The ban imposed on the screening of Indian films in the ’60s was not just a political decision; it had historical reasons, too
(Faith lost is not conveniently revived. A confidence betrayed is hardly restored. A withered love never blossoms again — A Sufi saying).
EFFORTS to revive seceded entities, whether animated or unanimated, are often shrouded in probabilities. The scope of the subject matter is vast. From efforts for revival of estranged relationship between a married couple, young lovers, shattered faith, disillusionment to social, ethnic, cultural, and religious interpretations and to the political alienation, the subject encompasses within its fold probabilities of revival of long forgotten traditions and customs, broken traits of trade, commerce, economic, and industrial relationships between two countries. We thus can’t place the topic in its entirety under magnifying glass for examining it in one sitting. We would examine the subject gradually at some other time. Presently, let us look at the feasibility of the recent demand of the filmmakers from Lahore for film trade between India and Pakistan, and screening of Indian movies in our cinema houses. On their demand, 40 years ago Indian films were banned in Pakistan.
The demand for release of Indian films in Pakistan is not only sensible, it is definitely commendable. Though late, and almost time barred, sanity has finally prevailed on our filmmakers. The estranged neighbours do not sleep peacefully. How long can one live in combat posture? Warhorses do not plough your fields. No country can eliminate poverty and ignorance with the weapons of mass destruction.
Before we examine the subject, ‘Probable revival of cinema culture in Pakistan’, a word of caution is essential for my young readers. The neighbouring zamindars (agricultural land owners) have fought gruelling tribal battles over an inch of land that goes into other person’s possession. So is true among the city developers. Throughout the history of mankind people have fought for safeguarding their territories and for regaining the territories lost. Without comprehending the core reason for the estranged relations between India and Pakistan, you will not be able to understand the prevalent turbulence in the subcontinent.
When the Muslims conquered India about six hundred years ago, it was a huge country spread between Kashmir and the Bay of Bengal. It was predominantly a Hindu land, and was ruled over by rajas and maharajas. Their sacred books Geeta, Ramain, Mahabharat, Ved and Pran cover a period of amazing epochs stretching over thousands of years in the history of mankind. Hindustan was an ancient country shrouded in mystery. It had caught the attention of the nations and countries all over the globe.
From Babar to Bahadur Shah Zafar, the Mughals ruled over India for about two hundred years. Their entire period was beset with internal tribulation and unrest. Rajput Ranas and Marathas gave perpetual tough time to Muslim rulers. Shevaji engaged Aurangzeb in guerrilla warfare for 20 years that ultimately resulted in the downfall of the longest ruling monarch among Muslim rulers of India. Each moment of his 56-year rule, Aurangzeb spent in family feuds against his ailing father Shahjehan, and three brothers Dara, Murad, and Shujah whom he killed, and fighting against the insurgents scattered all over India.
With the demise of Aurangzeb in 1707 AD, the Mughal rule over India disintegrated. It provided appropriate opportunity to the British to tighten the noose around Indian rulers. Hitherto, the British under the garb of merchants and traders had trapped rulers of India in the worst kind of indebtedness, mortgages and devouring financial swamps. They grabbed the enormous country. The British subjugated Sindh, an independent state in 1843 AD, and having it annexed to India firmly consolidated hold over the subcontinent.
The British brought modern science and technology to India. Within a short rule extended over less than two hundred years they constructed canals, barrages, and gave India an excellent irrigation and drainage system, and converted India into a leading agricultural country in the world. They brought modern modes of communication to India too. They spread network of roads and railway tracks, telephone and electricity throughout the country. They built schools, colleges and universities. They evolved uniform judicial system and gave the country civil and criminal procedure codes, the two countries India and Pakistan adopted after independence with minor changes.
People who yearn for freedom and ouster of alien rulers from their country do not feel pacified with weighty reforms. The people of India gave the British a tough time. Muslim politicians of the country realized that the Second World War had sapped out the myth of invincibility from the British, and that they had no option but to grant independence to India and leave honourably. They realized if India gained independence as one country, Hindu majority would wield the wand of authority. They apprehended backlash for the 300-year Muslim rule over India. In order to save the Muslims from possible persecution, they demanded of the British the partition of India, carving out a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent. Our forefathers succeeded in achieving a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent. India, the motherland to the Hindus was partitioned. The Hindus could not reconcile to the fact that one-fifth of India was going to the Muslims. Thus commenced the hostilities between India and Pakistan on one pretext or other.
What has gone into the preceding paragraphs is prelude to our study of probabilities of revival of cinema culture in Pakistan, next week.
