Faizah Gilani
The historic Kartarpur Corridor (KC) to one of Sikhism’s holiest shrines is an achievement that Pakistan should celebrate. Built in record time for Guru Nanak’s 550th birthday, KC is a fulfilment of a long-standing wish of the Sikh community. Indian Sikh pilgrims were also allowed visa free entry in an unprecedented move. In order to understand Sikh sentiments, all we need to do is take on board Prime Minister Imran Khan’s comparison: Kartarpur is for Sikhs what Medina is for Muslims.
Sikhs from all over the world made their way to Kartarpur in religious devotion. Many of the Sikh pilgrims were visiting Pakistan for the first time and although they felt excitement, many of them felt apprehensive.
This was well documented by BBC Urdu, when it interviewed a Kulvir Kaur from the United Kingdom. The female pilgrim spoke of how many people voiced concern over her travel to Pakistan, citing perceived violence as the root cause. It was the teachings of Guru Nanak and the place he spent worshipping that pulled her towards Pakistan. Kaur said that upon reaching Kartarpur, she did not feel any anxiety whatsoever. Instead, she received a lot of love, and was surprised at how things were very different to what was being projected in the news abroad. She then spoke very fondly of her visit and showed a keen interest in shopping in Pakistan.
This a momentous example of how misconceptions are erased and barriers are broken. The power of people-to-people contact should never be underestimated. And there is no doubt that Pakistan is a hospitable nation. Unfortunately, bad press internationally has deeply affected how the country has been perceived. But KC is helping Pakistan shake off its negative image and showcase its kind and welcoming side to the rest of the world.
Kartarpur also attracted big names, including former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, actor Sunny Deol, and the much-loved cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu. Unsurprisingly, Sidhu, an old friend of Prime Minister Khan, stole the show with his unique style of expressing himself through poetry and by playing with words. But the excitement and passion in Sidhu’s words also reflected the yearning, the longing that many Sikhs felt about Visiting Kartrapur. It would not be wrong to say that Sidhu came to Pakistan as an ambassador of the Sikh community.
Contrary to the dreary image projected, the average Pakistani is a simple individual, big-hearted when it comes to hospitality. This was evident in a short interview conducted by Indian journalist Ravinder Singh Robin of the shuttle services driver, Saddam Hassan. The driver told Mr Singh how he was feeling ecstatic over the opening of KC, as if he was going on Hajj. Mr Hassan told Ravinder Singh that he hoped and prayed to see Mr. Singh and other Sikh guests visit Pakistan frequently, and that Pakistan’s arms would always be open for them.
The small interview went viral on social media sites and has been widely shared and appreciated by people all over the world, including many people from India. The warmth and sincerity that could be felt in Hassan’s words reflect the true spirit of interfaith harmony.
Although the KC proceedings were conducted smoothly, it did not stop some politicians from India to use Kartarpur for political gains. Some politicians have said that Pakistan is using Kartarpur to divide Indian Sikhs from the country, while others have said that the agenda behind Kartarpur is to back the Khalistan movement. This is hardly surprising, given the current relations between India and Pakistan.
The government of India was not exactly pleased with the opening of KC and was not as flexible and forthcoming as Pakistan. Although India managed to reach an agreement with Pakistan over Kartarpur, it is no secret that Modi Sarkar was not enthusiastic about the developments. Naturally, Kartarpur does not fit well in India’s anti-Pakistan narrative. Even certain factions of India’s growing right wing media hinted towards an ulterior motive for Pakistan.
Indian conspiracy theorists masquerading as politicians/journalists need to understand that if by opening the KC, India’s Punjab will break, perhaps the problem lies at home and not in Pakistan. India clearly has internal issues that it needs to address, but political point scoring and expedience dictates that Pakistan be lamented for even the most positive developments.
We should also appreciate how Pakistan has done the right thing by separating Kartarpur from politics, and for not using Sikhs as a scapegoat for the issue of Kashmir. It would have been a cruel thing to do and a petty stance to take. Witnessing Pakistan take the high moral ground has in a way, shown up India. However, political mudslinging is not merely the national sport of India.
It has been disappointing to see Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), criticise the opening of Kartrapur and connecting it with India and the ongoing issue of Kashmir. One would not expect such a party that boasts of being progressive. Watching Bilawal take such a paltry stand really undermines everything his party claims to be upholding.
Credit should also be given where it is due: the government of Pakistan, and the Prime Minister in particular, have played their part in promoting interfaith harmony. A powerful image of Imran Khan addressing Sikh pilgrims in Kartarpur with his head covered and prayer beads in his hand was widely circulated and appreciated.
There is a stark contrast in the directions Pakistan and India and headed in. Pakistani society may not have a bright and shining track record on the treatment of its religious minorities, initiatives like the KC stand for the positive effort that it is taking towards building bridges with other faiths. On the other hand India that boasts of being a secular state, but mounting evidence points towards the contrary, with minorities and non-Hindus increasingly suppressed.
Modi’s government has done little to help promote religious tolerance and promote good interfaith relations. Instead, the government relied on stoking fear and creating further divisions. Modi’s government has eroded the basic fabric of secular India, by pushing forward its Hindutva ideology, and normalising hate.
One also cannot forget that the opening ceremony of KC coincided with the Ayodhya verdict in India. The day Pakistan opened its arms for Sikh pilgrims from around the world was the same day India’s Supreme Court gave its verdict in favour of building a Hindu temple in the exact place where Babri mosque had been demolished back in 1992 by a violent Hindu mob. The contrast could not be any clearer. On one hand we have a state that has often found itself grappling with religious extremism, trying to shake off that image, welcoming Sikhs for their pilgrimage. On the other hand, we are witnessing secular India gradually unravel, finding itself engulfed in religious intolerance.
This is not to say that Pakistan does not have a problem when it comes to treating its minorities right. Pakistan can and must do better in this regard. However, the Pakistani government cannot be accused of creating religious intolerance and promoting bigotry, which can be seen across the border in the form of Narendra Modi’s government.
With the success of Kartarpur, Pakistan should gradually open holy shrines of other faiths as well. Prime Minister Imran Khan has already mentioned his desire to facilitate people of the Hindu and Buddhist faith in coming to Pakistan and visiting their holy shrines. It will not be an easy task and will require a great deal of time and effort. However, the right thing to do is usually simple. If Pakistan can fulfil this promise, it would continue to provide a much-needed boon on many front.
It would help to further boost Pakistan’s image abroad. It would attracts tourists, which would naturally bring in money. Above all, it would bring people together, and promote interfaith harmony and tolerance. In today’s world, which is filled with hate and toxic behaviour, Kartarpur can serve as a steppingstone towards peace and better understanding of different faiths, as well as each other.
