khalma first. Nund Rishi said that we are all from one father and mother, then why do we have this communal difference between Hindus and Muslims? Hindus and Muslims are all from one.
"This is a part of our tradition and history....we must understand and accept that Kashmiriyat is rooted in our Indian tradition. Kashmiriyat may have had its birth in a Kashmir environment and as per Kashmiri traditions, but we must accept that it has emanated from the Vedic intonation of Aham Brahmasmi Tat Tvam Asi (I am Brahman; That Thou Art). Believing in this only can enhance communal feelings of peace and acceptance. If everyone has the potential to be divine, I have no other alternative but to accept," Governor Khan said.