INDIAN MUSLIMS AT THE CROSSROADS

Partition, in itself, is not such a dire event that should act as an insurmountable obstacle in the road to mutual progress. Many events from history testify to this fact, the more recent being that of Germany. In 1948, Germany was divided into two countries, but this division could not stop West Germany to attain to progress and prosperity. The German economy was left in tatters in the aftermath of World War II. It was further weakened by dividing the country into East Germany and West Germany. The Allied High Commission, in 1949, implemented the command that West Germany could not keep National Police. They were permitted to keep the police department of the elementary Municipality level, etc. The Partition and the weakened economy did not prove to be obstacles for the growth of Germany. It became numero uno European country by the sweat of its own efforts and struggles. How did Germany achieve such glory? Some attribute this stupendous success to the fact that it started its journey way later than other European countries. It is stated that those who start their journey later, cover their distance faster, because they can avail the latest technology from their predecessors. Late starters can grow faster because they can borrow advanced technology from the early starters. (EB 6/214) This justification is not correct. India is among the late starters, but it has failed to achieve a worthwhile progress. The basic reason behind the fast progress of West Germany lies in the fact that it ignored the loss it incurred in WWII and the Partition of the country which followed soon after. By forgetting the past, it utilized all its capacities to build a bright future. Unfortunately, a considerable number of Hindus, especially from the North India, could not forget the Partition of 1947. As a result, the North India, from which the majority of Indian leadership comes, remained embroiled in negative activities. It could not devote itself wholeheartedly to the building of a new future. This is now the last opportunity for our compatriots to acknowledge this fact. They should unentangle themselves from the memory of the Partition and employ themselves in the positive development of a new If the Hindu and Muslim communities wish to build for themselves a bright and developed future, they first need to throw out from their minds the bad memories of the past, and start thinking about future.