On common ground

Two things may help more than an apology. First, as has been the demand of many including Nayar himself, allowing people over a certain age to visit their old homes. I met a gentleman called Manmohan Sethi, who was born in what became Pakistan. Sethi introduces himself as 8220;Pedaishi Pakistani, rehaishi Hindustan Born a Pakistani, resident of Hindustan8221;. While applying for his visa at the Pakistani High Commission a few years ago, Sethi was asked 8220;Who are your hosts?8221; He had replied, 8220;My soil.8221; In Pakistan, he was hosted by strangers. This visit helped him realise that people wanted peace and now he is working in his own way 8212; by composing music 8212; to promote peace.

Secondly, it is more important for individuals who have deeply ingrained biases to interact with people from the other side. An 80-year-old Lahori, Mirza Nasir-ud-Din 8212; who had rescued non-Muslims during Partition 8212; visited Mumbai a few years later. When a group of Hindus who had killed and looted Muslims during Partition were introduced to him, they cried and sought his forgiveness for their acts.

The crux of the matter is that interaction is pivotal and apologies should be genuine and not dictated. There is no substitute for spontaneity in the subcontinent.

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