I happened to attend a recent seminar in our university conducted by the Dou Qaumi Nazaria Foundation Pakistan. The presenter was a beard scholar who is said to be or maybe a self proclaimed preacher of the Two-Nation Theory. I was disgusted at several points discussed by the presenter. At the end of the presentation, I tried to ask a few questions but the presenter seemed to be in hurry and he didn’t entertain me. The sole aim of the presenter seemed to be brainwashing the innocent students to make them anti-India or anti-Hindus. He tried to refute the ”Aman ki Asha,” a joint effort from Indo-Pak press.
He made many statements that were out of my understandings or you can say his understanding of the Two-Nation Theory was entirely different then mine. I am trying to sum up the information he presented.
He started off with a question that who presented the Two-Nation Theory? He got many answers including Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan but guess what he said. He said that the roots of the Two-Nation theory are deep enough which go some 1400 years ago during the times of Prophet Muhammad SAWW. He maintained that there are only two nations in the world i.e. Muslims and Non-Muslims.
He then said that the foundation of a separate land for Muslims was laid down in the sub continent when the first Muslim arrived there and recited Azaan (Islamic Call to Prayer).
He further said that the Nation is formed by religion and not by the country. Throughout the session, he kept slamming the famous Aman ki Asha.
He started telling the stories of Hindu religion and tried to portray Hinduism as a bad/dirty religion as he quoted many examples like Hindus having multiple gods and godesses. He also said that Hindus worship animals including rats/mice, snakes, elephants, cows and so on. He sensationalize the so called traditions of Hindus using cow’s waste and urine for drinking and other uses. He quoted an example that his friend, in his tour to India, witnessed this incident that a person sprayed cow’s urine in the sweets and other food items.
In short, He tried to portray Hinduism as dirty and inferior religion and tried to part away from them and said that we are totally opposite to them. His next statements sounded so like those of Zaid Hamid’s. When he started saying that Muslims are superior, especially the Muslims are of Pakistan because we have to correct and rule the world. He totally associated the Two-Nation theory with the religion or the unbelievable corrupt thoughts.
He was taking the pledges from the students telling them to become a preacher of the Two-Nation Theory.
Now lets come to the questions part, the questions that I had in my mind. I couldn’t get answer to any of them. But before I put those questions here, I want to make it clear that I am also a believer of the great Two-Nation theory but not in the context presented by this so called presenter.
- If religion forms the nation, then what about the non-Muslims living in Pakistan ? Are they not the part of our Nation ? or if Hindus are that bad, what about the Pakistani Hindus? Are they not the part of our country Pakistan? Did he meant that Pakistan or Pakistanis are NOT one nation? Is he sure?
- If Muslims are the one nation, then what about the Muslims living outside Pakistan? The Muslims of India for example. If they are not the believer of your Two-Nation theory then what you’ll declare them?
- If the foundation of a separate state was laid when first Muslim arrived here in sub-continent, what about the Muslims living in other non-Muslim countries? Will they demand a separate state within the country they are living?
- If Muslims/Pakistani Muslims are so great and honest and what not, then what would you say about the corruption and crimes happening in each and every sector of Pakistan ?
My mind is still filled with questions but I am summing this post here. Before you come to wrong conclusion, I’d like to make it clear that I am also a believer of the Two-Nation Theory but obviously not in the context that was presented by the speaker of the so called Dou Qaumi Nazaria Foundation. Visiting and speaking in the local universities to manipulate the minds of unaware students is a bad idea really.
