I was in Pakistan to receive a peace award conferred on me by a US-based organisation. This organisation strives to promote peace and harmony in South Asia. Every two years, it confers awards on South Asians who work for peace in their respective countries. Beside me, an eminent Pakistani citizen Sheema Kermani was also honoured at a special ceremony held in Karachi on February 19. Sheema Kermani is a well-known Indian classical dancer.

The day I reached Karachi, the whole Pakistan was in turmoil. People in large numbers were protesting in various cities, conveying their anger over the brutal killing of Shia Muslims in Quetta. It was alleged that the killing was done by a Sunni-supported terrorist organisation. Accompanied by Dr. Mazhar Hussain from Hyderabad, I reached Karachi airport at about 8 pm. We were received at the airport by Dr. BM Kutty. Eighty-three years old Dr. Kutty happens to be a left-wing activist. Dr. Kutty has devoted his entire life to the service of the have-nots in Pakistan. He has authored many books, including his own biography. Dr. Kutty heads a prestigious institution ‘Pakistan Labour Institute for Education and Research’ (PLIERS). From the airport we were taken to the guesthouse of PLIERS.

The award-giving ceremony was fixed for Feb. 19. The ceremony took place on the premises of Arts council. Karachi was in an angry mood. Dharnas were taking place at almost every corner of the city. Roads were blocked. It was difficult to reach the programs venue. But despite difficulties, a large number of prominent citizens managed to reach the place.

The programme began with the introduction of awards. The introduction was given by Preetam Rohila, who came all the way from the USA. Then, citations were read out by Dr. Kutty. The citation, conferring the award on Sheema Kirmani, recalled her contribution to the development of classical dance in Pakistan. She has been working for friendly relations with India and trying to establish harmony in the country. She is an accomplished and internationally-recognised classical dancer, choreographer, stage and television actress. Not only she has performed at prestigious events in many countries of the world (namely, China, Egypt, Indonesia, U.S.A. U.K., Germany, France, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Italy, Norway, Kurdistan and the Netherlands), but also, through her inspiring roles in performing arts, she has made particularly bold and immense contribution to the cause of peace and harmony, in spite of the ban by General Zia-ul-Haq on women dancing on stage, rising fundamentalism, and the prevailing conservative and religious norms in Pakistan. Also through dance and drama, and under the auspices of Tenrik-e-Niswan, an organisation of young men and women, which she founded in 1970s, she has strived to overcome the class and gender divisions to empower women to propagate the Rights issues and secular values among the masses, and to promote peace and harmony in a society divided along patriarchal and religious lines. Besides she has worked hard to raise awareness about and protest against the growing religious intolerance, fundamentalism, obscurantisms, extremism, terrorism and the Blasphemy Law, as well as to highlight such Pakistani customs, additions and social evils as polygamy, the veil, sexual abuse and honour killing that unjustly suppress women.

The citation referring to my contribution said that 'As a professional journalist, a trade unionist, and office-bearer of organisations like Sarvadhrma Sadbhav Samiti, Sampradayikta Virodhi Committee, Qaumi Ekta Trust, National Secular Forum, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, and Madhya Pradesh government's National integration Committee, for many years LS Herdenia has selflessly agitated against anti-minority violence and communalism, upheld secular values, and promoted communal harmony in India, but particularly in the state of Madhya Pradesh and authored books and articles and edits publications like Secular Democracy (English, Hindi & Urdu) and Socialist Secular Bharat'.

In the course of her brief speech accepting the award Sheema recited a poem. The inspiring words of the poem were.

I will not dance to your drums of war

I will not not, spin, break for you
I will not hate for you or hate you ever
I will not kill for you
Especially, I will not die for you
I will not side with you or dance to bombs

But I will dance
I will dance to resist
I will dance to persist
I will dance, dance for peace till it exists!

In my speech I lauded the importance of secularism for both Pakistan and India. Secularism is also the key to the solution of problems faced by South Asia. I recalled that Qaid-e-Azam Jinnah wanted to make Pakistan a secular country, I warned that history would not forgive those rulers of Pakistan, who betrayed Jinnah and did not fulfill the dreams of the founder of Pakistan to make Pakistan a secular country. I deplored that many people try to portray secularism as anti-religion. In India also, there are forces which malign secularism. In fact, secularism is the foundation of modern polity and can be the basis of friendly ties between the South Asian Countries.

The award giving ceremony was addressed by many well-known personalities of Karachi including internationally known Urdu poet Famida Riyaz who said that all extremism in the two countries was because of the so-called permanent enmity between India and Pakistan. The programme was also addressed by Dr. Mazhar Hussain and Pramod Sharma of India.

On Feb. 21, we were invited to interact with the PG students of International Affairs of the Karachi University. At the outset, we observed that the discipline is ruthlessly enforced in the Karachi University. After the Professor-in-charge had completed taking the attendance, a girl student tried to enter the classroom. But the teacher warmed her that she was late and should not enter. When my lecture was about to begin, another student from another class approached the teacher and requested him to disperse the class so that students can watch an ongoing cricket match in the university. The teacher first asked him how he dare enter the classroom without his permission and then point blank told him that class would continue.

After my brief speech, in which I stressed upon the importance of secularism, both for India and Pakistan, I told the student that secularism could be the solid basis for friendship between the two countries.

In my speech I touched upon various issues of international relations. After the speech I said that students were free to ask questions. A very smart girl asked, 'Why it is so that India is not reconciled to the existence of Pakistan?'

Replying, I said that this impression was baseless. Then I related an event from the life of Mahatma Gandhi. I said that it was a fact that Gandhiji was opposed to the partition of India. He used to say that partition would take place only over his dead body. But once Pakistan came into being, he reconciled to the emergence of Pakistan. And the proof of that was his demand that the Government India pay Rs. 55 crores, due to Pakistan from the Federal monetary reserve, immediately. The moment he realised that the government of India was not in a hurry to pay the dues to Pakistan, he started a fast-unto-death. After Gandhiji's fast, the payment was made. Many people did not like Gandhiji's stand on the issue. Among those who were angry over Gandhiji's pro-Pakistan stance was Nathuram Godse, who later killed the Mahatma. What can be a greater proof of India recognising Pakistan than this? In fact, we lost our greatest leader, whom we call the Father of the nation, because of his insistence on honest dealing with Pakistan. There were many other question relating to Indo-Pak ties, Kashmir and terrorism.

After the question-answer session, I told the audience that I wanted to make a special appeal. I told them that many years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King 'Junior', who was the leader of American Blacks, brought over four lakh blacks to Washington. While delivering his highly inspiring speech, he would repeat the words 'I have a dream'. I told the students, the majority of whom were girls, that I too want to share a dream with them. I told them that my dream was that we should form a confederation of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. This will enable us to save huge funds we spend on armies and tension on borders, which disturbs our developmental process and diverts our attention from problems like eradication of poverty, health care, education etc, would disappear. If we form a confederation, we will emerge as the mightiest power in the world. Then, I asked the students will they strive to make this dream of mine a reality. A loud applause ensued. This convinced me that whatever the Generals and the sabre-rattling politicians of both the countries might be saying, the future of the Indian sub-continent is bright.(IPA Service)