For the last five days after the terrorists killing 26 tourists, visiting Kashmir, the Indo-Pakistan tension has escalated to a high level. The nationals of Pakistan, trained to be terrorists had done similar attacks in the past. There is good enough reason to suspect that the Pakistan army fosters such activities.
This confrontation threatening to be a war is a serious danger to both countries. I have recollections of four major confrontations between the two countries during the last fifty years.
I revisited a scene in the feeding station in our garden and found the above photos of how a Bulbul and Squirrel are present to each other in a neighbourly way to allow movement with freedom and independence. They were waiting for their turn to reach the feeding station.
There were acts of omission and commission from both countries, which aggravated tension, conflict and confrontation in the past.
There were some initiatives between leaders of the two nations in the past to find peaceful co-existence. But they were short lived. The territorial interest of Pakistan to control Kashmir and the India's feeling of loss of territory of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are matters that could not be resolved so far. Now India's inclination might be to reoccupy part of Kashmir currently under the control of Kashmir!
I deeply regret the political view of life on earth, dictated by the nationalities or religious groups that we belong to. The second world war was fought intentionally to harm one religious community.
I learned during my school days that it was the instinct of animal kingdom to practice 'survival of the fittest', where as humans lived with a sense of liberty, freedom and dignity, respectful of each other.
When I see the instinct of survival of the fittest overtaking the rulers of some nations, I wonder whether we have regressed emotionally as nations to loose sight of humanity as a family!
The message from the Bulbul and squirrel was different. Even in animal kingdom, there is co-existence!
I wish Pakistan will free itself of cross border terrorist activities! I wish India will not see war as the only option!
The stories I come across from the families, who lost their loved ones in Kashmir during the recent shooting incident, are so distressing that that alone is enough for everyone to put an end to violence!
What is worth pursuing is to end violence!
The most disturbing thought is that the United Nations Organisations which was set up after the Second World War to supersede the ineffective League of Nations of that time, is also a spectator to violence in Ukraine, Gaza, and other parts. The weak appeal that it made to Pakistan and India to avoid war is a voice of reason, but in- effective as its persuasive appeal is not strong enough!
I come back to the Bulbul and Squirrel in the photo above, as a message of considerable significance, which the representatives of the animal kingdom bring to us!
There is wellness for all when peace and goodness prevail!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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