India & Pakistan: The Lighter Side…

Aug 15, 2010 

This piece is about India and Pakistan, without any religious angle attached. It is all about the two countries with a history entangled and its people – in lighter vain. On the 63rd Independence Day of Pakistan and India that falls on August 14th and 15th respectively, it is an analysis in forty-seven points to tally with both the countries Independence year of the twentieth-century, as to where we stand vis a vis our neighbours towards the west. If you feel a ting of bias in between, that would sound credible, but overall it is a general and a fair assessment (perhaps from an Indian viewpoint).







by Stephen P. D’Souza, Melbourne, Australia
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Comment on this article

  • Dominic, Mangalore/Dubai

    Tue, Aug 17 2010

    There are some people here who dont even like the idea of Pakistan being compared to India like this..In other words..they feel pakistan is much better..I dnt care what they feel..but Mr Stephen, u have compared it perfectly and this is where the two countries stand...Meanwhile i read this line again and again..If there is a Nuclear war, the country called Pakistan would be history..I dunno I just love reading that line...

  • M.Bhat, Sharjah

    Tue, Aug 17 2010

    Another one to list-Indian currency 500/- & 1000/- rupee notes were printed in Pakistan.

  • Sharan, Kalladka/Bahrain

    Mon, Aug 16 2010

    Missing comments from some regular commentators on this article!

  • KPNisha, Mangalore

    Mon, Aug 16 2010

    Dear Mr. Stephen Its no use to compare India with Pakistan, Can you compare us with a developed country ??? " You cant" you know why?? its just because of our political systems. Thats why we are called “blady Indians” in your Australia. Are we independent ?? I doubt .....

    But i appreciate for the time you have spent for this article.
    Have a nice day.

  • Don, Canada

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Well said Steve, good comparison.

  • anthony, mangalore

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    dear sir,stephen,
    please stop bragging about india.let the world talk about us!by the way what u are doing in australia?

  • Langoolacharya, Belman/USA

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Folks,

    Pakistan is truly a "Banana Republic", when Americans leave Afghanistan, Taliban will rule both countries and Sania Mirza will enjoy her total and absolute freedom....

    Now guys who think Pak is a better country to live, I advise you folks to migrate there and enjoy your freedom like Sania....

    Jai Hoooooo

  • Harish Poojari, Kadekar Udupi

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Dont go for sound sleep, be carefull, morning only you come to know.

  • Felix F.,, India/Ksa

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Allwyn D'Souza, Udyavara, Tunisia

    Indians & Pakistanis working abroad are not same as India & Pakistan. The best example of living in harmony is Saudi Arabia, where Indians & Pakistni`s live like members of one Nation.

    But Indians will not trust Pakistanis,not because they are bad, but because of their Governament. And Pakistan as a Govt want nothng less than to destroy India at any cost.

    I too, like you, was a staunch supporter of India/Pakistan friendship efforts & Aman Ki Asha. But ever since the news about Pakistani official agencies direct involvement in Mumbai 26/11, was made public, I wish India not to have any links with that country at all.
    You are saying Terrorism has been a major issue for Pakistan as well. But have you realised that these terrorists were trained for action against India?
    Due to unexplainable events somthing went wrong for Pakistan, & these terrorists instead of training their guns on India, are training their guns on Pakistan.

    Do you remember Vajpaye our PM, who made the first, Bus trip to Pakistn with a open heart & hand of friendship & love, what did they do in return to show their vengence against India, decapitated the Indian soldiers during Kargil war alive.

    Pakistani children are thought to hate India,& in my opinion though Indians & Pakistanis may live like the members of one Nation abroad, have inter marriages, etc but it will be long way before they could trust each other and have heart to heart brotherly relations.

  • Krish, Mangalore/ Miami

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Good one Steve....it is funny and insightful (if taken with a sense of humour, that is..)

    I have walked into Indian restaurants in some places (Miami/ Costa Rica)..complete with pictures of Taj Mahal and doe eyed women with bindi...only to find that the owners are Pakistani! Food was good..limited veggie options though. Some of them do not admit that they are Pakistani and try to pass themselves as Indians!!

