God across the Border! Religious dynamics of the Subcontinent

Since August 1947, Pakistan and India have had a tumultuous relationship. Endeavours to form a mutually beneficial bond have never been reciprocated. Both of the countries are deeply affected by border disputes and perhaps another reason behind the ongoing hostility are the countries nationalists. Due to this, the inheritance of severance transforms the devotion of peaceniks into superficial action. But peaceniks are barking up the wrong tree because both sides have Gods across the border!

“The government has received a proposal to open Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims. A ticket will be required to visit the Gurdwara” said Fawad Chaudhary, Information minister of Pakistan. The Kartarpur gurdwara is built on the site where Guru Nanak died, it is situated in the Narowal region of Pakistan close to the Indian border.

General Qamar Javed Bajwa was receptive to the idea of opening the Kartarpur passage on the event of Baba Guru Nanak’s birth commemoration one year from now for Sikh pilgrims. He was influenced by the cricketer-turned-government official Navjot Singh Sidhu who visited Pakistan for Imran Khan’s oath ceremony.

In this day and age, the world sees Gods and Saints from behind glass windows. The subcontinent has produced a rich crop of thaumaturgy because of the mysticism inhabiting the land. Unfortunately, the myopic approach of polarised countries might discourage the Sikhs from coming to Pakistan to pay homage to their saints.

(Navjot Singh Sidhu praying for uninterrupted access to Gurdwara Nanak Sahib at Indo-Pak border Kartarpur India)

The world clamours to promote inclusivity and peace, a united war against tolerance is being waged. Security concerns because of regional disputes which are marked by armed clashes are significant hindrances in transnational collaborations. Therefore, in a highly interdependent world, global peace policies should not just be self-centered, but should aim to be beneficial for all

Sikhism is turning into a politicised religion. It isn’t just a religion but also an ethnic identity.

Since the start Sikhs have had to fight a battle for autonomy. They have had to struggle even in India as an abused minority. Their battle for freedom achieved its apex in 1980, and finished in the massacre at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab. The Indian army killed a lot of ordinary Sikhs in the name of stopping separatists.

The dialogue started between the head of the armed forces and a former cricketer-turned-politician, presents a positive picture. This move can help in bridging the gap from kilometers to inches for Sikhs. A separation of only 3 km isolates Dera Baba Nanak Kartarpur from the shrine in Pakistan. The last 2 km compromise of the International Border between India and Pakistan. On the off chance that a shrine is built, it will take 20 minutes to come to the gurdwara from Dera Baba Nanak. At present, Sikhs have to access the site from Lahore, which takes almost 4 hours. This news was met with approval by Sikhs from all around the world.

In pre-urban social orders on the planet, there was no commercial center of beliefs as it exists today. The term religion was not separate from different parts of social life. As bigger and more mind-boggling civic establishments developed the world over, social order was used to stratify and permit the rise of a consecrated class and a state religion. Therefore, last Thursday’s surprising but joyful event in which LGBT community was decriminalised, imbues one with hope for a brighter future. Gender issues have had a contentious relationship with religion all over the globe, but this step towards the future highlights acceptance and tolerance from different segments of the society. Thus, Pakistan should also exhibit and try to empower minorities such as the Sikhs and allow them passage to their holy sites. Transnational diplomacy is a fundamental part and persisting element in global relations. This move can help Pakistan endear itself to the international community as well and will also encourage a positive connection between the states.

The world clamours to promote inclusivity and peace, a united war against tolerance is being waged. Security concerns because of regional disputes which are marked by armed clashes are significant hindrances in transnational collaborations. Therefore, in a highly interdependent world, global peace policies should not just be self-centered, but should aim to be beneficial for all.

Ahad is a freelance writer. He can be reached at ahad.gillani33@gmail.com

Published in Daily Times, September 15^th 2018.