Daily Times

The war rhetoric between the two quarrelling neighbours has exacerbated quite a bit. The war of words is on as usual from both sides, and as long as it is only limited to words, one can painfully yet somehow deal with it. Sadly, that’s not the case any more. As a prime minister (PM) hopeful of India, Mr Modi flaunted his ‘56-inch chest’ as a sign of valour and strength. Now, as the prime minister, he has perhaps realised that sometimes those campaign speeches can become a liability once you reach the actual office.

Prime Minister Modi issued a stern statement indicating that blood and water cannot flow together. This, of course, raised many questions about the treaty allowing the water flowing from India that reach Pakistan. The frenzy caused by media on both sides due to this statement, and the hacks on both sides parsing each word and its potential implications was rather unnecessary. Any reasonable person can deduce that it would not be to India’s advantage to resort to such actions as it would result in bad reports in media towards its otherwise shining image in front of the world.

People on both sides with their sharp tongues are firing verbal torpedoes. The narrative is so old, stale and antiquated that it is not surprising why the rest of the world wants to leave these two ‘maniacs’ alone. Both sides act in quite a juvenile manner, and often remind you of schoolchildren involved in a brawl at recess.

The ‘ultra-patriots’ on both sides try to outdo one another with a new one every second day. Some Mumbai-based organisation with its roots in Bal Thackeray’s organisation issued an ultimatum to Pakistani artists and vocalists to leave India within 48 hours. This was the modern day ‘Quit India Movement’ initiated by the saffron-clad patriots. Their premise of their argument was that these Pakistani artists take Indian revenue back home, and those funds are used against India. Hmm, this is an absurd stretch for an argument’s sake.

Firstly, someone ought to remind such bright minds that in a sense an actor or a singer is a product that sells as there is a demand all over the world along with India for such a product. People want to see or hear from that product, and are willing to lighten their wallets for such a product. Therefore, Indian producers and music companies benefit tremendously from that product and generate decent and ongoing revenue for India, which, of course, benefits the Indian economy. Not to mention that these people were approached by Bollywood in the first place. The equally jaded patriots on this side settle their scores with those people by criticising them for defecting to the enemy territory to ‘beg’ for work.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has issued reminders to TV channels to limit their ‘foreign’ (read: Indian) content. The rumor of placing a ban on Indian movies was also afloat on social media.

Both of these juvenile neighbours are still stuck in the time capsule of the 1960s where such bans were possible as the state had monopoly over dispensation of information. Today, the world has literally been condensed in the palm of everyone’s hand, and people cannot be fooled by jingoistic mantras. It is due to widely available information that people can challenge, and/or question the narratives spun by their respective governments.

Films or music recreate and channel human emotions. No wonder, there is such a popular demand for art. It resonates well with a common citizen. No matter how much each side may try to curb the talent of the other, it will find its way because it is unstoppable in this day and age. The days of barriers are bans are done.

If you recall, the inhabitants of both Pakistan and India claim that the subcontinent is the land of Sufis, sadhus and saints. These people transformed the Indian subcontinent with the purity of their souls, and spread nothing but love, peace and devotion. Hate mongers and ultra-patriots ought to delve into some of the gems of these great souls to seek some inspiration and purification.

The need of the hour is more and more collaboration of both sides when it comes to showcasing our mutual and shared heritage. Poetry, art, songs, dramas and movies evoke that thought, that question within us. No matter how much we deny and no matter how much we defy but it brings this reality back to us in a full circle. We are the product of the same soil, perhaps separated by force, yet cognizant of our undeniable common existence. The world has truly become a stage and people with a remarkable talent on both sides cannot be separated or banned at any cost.

The writer is a Pakistani-US mortgage banker. He can be reached at dasghar@aol.com. He tweets at http://twitter.com/dasghar