Why We Went on Wrong Side after 1947
Interview of 88 year Old writer from the Punjab
Published in the News on Sunday
Nomination of Liaqat Ali Khan as PM, Selection of Karachi as Capital, Malpractices in redistribution of evacuee property and introduction of tricky Objective Resolution diverted us and it proved fatal for democracy and the State. It is important to introduce pre-partition times to youngsters because they are heavenly infected by misleading narratives across the border. Supporters of Urdu played itself vital role in the downfall of the language. We had a strong Persu-Punjabi medium before annexation of the Punjab till 1849 yet after annexation colonial masters had imposed Urdu. Had we chose not to oppose progressives on the basis of Islam in early formative years, things would be different. It strengthen religious extremists in early days. it is genesis of a bad narrative and Shahid Hamid pinpointed it too. Read the interview
For the complete interview ClickHERE
I am proud of my Punjabi identity and love of Punjabi language and I know that we had a strong Perso-Punjabi past which was destroyed by the colonial rulers after the annexation of the Punjab in 1849....Imposition of Urdu in the Punjab was a conspiracy. When I started schooling, Punjabi was not an option in schools....Our teachers were very smart, so they often used Punjabi in classes informally and I recorded many things in my book too
I am proud of my Punjabi identity and love of Punjabi language and I know that we had a strong Perso-Punjabi past which was destroyed by the colonial rulers after the annexation of the Punjab in 1849....Imposition of Urdu in the Punjab was a conspiracy. When I started schooling, Punjabi was not an option in schools....Our teachers were very smart, so they often used Punjabi in classes informally and I recorded many things in my book too
Crime against democracy and Pakistan
The biggest failure of Liaquat Ali Khan was his incompetence or lack of interest in constitution-making. Indian politicians did it promptly and held elections too. But here the prime minister instead of making constitution imposed the tricky Objectives Resolution within six months of the death of the founder of the nation. It proved fatal for democracy and the country.
Two major Blunders of early days that ruined blessings of freedom in Pakistan
Selection of Karachi as the capital and malpractices regarding evacuee properties of Hindus and Sikhs were the two prime wrong decisions in early days. Mian Iftikharuddin had good vision regarding the distribution of evacuee property and settlement of muhajirs. But the feudals under the leadership of Liaquat Ali Khan opposed him and Mian Iftikharuddin had to voluntarily resign from his ministry only after three months of being in office in 1947.
Literature & Journalism
I worked in daily Afaaq in the early years of Pakistan. I introduced Intizar Husain but Sardar Fazli, a senior person in the editorial, refused to accommodate him. Later, the owner Mir Noor Ahmad agreed and Intizar started writing.
While working at Afaaq, Professor Sarwar used to identify personalities that I was to interview. He usually guided me in developing questions for the interview. One day, he told me to interview Manto and I did. I remember that Muzaffar Ali Syed did not like that interview.
Unfortunately, we are masters in destroying archival record. Once I needed that interview but failed to find the Afaaq file in any public library. Much of our history is recorded in newspapers like Imroz, Pakistan Times, Afaaq, Civil & Military Gazette etc. but we have no record of these newspapers in our public libraries, which is shameful.
Further readings
Extracts of autobiography
Review in TNS by Salim ur rahman
Published in Humshehri نامور مترجم کی سوانح حیات
The biggest failure of Liaquat Ali Khan was his incompetence or lack of interest in constitution-making. Indian politicians did it promptly and held elections too. But here the prime minister instead of making constitution imposed the tricky Objectives Resolution within six months of the death of the founder of the nation. It proved fatal for democracy and the country.
Two major Blunders of early days that ruined blessings of freedom in Pakistan
Selection of Karachi as the capital and malpractices regarding evacuee properties of Hindus and Sikhs were the two prime wrong decisions in early days. Mian Iftikharuddin had good vision regarding the distribution of evacuee property and settlement of muhajirs. But the feudals under the leadership of Liaquat Ali Khan opposed him and Mian Iftikharuddin had to voluntarily resign from his ministry only after three months of being in office in 1947.
Literature & Journalism
I worked in daily Afaaq in the early years of Pakistan. I introduced Intizar Husain but Sardar Fazli, a senior person in the editorial, refused to accommodate him. Later, the owner Mir Noor Ahmad agreed and Intizar started writing.
While working at Afaaq, Professor Sarwar used to identify personalities that I was to interview. He usually guided me in developing questions for the interview. One day, he told me to interview Manto and I did. I remember that Muzaffar Ali Syed did not like that interview.
Unfortunately, we are masters in destroying archival record. Once I needed that interview but failed to find the Afaaq file in any public library. Much of our history is recorded in newspapers like Imroz, Pakistan Times, Afaaq, Civil & Military Gazette etc. but we have no record of these newspapers in our public libraries, which is shameful.
Further readings
Extracts of autobiography
Review in TNS by Salim ur rahman
Published in Humshehri نامور مترجم کی سوانح حیات
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