New Delhi, Mar 29: Three centuries Before Christ there was a king called Pyrrhus. He was the King of Epirus. Pyrrhus commanded a superbly trained army. He fought a bloody war against Rome’s legions in Asculum in 279 BC.
Seven thousand Romans died in that battle. Pyrrhus suffered casualties of more than four thousand soldiers. He got his victory but achieved it at too great a loss. It was called a "Pyrrhic victory." Ever since then a victory achieved at too great a loss is described as a "Pyrrhic victory."

There is a battle going on in our country also. It is being fought at various levels including the courts of law. This is a long drawn out dispute over land in Ayodhya. It has become an emotional issue which transcends reason. Both sides are worked up. It has reached a critical stage. An increasing number of people are seriously concerned whether the course that the conflict is taking is the right one for this country. Perhaps it is now time for both sides to pause, consider and take stock of the situation, and ask whether this is not the moment for them to start talking and open a dialogue.
One must appreciate the respective mindsets. As far as the Muslims in India are concerned perhaps they have never felt so insecure and uncertain of their future as they do today. Despite the fact that they stayed back in India by choice, and love their country as much as anybody else, their patriotism is viewed with suspicion. They are nationalistic and have no cross-border loyalties but the actions of a handful of misguided people labelled as Muslims are leading to unnecessary confusion. As Dr Rafiq Zakaria has been repeatedly pointing out, Partition has been, and continues to be, a heavy cross to bear for Indian Muslims for whom Pakistan has meant nothing but trouble. They do not need to remind others that the blood that flows in their veins is Indian blood and that when they die their dust will mingle with Indian dust, but strident, provocative and threatening statements made by a few on the other side have a totally negative effect at this sensitive stage.
But can all this lead to a situation of actions and reactions? Is it not time to break the shackles of the past? Is it not necessary to look to the future with a sense of hope and confidence? Do Muslim children also not deserve to enjoy the fruits of progress, economic and social, which inevitably must be the destiny of this great country?



It is in this background that one has to take a fresh appraisal of the situation and ask a very relevant question: is litigation the answer? In any litigation there is always only one alternative. Generally one side wins and the other loses. Dr D.Y. Chandrachud, sitting judge of the Mumbai high court, recently spoke on the comparative merits of litigation and conciliation. He made a very significant point. He said litigation can be a "bruising" experience. Litigation requires a result and most often it ends up in one side winning and the other side losing. The loss then leads to more alienation and most often the rift is irreparable. This is especially so when it involves human relations such as family litigations. In a sense this dispute is quite familial.



And therefore, even if the case is won will it not be a Pyrrhic victory? Will not the cost of this victory be too great? Will the schisms and the wounds not worsen? How long will they take, if at all, to heal? Will the scars not remain as a deadly testimony to a sad chapter in the country’s history? So this is a powerful argument to think of an alternative to the present one way of thinking.



Thus there are several compelling reasons why there should be a serious move, a dialogue and conciliation on both sides. Whilst it is true that conciliation does not always lead to a result, its great virtue is that it sensitises both communities to appreciate the sensibilities of each other. After all, respect must be mutual. It is a two-way traffic. It is only respect that can lead to understanding. It is respect and understanding which will help restore the unity between Hindus and Muslims which existed before and in 1857, which the British so diabolically and systematically set out to destroy as part of an agenda which started with the partition of Bengal.



One of the major points raised by the spokesmen of the Muslims is whether there is any guarantee that further demands for other places of worship will not be resurrected in the future. The answer is that even if there is a guarantee who can guarantee that it will not be broken. Goodwill alone is the best guarantee which needs to be cultivated and nurtured. Goodwill and good faith. That is the need of the hour.



Dr Zakaria sent me some lovely words of poetry on the need for conversation in the words of Sardar Jafri. Keep the conversation going. One word leading to another, The evening rendezvous lasting till dawn, The starry night laughing down with us. Though we hurl our stones of abuse, Pass around poisoned cups Brimming with taunts, Gaze steely-eyed at each other, None of this matters. Though we are helpless, Just keep our hearts Warm and beating. Don’t let words Be stifled with helplessness. Don’t let voice be murdered. By dawn some word of love Is bound to emerge. Love will be victorious, It surely will.



These words were written in connection with the need for dialogue between India and Pakistan but they are equally appropriate in the context of the present situation.



As I said before, I do not claim to have any answers for the dispute. I do not advocate any particular course of action. It is not my intention to dilute or undermine any position. The only plea that I make to both sides is that there should be a mutual dialogue leading to reconciliation which is more important to do than whatever loss we have to suffer. What is required is the will. Once there is a will to start talking and once an initiative is taken, things will fall into place. I end on a personal note. A few days ago I met a long standing personal friend, Mr S. Gurumurthy, whose passion for and commitment to this nation is unquestionable. He referred to my article written in The Asian Age a year ago in the traumatic days post-Godhra. It was amazing how both of us echoed similar views and feelings. Guru said that many Muslims are expressing views which are having a definite impact on the psyche of the Indian Muslims. More and more people were thinking on similar lines. He encouraged me to write this article. Ours is an ancient country blessed with a great culture and rare genius and endowed with immeasurable talent. We owe it to ourselves not to blight the future of our country and the unborn generations by senseless disputes unnecessarily prolonged. India has the right (and an obligation) to claim its proper place on the world stage, economically strong and vibrantly united. Nothing can be allowed to come in the way of this.


Bureau Report