Responsible citizen vs first-class citizen
After the 1971 India-Pakistan war, repatriation of Pakistani prisoners of war (POWs) was one of the volatile events until the mid-70s. The movement of United Nations observers for peace-keeping was frequent along the international border. In 1975, I had just come on posting to Jammu air base as a captain and was assigned air observation post pilot duties. When flying on a clear day at 2,000 feet above ground level, one could easily see the outskirts of Sialkot.
My parents and grandparents, who had migrated to India from Pakistan in 1947, told us stories of Partition and shared fond memories about their Muslim friends. So the urge to know more about Pakistan and its people was always there.
My first outing with my wife in that part of India was to Suchetgarh border post in RS Pura sector of Jammu region. On reaching the post, I introduced myself to the post commander and was told by him that soon a United Nations observer would be crossing over from Pakistan to India. We were excited and waited for an opportunity to talk to this ‘messenger of peace’.
In 10 minutes, a white jeep with the UN insignia rolled over to our side of the border. While the post commander was completing the movement formalities, I happened to notice a flying wing on the uniform worn by the observer, who I later got to know was from France. Since I was in civvies and had informed the post commander that I was an army pilot, he permitted me to interact with the observer.
The UN observer was more than forthcoming and said ‘shoot your questions’. About the Pakistani army, he said their command language, army traditions, tactics, deployment pattern, weaponry and its usage, training pattern and physical fitness standards were similar and he saw both the armies as professionals to the core. To my query on Pakistani people, he said they spoke the same language, had similar food habits and the same cropping pattern. Even the dress code, though men wore salwars and turban in a different style, had similarities. He mentioned that occasions of celebration and mourning were loud on both sides.
When I asked the French officer about Pakistanis’ feeling towards India, he said, “As you broke Pakistan in 1971, they hate you. But they love your movies, film magazines and singers, particularly Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi.”
When he said that time was running out for him, I immediately shot a question: What is the standing of the armed forces in their society? With one foot in his vehicle, he said, “You are a responsible citizen of your country, while they are firstclass citizens of their country ( Pakistan).”
My wife, who was quiet all this while, asked, “Who is better, a responsible citizen or a first-class citizen?” He stepped off the vehicle and replied, “A first-class citizen is time-centric, while a responsible citizen is life-centric. The first class citizen status can change but a responsible citizen is always long-lasting and respected by society.”
Soon after, I saw his jeep moving, kicking up dust and haze in its trail, but leaving us with a clear thought.
WHEN I ASKED THE FRENCH OFFICER ABOUT PAKISTANIS’ FEELING TOWARDS INDIA, HE SAID, “AS YOU BROKE PAKISTAN IN 1971, THEY HATE YOU. BUT THEY LOVE YOUR MOVIES”