Destiny's children: India and Pak united in divide

LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR: Panelists on State of the Nation debate and discuss India and Pak's shared past and future.

                    

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Shekhar Gupta said Indo-Pak bonhomie should not be “pushed or forced” and that both nations needed to go with the flow. “The compulsions of a global market place is catching up with India and Pakistan and the legacy of the past is passé,” he said.

Cinema

Who is Pakistan’s favourite Indian film actor? Sharing the second position were Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan at 12 per cent each, and the first position was bagged by, predictably, Shah Rukh Khan at 38 per cent.

Who is Pak’s favourite Hindi film actress? At joint second position were Madhuri Dikshit and Rani Mukherji (12 per cent). Aishwarya Rai was the no. 1 with 28 per cent votes.

Aamir explained the phenomenon by saying that it was all about the quality of entertainment, and not so much about the country. Rajdeep pointed out how he had once seen a poster in a Lahore stadium declaring, “Madhuri de do, Kashmir le lo (Give us Madhuri, take Kashmir)”. The comment was received with a roaring laughter by the panelists and audience.

However, Rahman did not seem bemused. She opined that the boys discourse was dominating the discussion and how the survey looked at the Indo-Pak ties. “The rest of the world has moved o n. It speaks a new language of common markets, multi-polarity. Trade is a huge mover and we can work that out if states and people put their weight behind it,” she said.

Lalu Prasad agreed with the opinion. “First it was just Samjhauta Express, now it’s Thar Express too,” he said.

The next question asked on the show pertainedt o economic and political conditions: who feels satisfied with the present economic conditions? In India 71 per cent said yes they feel satisfied with the present economic conditions and in Pakistan 66 per cent of the people said that they are happy with the present economy.

When it comes to economic conditions, 64 per cent in India said yes they have improved and only 52 per cent people in Pakistan said they have improved. Optimistic about the future – 77 per cent from India said yes they are optimistic about the country’s future while 63 per cent of people from Pakistan said they are optimistic. Basic necessities available – 61 per cent in India said yes they are satisfied with the basic needs provided, but in Pakistan only 46 per cent had the similar response.

The next question asked in the survey: do you feel that you are politically empowered and enjoy equal rights? 75 per cent in India said yes they do enjoy equal rights but only 45 per cent in Pakistan said they are politically empowered.

On freedom of speech, 74 per cent in India said yes they enjoy freedom of speech and in Pakistan only 40 per cent people responded to the question. When asked whether you can change the government – 80 per cent of Indians said yes they can and only 41 per cent of Pakistanis said they can change the government.

Is democracy the critical difference at the moment? Majority in India feel they can change the government but not the Pakistanis.

Answering the question Yogendra said, “Yes, if I was in Pakistan I wouldn’t say I can change the government right now so in that sense yes it is a differentiator. It also differentiates in economic figures. This happens to be a moment when there is a general sense of low in Pakistan. It’s not necessarily a reflection on Pakistan’s economy. There is no differentiation in aspiration, while the reality may be different in Pakistan and India. The level of aspiration is the same in India and Pakistan.”

The young Indians and young Pakistanis both want democracy. Pakistan had 60 years of Independence but 30 years of army rule and 30 years of civilian rule.