The emasculating effect of ahimsa (Part 2)

If Gandhi had resisted Jinnah’s call for the partitioning of India, even if it meant plunging the country into civil war, who knows, India may not have got divided, Pakistan may not have got created. Another great leader of a great nation across the Atlantic, who was no less non-violent in approach and temperament, was faced with the same dilemma centuries ago. But, he chose civil war to the partitioning of his country. If Abraham Lincoln, idealistic though he was, would have allowed himself to be unnerved by the prospect of large-scale loss of life, today there would have been two countries, viz. the United States of America and the Confederate States of America.

Gandhi made a creed of ahimsa. And, like any other creed it could never be called into question. This was not lost on Jinnah and the new state of Pakistan. The emerging establishment had cleverly gauged India’s weakness. Is it any wonder then that a much smaller and less militarily powerful country like Pakistan has dared to wage war against India, not once but four times? Is it any wonder that Pakistan has blatantly supported secessionist movements in India and trained, equipped and infiltrated terrorists into this country?

Baniyaon ka mulk hai! Woh hamara kya ukhad lenge? So what if our tactics did not work in Punjab? So what if we were unable to midwife the birth of Khalistan and avenge Bangladesh? We can merrily continue to meddle in Kashmir. We can claim non-state actors did it, when brainwashed madmen bred on jehadi ideology, but trained by us, are unleashed with AF-47s in hand into the commercial capital of India, to kill as many innocents as they can. Of course we can… and get away with it. We can attack the very Parliament of India, the symbol of Indian nationhood. And, get away with it. Woh hamara kya ukhad lenge? Aakhir, banyaon ka mulk jo hai!

*** to be continued