Twenty-one years after the fall of the Berlin wall, when the earliest sensation and the immediate aftermath is over, historians are in a position to assess and analyse the event and its impact on different parts of the world. I shall try to look at the significance of the event from a South Asian angle. The first impression was that the fall of the wall united divided Germany by peaceful means. The Wall divided both Germanys on the basis of ideology. In other examples, such as Vietnam, the unification was completed after bloody wars. The two Koreas are still divided. Therefore, a peaceful unification was the most significant aspect of it.
In the case of India and Pakistan, people remember the Partition of the subcontinent and communal riots in which thousands of people died on both sides. The most painful aspect was the plight of the families who were separated as a result of the bloody affair. Though the Partition did not construct a concrete wall but there is an ideological wall between India and Pakistan which has become a great obstacle to having friendly and close relations. The fall of the Berlin wall not only united both Germanys but also ended the question of divided families.
Just after the partition, there were no restrictions for people to visit either India or Pakistan. Neither passport nor visa was required to cross the border. One could stay as long as one wanted. I remember that Indian newspapers, magazines and books were easily available in Pakistan. Indian movies were popular and screened at all cinemas. There were regular music concerts and gatherings of poets on both sides. Everything changed in 1965 as a result of the war. There was complete boycott of all kinds of relationship. No one was allowed to visit each others country. Divided families lost all contact. An invisible wall was erected to separate the citizens of both countries.
Keeping this in mind, people asked two questions: Is it possible to end partition and unite the two countries? If not, are there other alternatives to bring the people of these two hostile nations closer? Of course, there are some people, though in minority, who believe that the Partition was unjust and it should be reversed. However, the idea is not popular. Moreover, after 62 years both countries drifted away from each other. Differences became more pronounced and the possibility to unite appears impossible. Therefore, intellectuals, social activists, and political workers adopted another alternative to bring the two countries closer: by mobilising people on the basis of cultural and social affinity and create an atmosphere of harmony and peace. This project was undertaken by a Forum known as People to Peoples Dialogue. In 1991, for the first time, 100 Pakistani writers, artists, musicians, singers, and social and political workers visited India on a peace mission. I have personal experience of the visit. It was sensational because for the first time such efforts were taken by the people. The Indian counterpart welcomed the mission and it was widely publicised in the media.
It had a great impact in every aspect of life. Gulzar, the famous filmmaker, screened a moving film on the effects of Partition. Allok Bhallah translated Urdu short stories written on Partition to English. Poets of both sides remembered the pre-partition days of communal harmony. When the Indian peace mission visited Pakistan, it was welcomed and many resolutions were passed to advocate easing visa system and allowing intellectuals to contact each other freely .The peace activities continued throughout the 90s.The result was that the establishment of both countries was compelled to grant visas generously and allow people to visit and meet each other. These activities reached the peak when the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpaee visited Pakistan by bus and expressed his desire to have good and friendly relations with Pakistan. Sadly, at this point occurred the Kargil episode and it ended all the efforts for peace. Both countries reverted back to the same vicious circle.
Besides this, there is also a political impact of the fall of the Berlin wall if not directly but indirectly. The right-wing political parties interpreted it as the failure of communism and a sigh of freedom from a repressive system. Those who adhered to a leftist ideology were demoralized and depressed. The result was that both in Pakistan as well as in India religious extremism emerged with full force and vitality. In India, BJP won popular elections and formed the government. In Pakistan, the democratic system was short-lived but both the governments of Benazir and Nawaz Sharif maintained the Islamisation of Ziaul Haq despite their short tenures. Nawaz Sharif declared himself as the heir of Zia and promised to complete his mission. He added the death penalty to the blasphemy law and 10 years rigorous punishment to those who violate the so-called Pakistan Ideology.
The retreat of the Russian forces from Afghanistan and the rule of Taliban strengthened religious extremism in Pakistan. It was propagated that after the failure of communism, the only alternative is an Islamic system. These religious extremist groups flourished in democratic governments as well as military dictatorships. These groups were anti-West and wanted to purify Pakistani culture from pollution. Leftist parties and groups became so weak as a result of successive restrictions that they could not challenge the growing wave of extremism which tightly gripped society. What is going on at present is the result of a global political change after the fall of the Berlin wall.
Another result of the collapse of Soviet Union was the increasing influence of USA in this region. The economic policy of India changed the Nehruvian vision and the emerging bourgeoisie was more interested to have close relations with USA rather than keep old contact with Russia. In Pakistan, the political situation of Afghanistan and threat of Al-Qaida and Taliban allowed American to interfare. Pakistan aligned as an ally to America to fight the war against terrorism.
The writer is one of the pioneers of alternative history in the country.