    Another one to your list -

    Indians run Indian restaurants

    Pakistanis run 'Indian' restaurants too!

  • Stephen P. D'Souza, Kadri / Melbourne

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Hi – Thanks for all your messages. Though politics is one of my favourite subjects along with psychology, I do not normally venture to write one pertaining the former because of the animosity it creates – there are two sides to the same coin. These are just clichés which constitute the common Indian perceptions of ‘us’ and ‘them’ - a hilarious piece with no bitterness attached just to laugh it off on India’s 63rd Independence Day and nothing beyond as many readers have rightly pointed out. The noted Pakistani journalist Dr. Farrukh Saleem however would concurr with many of the points mentioned. The Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis have the same Y-chromosome haplogroup. We have the same genetic sequence and the same genetic marker (namely: M124). The Indians, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis have the same DNA molecule, the same DNA sequence. The culture, the traditions and the cuisine are more or less the same. Some of my good friends over the years have been Pakistanis and Bangladeshis and the photo published in this piece was taken by my Pakistani friend whom I took along to watch the India-Pakistan Cricket ODI in Abu Dhabi, UAE in the early half of 2006 [Courtesy for free tickets: UAE Exchange Centre (Mr. Sudhir Shetty)]. At the end of it all, we are neighbours and our solidarity is with them especially now during their hour of crisis with the worst ever floods displacing 20 million people. Happy Independence Day!

  • Stephen P. D'Souza, Kadri / Melbourne

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    CORRECTIONS:
    There have been a few overlaps in this piece when published. Bullet point No. 17 “There is a transparency between the political leadership …. has doubled and should be ignored. Bullet point No. 23 on the Indian column has not come out in full and should read as: “There is a queue to seal a civil nuclear deal with India. Canada became the eighth country on June 28, 2010 and talks with Japan are on fast track after countries such as US, France, Russia has had civil nuclear pacts.” and the same bullet point on the Pakistani column should read – “It has been vociferously asking for a similar status as granted to India but nobody wants to trust it in the first place, let alone sign a civil nuclear deal.” Bullet point No. 35 is missing (before the bullet point - We are blessed with fast bowlers …) which should fill in as - Indian Column - “In Cricket, we have Mahendra Singh Dhoni who is level headed and leads from the front” and Pakistani Column – “For them, captaincy is an ‘annual event’ that rotates like ‘musical chairs.”

  • aboobaker uppala, uppala/Holy Makkah

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    THIS COMPARISON CHART IS A NON-SENSE.90% OF THE COMPARED SUBJECTS ARE VERY CHEAP AND HARDLY SUITABLE FOR THE SCHOOL CHILDREN.WAKE UP AND BE GENTLE.SUCH PRACTICE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR GENTLEMAN.DONT FORGET THAT WE ARE A SUPER POWER AND WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING US.BE UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS.

  • Daryl, Dubai/Goa

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Stephen,for your kind information ex pakistan presidnt Musharaff was born in Delhi and nuclear scientest Abdul Khan was born in Bhopal

  • Harish Poojari, Kadekar Udupi

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Pakisthanilog khabhi nahi Sudarega
    We are wating our time.only tuff stann only work, it is not possibble present Govt.

  • Allwyn D'Souza, Udyavara, Tunisia

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Can we please stop this nonsense?
    Ask any Indian or Pakistani working abroad whether they have any grudge against each other? Both nationalities live in perfect harmony with each other in a brotherly manner. This hate between us has been started by politicians to gain political mileage. If there are no issues with India and Pakistan, most politicians will have nothing to speak about. Ask a common man in India who is not communally motivated whether he has any problems with the Pakistani people.
    It's only a few groups of people from both sides who do not want peace for their own personal benefits, are spitting venom on each other. If there is a war, no one wins. Everyone involved in a war looses. This is a fact. A short term war like Kargil, had a devastating impact on India. Terrorism has been a major issue for Pakistan as well. Just look at the number of lives that are being lost there frequently due to terrorism. You think that anyone will be happy to loose their near and dear ones? We have to stop this hatred and work towards bridging the gap. It needs a lot of patience and sacrifice, but , it has to be done to make our future generations happier. Otherwise there will be no future generation.

