Amazing article! However, I have a suggestion (or request actually).

The request is this – Please use citations to back your claims.

I think this is important for all of us especially in times like this so as to keep our discussions grounded in facts rather than on embellished narratives.

For example, though I do know (having read excerpts of his speeches) that Jinnah aimed for a secular state, a constitution which didn’t give special treatment to any religion, I did not know that he himself was an atheist. More important than Jinnah’s religious views (which are merely interesting), what you say about Gandhi being pro-partition is as far as I know contrary to the Indian narrative about Gandhi (at least the narrative I’ve heard. I’m sure there are plenty floating around). In such cases it would help immeasurably to have citations for it (help me as a reader trying to gain an understanding of the issue) though I will certainly search myself for more to read on these and other topics you have raised.

Another important point which bears discussion is “General Zia’s Islamisation policies”. The single most long lasting and terrifying of them being to bring subjective narratives of India, Pakistan and Islam into the textbooks of Pakistan. From what I’ve read of them (I couldn’t find the full textbook online) they are intentionally hate breeding, often misleading, and sometimes outright falsehoods. If we teach hate and distrust of our neighbors, we will suffer for it! The RSS might try and change Indian history textbooks as well, and we the people prevent hate and divisiveness entering into our educational curriculum.

Really great read. I hope we can gain peace and understanding with our neighbors and maybe even a common narrative. We are one people!