Why My Father Hated India • Hacker News Board

Re: Why My Father Hated India

#51

Post by netcan » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 9:43 AM UTC

kloncks wrote: post #23

jkic47 wrote: post #9

The article was unexpectedly heart wrenching to read. India takes its very name from the Indus valley that lies in Pakistan, while the most famous example of Islamic architecture is the Taj Mahal in India. It is sad watching the two countries' governments waste time, energy and lives in a conflict that is essentially at a stalemate.

Absolutely agree. Too many conflicts come from sides that focus on their few differences rather than their many similarities. This is coming from an Egyptian who realizes that Israelis (and Jews) aren't so different from my Arab Muslim self. Now, if only more people agreed.

It's interesting that you bring us (Israelis) up in this context. About ten years ago I was talking to a Pakistani who proudly said to me that Israel and Pakistan are the two "homeland states." I had never thought about that.

Anyway, if you want agreement, I can offer one vote.

Re: Why My Father Hated India

#52

Post by known » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 9:45 AM UTC

qasar wrote: post #15

Being a Pakistani (and Punjabi) American myself, I do not agree with some of the views the author puts forward. First, Pakistanis do define themselves primarily as 'non-Indians'. However, the view that Pakistan has somehow carved out a new identity is the past 60 years is false. 5,000 years of shared heredity, language, customs and political history don't shake off that easily. Even Pakistanis and their relationship…

if Caste == Religion there is no Hinduism

Re: Why My Father Hated India

#53

Post by known » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 9:46 AM UTC

indian_m wrote: post #45

qasar wrote: post #15

Being a Pakistani (and Punjabi) American myself, I do not agree with some of the views the author puts forward. First, Pakistanis do define themselves primarily as 'non-Indians'. However, the view that Pakistan has somehow carved out a new identity is the past 60 years is false. 5,000 years of shared heredity, language, customs and political history don't shake off that easily. Even Pakistanis and their relationship…

Could not resist, creating a throw away account, just for replying to a topic, which is very close to my heart. About me: I am a liberal in world view, but a practicing Muslim. And not nationalistic, but love India and what it represents. Brother, your note is well thought out and well meaning. The idea of a "West India" is very novel. And it appeals to me. But at the same time, I would like to give a sense to you of…

Patriotism/Pakistan/Muslims are the tools/tricks used by the Forward caste to manipulate & use 80% Indians viz BC/SC/ST/Minority communities.

Re: Why My Father Hated India

#54

Post by nodata » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 9:48 AM UTC

g123g wrote: post #38

Very good and balanced article overall. The hatred of each other has become so deep rooted in both the countries and the mutual suspicion so strong that it is too late that the relationship can be changed. But we still owe it our next generation to work towards peace so that the wealth that belongs to them does not get spent in keeping up the needless hostility. We cannot let the past ruin the lives of the poorest pe…

> it is too late that the relationship can be changed

What would be one of the "things" that would have to happen for this to change, even momentarily?

Re: Why My Father Hated India

#55

Post by known » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 9:49 AM UTC

According to https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Sachar_Commit... report the status of Indian Muslims are below the conditions of https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Untouchables

Re: Why My Father Hated India

#56

Post by anand21 » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 10:05 AM UTC

indian_m wrote: post #45

qasar wrote: post #15

Being a Pakistani (and Punjabi) American myself, I do not agree with some of the views the author puts forward. First, Pakistanis do define themselves primarily as 'non-Indians'. However, the view that Pakistan has somehow carved out a new identity is the past 60 years is false. 5,000 years of shared heredity, language, customs and political history don't shake off that easily. Even Pakistanis and their relationship…

Could not resist, creating a throw away account, just for replying to a topic, which is very close to my heart. About me: I am a liberal in world view, but a practicing Muslim. And not nationalistic, but love India and what it represents. Brother, your note is well thought out and well meaning. The idea of a "West India" is very novel. And it appeals to me. But at the same time, I would like to give a sense to you of…

till now the most "real view"

Re: Why My Father Hated India

#57

Post by sharjeel » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 10:22 AM UTC

Most of the people calling it off-topic are being downvoted. So let me refer to the HN Guidelines:

What to Submit

On-Topic: Anything that good hackers would find interesting. That includes more than hacking and startups. If you had to reduce it to a sentence, the answer might be: anything that gratifies one's intellectual curiosity.

Off-Topic: Most stories about politics, or crime, or sports, unless they're evidence of some interesting new phenomenon. Videos of pratfalls or disasters, or cute animal pictures. If they'd cover it on TV news, it's probably off-topic.

Re: Why My Father Hated India

#58

Post by w1ntermute » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 10:23 AM UTC

deepGem wrote: post #41

jkic47 wrote: post #9

The article was unexpectedly heart wrenching to read. India takes its very name from the Indus valley that lies in Pakistan, while the most famous example of Islamic architecture is the Taj Mahal in India. It is sad watching the two countries' governments waste time, energy and lives in a conflict that is essentially at a stalemate.

India's original name was 'Bharata'. It still is one of the legal names of the country as per the constitution. The name India has it's roots in Latin and not in Sanskrit, the original language of Bharata. Details here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_India

Yeah, only the English language name uses "India". All the Indian language names are something like "भारत गणराज्य"/"Bhārat Gaṇarājya" (Hindi).

> The name India has it's roots in Latin and not in Sanskrit

Actually, the Latinate name originates from the Sanskrit name "Sindhu" for the Indus river, as it says in the Wikipedia article you linked.

Re: Why My Father Hated India

#59

Post by dimmuborgir » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 10:25 AM UTC

known wrote: post #53

indian_m wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could not resist, creating a throw away account, just for replying to a topic, which is very close to my heart. About me: I am a liberal in world view, but a practicing Muslim. And not nationalistic, but love India and what it represents. Brother, your note is well thought out and well meaning. The idea of a "West India" is very novel. And it appeals to me. But at the same time, I would like to give a sense to you of…

Patriotism/Pakistan/Muslims are the tools/tricks used by the Forward caste to manipulate & use 80% Indians viz BC/SC/ST/Minority communities.

Manipulate minorities by using Pakistan? What are you even talking about?

Re: Why My Father Hated India

#60

Post by DanielBMarkham » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 10:56 AM UTC

One of the things that consistently puzzle me is how different cultures handle change.

Over the past 150 years, the world has seen all kinds of terrible wars, killing hundreds of millions of people and causing all sorts of hatred and ill will.

Some of these cultures get up, dust themselves off, and go on -- sometimes achieving greatness. Other cultures, sometimes with far less injustice done (if you can measure these things, which I doubt) carry grudges seemingly forever.

Even in personal relations, I've known people in the states who suffered terribly by some criminal, only to have them forgive the criminal and move on with their lives. On the other hand, there are those who suffered the same thing who carry hatred in their heart until they die.

I remember seeing a person on TV from Jerusalem. They were talking about how their great-great grandfather lived in a house but was evicted by the Israelis. And how angry they were about it all. I could see that this was really bothering them.

Hell, if I spent my time emoting over wrongs my entire ancestry both committed and suffered through, I wouldn't have much left of a life left.

Why the difference? That's above my pay grade -- hence the reason I find it so fascinating. I can unequivocally say, however, that hating someone or some culture is a fool's game that hurts the hater much more than the object of hatred. There is a terrible strain of nihilism alive in the world. So many lives wasted by it. Very sad.