Indians and Pakistanis should know about their past

Seventy years after independence, Pakistan and India are on the brink of losing the “Partition generation”, their inspiring stories of sacrifice, struggle, hardship and courage and the true essence of independence and freedom (Celebrations are a reminder of a shared history, August 16). Unfortunately, the new generation attaches little value to our freedom heroes. For them, their individual communal identities transcend the ideals nurtured by our freedom heroes.

Pakistan, one of the countries that emerged after Partition, is no longer the same. Today, its society is divided and subdivided into many religious, communal, regional and political factions that are at loggerheads with each other, raising the question of whether the struggle for independence was really worth it.

These divisions in our society have given an opportunity to outside entities to destabilise Pakistan.

As we celebrate our freedom, we need to remember that it’s our unity that gave us the strength to fight for independence and, ultimately, achieve our dream. Bilal Farooq, Dubai

Your editorial was right to point out how important it is to remember India and Pakistan’s painful history. Many young people in both countries learn about their past from textbooks and narratives that are coloured by politics.

It’s important for them to know that they once lived together as one country, one society and one culture. It is important for them to know how the feelings of animosity that they have towards each other were instilled in them by the colonial power and how generations of Indians and Pakistanis are paying the price for politics.

Nasheed Khan, Dubai