Reassessing Pakistan: the
role of two-nation theory- A Book Review
by Dr. S. Chandrasekharan
(Reassessing Pakistan- Anand K. Verma, under the auspices of the
Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, Lancer Publications &
Distributors, 2001)
In dealing with Pakistan, many analysts are baffled that Indo Pakistan
relations have remained as adversarial as it was from the days of the
division of sub continent into two nations. The massacres on the eve
of partition leading to death, destruction and displacement of millions of
people across the borders and residual problems relating to partition
followed by the war in Kashmir could be the immediate causes for the
animosity. Yet after 53 years one would have expected "the
scars and anguishing memories" to ease and normalcy forged in the
relationship between the two countries. This has not happened. While
Pakistan maintains that Kashmir is the root cause and that once it is
solved there could be no adversarial relationship, it looks that
differences are deeper and one should look into the philosophical
foundation of the state of Pakistan.
The book "Reassessing Pakistan"- the role of two nation
theory by Anand K.Verma examines this issue in detail and comes to the
conclusion that many of the internal and external problems, faced by
Pakistan today are directly or indirectly the consequences of the
artificial two-nation theory practised by its leaders throughout the years
of growth till today. This theory according to the author must rank
as one of the "greatest tragedies of human kind."
Mr.Verma has many years behind him in dealing with Pakistan and has
been the chief of foreign Intelligence in India for nearly three
years. His study is based on years of experience and should
therefore to be taken seriously by political analysts on both sides of the
divide to understand the fundamental differences that have emerged over
the years.
This book is of topical interest in the light of the failed Agra summit
and the expected meetings of the two leaders of India and Pakistan in the
coming months. After reading the book, one cannot but come to the
conclusion that the Agra summit would any way have failed despite the
media blitz, because of the fundamental and insurmountable differences
arising of the two-nation theory practised by Pakistan. Of late, it
has been using the rationale of the theory to move further in forging a
fundamentalist Islamic national identity
The book traces the genesis of the trends of the two nation theory,
first from the historical perspective when Muslim rule in India for
centuries in the last millennium had given the Muslims a feeling of
superiority and a perception of belonging to the conquering race. If
the advent of the British rule had put an end to such consciousness, the
1857 mutiny and its aftermath placed Muslims in despairing isolation,
depriving the community of the early benefits of the British Period.
Out of this isolation grew the demand for Muslim empowerment which finally
resulted in the division of British India into two nations.
If the two nation theory was invented by the Muslim leaders to get back
their "lost glory" and taste power with an exclusive territory where
the Muslims were in a majority, it suited the British who felt the need
for a strategic buffer between the Soviet Union and the soon to be
independent India. What the leaders of Pakistan failed to realise
was that the two nation theory had a limited function to create Pakistan
and was not to be called into question later when there are a large number
of Muslims who remained in India.
It is the view of the author that the two nation theory on which
Pakistan was created did not end in 1947 and that it is necessary for
India to understand this basic question. "It continues and
will have a fundamental role in all problem solving efforts."
(Emphasis ours). The right lesson to be learnt from Indian
experiences of wars of 1965, 1971 and the Lahore declaration of 1999 is
the unwillingness of Pakistan to get out of the mind set of the "two
nation theory." The experience of Agra summit which occurred after
the publication of the book would only confirm this view.
By way of conclusion, the author calls for an introspection in Pakistan
over the fundamental assumptions relating to religion, ethos and national
security. These philosophical questions will have to be tackled
first by Pakistan leading to positive conclusions before territorial
questions could be tackled. Then could follow a dialogue with the
help of friends in the Islamic world, continuation of CBMs for
whatever incremental values that these can achieve and other measures.
The book ends with a grim reminder that unless the fundamental
philosophical questions are resolved in Pakistan or progress made, the
future scenarios in Indo Pak relations would continue to be bleak.
If stop gap arrangements will be of no avail, can we afford to await
generational changes for the ultimate result? Pakistan cannot be wished
away and geography and certain historical developments have made us
neighbours. If Pakistan’s adherence to the two nation theory makes
Indo Pakistan problems irresolvable, the author suggests that India has to
address the theory directly and squarely to get out of the impasse.
The book is written in a lucid manner and easily readable. The
appendices covering the full texts of various agreements between India and
Pakistan from Tashkent to Lahore are valuable for reference for
researchers. There is an unusual chapter on the cost of the two
nation theory but opinions may differ whether it has helped or adversely
affected India. It is a book which should be read by analysts
dealing with Indo Pakistan relations, particularly those from Pakistan as
the latter will be in a better position to understand the book and the
philosophical questions that have been raised. This book is
specially recommended for study to those analysts of international think
tanks who hold the view that once the issues relating to Kashmir are
solved, Indo Pakistan relations are bound to improve.
Some one had remarked that India and Pakistan are from the same womb
and yet they have parted ways from the time of their birth! Is there no
way to bring them together?
