Insidious effects of the Cultural Cold War

Excerpts of how the philosophy of hatred within masses can damage attempts at peace.

1. Hotel Mohenjo - daro, a Pakistani play has been cancelled in India.
2. January 14th, MNS activistsbarged into a studio where a Pakistani comedian was recording for a TV show.
3. Book stores in Mumbai have had to pull out Pakistani writers works dreading MNS activism and arson.
4. 10 - 15 major shows by Pakistani musicians have been cancelled.

This kind of low grade people to people conflicy can be more corrosive than all out ways.. Insiya Amir, Correspondent.

Culture plays a big part in helping overturn stereotypes asnd providing alternatives to official narratives. When you muffle these voices, you are increasingly left with governments pointing figers at each other, which only increases jingoistic attitudes .. Pakistani writer, Kamila Shamsie

Cultural excahnges build bridges which no amount of politics can achieve. Artists need to travel, they need to introduce their world to new worlds... Fahid Hamid Ali, Pakistani Painter.

People to people conflict, can hieghten tensions as each person will feel targeted individually, leading to more hostility and unreceptivness... Mehr Hussain, Freelance Journalist

It was 2004, when the Indian cricket team went to the friendship cricket series in Pakistan. To me, that series did more good to India - Pakistan than a decade of bus diplomacies! Pakis and Indis are same people from the same cultural seed. We appreciate sufi, Begum Abida Parveen, Ghulam Ali and Junoon as much as they love Amitabh Bachchan, SRK and Indian movies. By erecting embargoes arround cultural exchanges, governments are killing the little ray of hope that we may harbour, one that we call culture.

Fighting the enemy within

According a ToI survey, 26% of Indians believe that a war on Pakistan is the way to be for India. Bal Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief had also spoken about "iron to attack Pakistan". Most of us today have a face to our enemy or at least a geography to our enemy. It is Pakistan. It is Al qaeda, Lashkar e Toiba, Zardari, Geelani, Kiyani and others in the Pakistani leadership. I truly believe that this is misplaced Jingoism.

That there is threat to our nation is a gospel truth. However, is it just Pakistan and a bunch of religious islamic bigots? A bunch of gunmen blinded by religious zeal, will never threaten history. A nation's history is made by its economic, social and cultural developments and conquests. In this respect, there are those within India, who we call elected leaders of the masses who have greater impact on the way this nation proceeds in future. Amongst this group, there are few who have an agenda and lead on that basis. Unfortunately there are more who have no agenda and lead on the basis of caste, community or simply corruption. The Mayawatis, Amar Singhs, Shibu Sorens, Raj Thackerays and A R Antulays of the world have more profound impact on the nation than terrorists. It sometimes occurs to me that Sheila Dixits win at the Delhi elections was a true and significant one in terms of economic developmental projects winning over divisive vote bank politics. These internal demons are the more difficult ones to fight and win against!

As far as Pakistan is concerned, i believe that the diplomatic offensive launched by India is the best strike. By alienating and isolating Pakistan, India would and could resolve the issue is a far better manner than an all out aggressive incursion into enemy territory. Already, Barrack Obama has sounded of his views on "aid" to Pakistan against results! Economic sanctions and trade restrictions are far more advanced weapons of war than we think them to be.