  • Felix F.,, India/Ksa

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    One important point missed in the above as said by a non Indian.

    "Even when there is a small fire cracker burst in India, it is blamed on Pakistan."

  • Bala Boopathi Pervaje, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Arun,Great comment. Yes, article may not go well with ON BEHALF of Pakistan. However, writer has requested from the start that article spirit to be taken in the lighter side. Dappa Mandegallu. Just relax chums on our Independence day and not yesterday !!

  • Mohan Raghupathy Pandey, Puttur

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    KT, Mangalore, All to be taken in a lighter vein. That is how this article began.

  • Arun, Udupi

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    There is no surprise if a Fatwa issued against the writer in Pakistan and in India ..(Inlighter side!!)

  • Anand, Karkala/Dubai

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    @ Daryl,
    It is 100% sure and India Pakistan relation is brotherly in nature. The people of Pakistan also are like Indians, we are staying together in a flat here and they are very good.

  • KT, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    These topics are part of the discussion of uneducated people. some wording mentioned like shoab malik issue, doctors issue its not fair.

  • Antony T. D' Souza, Karkala / Qatar

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Felix F.,, India/Ksa, Joke of the day. Retired Pakistani diplomat’s comparisons were with other Muslim countries. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Libya… may have the last laugh. Hence, Stephen's hilarious master piece still at the top - weightier vein.

  • Antony T. D' Souza, Karkala / Qatar

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Hey Stephen P. D’Souza, Melbourne, comparison is flawlessly placed although comparison had no role to play there. If they read it, lighter vein might turn in to an abrasive vein. The last but one column about doctors is just to laugh with. Best of luck. Next time should an opportunity arises must compare with our other strong neighbor and there also your comparisons will impeccably prevail. Happy Independence Day Stevie.

  • Daryl,

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    India and Pakistan was divided based on religion, these were the same people who fought for independence from the British and then started fighting against each other. I want to tell Stephen that the mental attitude of peoples of both nations is the same, its not about who wins and who can wipe out whom, its time now to heal the wounds of partition, the people of Indo/Pak should look to live in peace and coperation, beleive me stephen this is only way out and there should be brotherly relations between 2 countries

  • Anand, Karkala/Dubai

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Very good collection of points. We are getting rousing interest while going through point by point. 75% reality is also one of the points.

  • Lavin Noronha, Paladka/Bahrain

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Well said Stephen P. D’Souza, Melbourne, Australia. I really laughed out my heart. good one keep it up.

  • Felix F.,, India/Ksa

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Dear Stephen,
    The following excerts from Ambassador Tariq Osman Hyder, a retired Pakistani diplomat about Pakistan on Pakistan Indipendence day tells a different story.

    1.Pakistan: A role model for a progressive Muslim state.

    2.Its armed forces are among the largest and most capable and it is the only Muslim country that has for self-defense developed a nuclear strategic capability.

    3.A strong and vibrant democratic system that gives voice to different political parties across the spectrum, a strong and independent judiciary and a very active and large media, provides a good model for a progressive Muslim state in the modern world

    4.The Muslims wanted a country in which they could live their lives in accordance with their religious and cultural traditions and prosper economically which otherwise would not have been possible under the majority Hindu community when the British left.

    5.Despite lack of hydrocarbon resources available to other brotherly countries, Pakistan has one of the most diverse and strong economic bases in the Muslim world.

    6.Pakistan provided training to the armed forces of nearly all-Muslim countries and continues to do so, extending this now to close cooperation in the global campaign against terrorism and extremism that afflicts the modern world.

    Now tell us, the Lighter side from whom to whom.????

  • seby, Goa

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Hey guys where did you get the time to lay down all the profile. Man it's great job done and also witty. Thank you sir.and thank you Dai.J W.

  • Hemanth, Mangalore / Dubai

    Sun, Aug 15 2010

    Steve.....well said...


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