Clearing Questions

2. Imagine that you have the opportunity to travel back through time. At what point in history would you like to stop and why? (Swarthmore)

The Indian Partition was probably one of the most traumatic and disturbing times in India's history. The partition left thousands dead, both Hindus and Muslims, on both the Indian and the Pakistani sides. The only reason I would like to go back to that time period is because it was what divided the country and was the grounds for a seemingly endless dispute between India and Pakistan.

I think it would answer one of the biggest questions I have about the two countries: why are they still so mad at each other? Other then some of the surface reasons, like Pakistan being much smaller than India and the religious differences, I think there are are underlying reasons. It could also have to do with the fact that the partition really was not a 'people's choice.' The decision was made by the political rulers and influential people, like Gandhi and Jinnah, while the people really didn't have a say in the matter. However, at the time, the divide was probably more welcome than it is thought about now, because they people wanted an end to the fighting that seemed almost impossible to stop.

Even so, I find it hard to accept that the two countries are still so angry with each other. It seems that because the partition was a while ago, the people would lean back and accept the terms of the divide, and not send people into the opposite side and attack it's people. It also goes to say that the other side cannot always automatically point fingers at the other side when anything bad happens.

Clearing up, or at least finding out the real reasons behind the current accusations would probably help a lot of people stop the violence or at least set up a truce between India and Pakistan. The easiest way to succeed in that is by going back in time.