When the idea of Pakistan was conceived the aim was to provide equal opportunities to Muslims which, as a few propagated, was not possible in Hindu majority India. May be they were afraid of democracy in which majority has more say in administration of the nation. Although, a democratic government follows a constitution that is neutral and should have been sufficient to allay such fears. Choosing a Muslim identity for the nation was fine as far as it was rooted to the land. But the leaders of this new state forgot basic principles of human attachment to one’s homeland and language. They illogically deviated its lineage towards west. It was not just difficult but has proved impossible for the people to alienate themselves from their environment and culture by following traditions and ethos of a foreign land. In the race to show oneself better Muslim, they have produced schism in the society, which was, supposedly, based on equality. Being both socially and religiously disoriented t...
Kher Kalan used to be a small village, about 100 houses scattered around zigzag, narrow, brick laden lanes. The road from the state highway, running north of it, was a dirt track used normally by Tonga or a Bullock cart and of course bicycles. The road skirted the village and went further south by few more miles, to another, even smaller, village called Taali. Residents, mostly migrants from Pakistan in this belt, were farmers with their own land and some others who were part of self sufficient daily activities like a baniya, a carpenter, a primary school etc. The region was reasonably prosperous, mainly due to the old but functional irrigation system from the British era. A small canal which fed the village fields ran about two miles to the east at its boundary. It doubled as a limit for most of the residents, except for our duo of Prakash and Jasmeet, who used to cross it daily for going to the high school in the town named Hajipur. A rarely used, narrow walking track from the v...
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