I watched this tree pie in its early morning hopping flight between trees and engaged in its bird call. It looked like another morning of wasted birdcalls till I noticed another tree pie appear next to it all on a sudden. The two were together for a short while and flew away in to the horizon.
It is one instance when I noticed in recent times the bird call giving an immediate response and pairing take place.
This happened around six in the morning when I was still recovering from the shocking news of the Indian air force planes entering the Pakistan territory to attack and kill a terrorist activity centre where about 300 men were located. By the early morning the Pakistan air force planes had attacked Indian territory in which Pakistan and India lost one plane each in the plane to plane fight in the air. An injured Indian pilot is in the custody of Pakistan army.
It is the sixth intensified military action I have witnessed since my childhood between India and our neighbours, one against China and five others against Pakistan.
The first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru developed the Indian foreign policy of friendship with neighbours. It was China who attacked India in the early sixties and annexed Indian territory. Since then the trust, the India political leadership had on our neighbours vanished and with Pakistan it was hot and cold relationship on account of Kashmir where Pakistan occupies part of Indian territory. Inspite of all these, India spoke a language of moderation, engagement and bilateral ties between our neighbour nations.
The political climate has changed in india during the last four years where the political dispensation has been in a mood, to 'teach a lesson to Pakistan and break its neck' due to regular terrorist cavity in Indian soil from across Pakistan with consent from the Pakistan army.
During the last ten days since the terrorists struck killing forty of Indian security personnel, the dominant view of one political party in india was to 'retaliate'. When the Indian air force plane invaded the terrorist camp in Pakistan and damaged the building killing all present there, there was some jubilation among some people. The TV channels even showed people celebrating by bursting fire crackers! I wish the TV channels did not show that scene as it is a cruel way of celebrating human loss and grief!
The national leaders of a political party during political rallies in some states following this, spoke about the 'triumph' India has over the 'rogue neighbour'! The talks in the rallies in preparation for the national election due in May 2019 sounded jarring and disturbing to me! I felt that India, a land of non-violence as practised by Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, has lost its soul and the ruling party in india is intimidatory to our neighbour even after the prime minister of Pakistan publicly appealed to resume bilateral talks between India and Pakistan.
It is one time, when I feel at a loss! The opposition parties have cancelled all their election rallies and programmes as an act of solidarity with the armed forces now engaged in this confrontation with Pakistan. In a joint statement yesterday, I sensed anguish over the state of affairs, where as what I sense in the attitude of the leadership of the country is aggression!
The cross border terrorism ought to stop and the Pakistan government and military ought to be forthcoming to do this boldy and decisively! This propaganda that it is 'jihad' against India ought to stop and find a solution to the simmering dispute about Kashmir.
During the Chines war in 1965, the government made it compulsory for all the college students to join the National Cadet Corps. I could not attend its training session for four months due to Hepatitis. Although I presented a medical certificate it was not honoured. Having had only fifty percent attendance for the truing sessions of the NCC, my university result was withheld for lack of attendance in the NCC. My representations failed and I had to repeat the year of study to qualify for the medical college admission. I still carry with me the pain of the unreasonableness a war like situation can bring into our psyche!
A war harms and destroys and bilateral talks pursue prospects for for future for the good of all.
It is this I wish could persuade the government of India. I came across about fifteen nations advising India and Pakistan to deescalate the tension and find a common ground to restore peace. The Indian side representing an ideology of 'nationalism' is vulnerable to a religious 'majoritarian' outlook. It is here, I hope that the opposition political parties by their collective view would act as a restraint in escalating this tension in to a war. For over 72 hours now, there is active firing between the two armies.
Let me recall the bird call of the tree pie! It called for friendship and companionship and it received its response instantly!
A civilised nation becomes a responsible nation when it calls for for friendship between nations!
This is my wish for India.
India is in a better position to take the lead to show friendship. The partition of India to form Pakistan happened in exceptional circumstances. Now that it is history, I hope the political dispensation in both countries would seek for friendly existence.
I have often wondered why India did not come forward to offer some financial help to Pakistan, when it is in distress financially. Some other countries have been liberal with their offer. China exercises control over Pakistan and I suspect that it is for a partisan purpose.
It is time that we qualify relationships between nations by steadfast intent to bring peace and goodwill for all.
The tree pies flew away to begin their new life!
Let me wish India and Pakistan a lasting new life of friendly relationship!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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