Pakistan Independence Day Stamp
***TW: Rape and Sexual Assault, Death, Violence***
I personally feel that the word “Qurbani” (Sacrifice) has been so overused since the time of independence, that we don’t really understand what it actually means anymore. It seems suitable to be used in news bulletins on Defense day and Independence Day or when your 10 year old self was asked by your Urdu teacher to write an essay on Pakistan. Spamming the phrase “Hazaron janon ki Qurbani (dai kar yai mulk hasil hua)” (We gave a 1000 sacrifices to get hold of this country) has been a routine thing in patriotic speeches, debates and national songs. However, do we truly know the essence of the word “Qurbani”? Are we even aware of the horrendous truths of partition? Have we ever bothered to go beyond the word itself and find out about the sufferings of our forefathers?
Close your eyes and imagine. The British Raj just announced that they are packing their bags and leaving which has initiated riots in your city. You are suddenly caught in confusion and chaos since you don’t know whether you are currently on this side of the border or that side. On top of that you barely have any time to take a decision but you think it would be wise to stay back since all your wealth, source of income, property, heritage and everything else belongs to the place that you currently reside in. The next day you find out that your next door neighbor who has been friends with you for as long as you can remember is conspiring to kill you and your family. You are in absolute disbelief but time is short and you reconsider your decision. Before leaving, you go to your home’s balcony to savor one last look of your city’s beautiful skyline. Screams from another household in your neighborhood catch your attention and you are petrified to find out that the house is on fire. You still haven’t absorbed the sight when you turn your head a little to see alienated dead bodies scattered at the sidewalks of your street. Looking at these scenes makes you realize that you and your family wouldn’t survive another day if you stay back so you grab your little to no belongings and head for the nearest train station with your spouse and kids in your car for the very last time. On the way, you witness moments of anarchy that will forever be entrenched in your memory. Mobs throw stones and pebbles at your car as you look in the rear-view mirror to see a woman being raped in front of your own eyes. You somehow divert your attention and luckily make it to the station which is filled to the brim with people who just like you want to escape the city that they so dearly love. I can’t even begin to explain what happens at the train station and once you board the train.
This Independence Day, lets make a pledge to educate ourselves more about the harsh realities of partition and truly honor the “qurbaniyan” of our forefathers by working for the betterment of our country. Fathers have chopped their daughters heads off to prevent them from being dishonored, entire families have been wiped away, women have had to suffer so much at the hands of savage men, common people have been separated permanently from their loved ones and what not to bring our country into existence. The least we can do is educate ourselves and hold the British Raj responsible for their negligence and incompetence to deal with an issue of such significance. Apart from lighting firecrackers, playing national songs on loop on our speakers, decorating our streets with national flags (which we will later step on) and racing our cars in the city to show off our privilege, I think dedicating some time to this cause on independence day wouldn’t be a bad idea after-all.
To the people who gave these “qurbaniyan”: Hum bhoolay nahi hain. Here’s a stamp to commemorate Pakistan’s Independence day by remembering the unsung heroes of the 1947 partition who selflessly sacrificed their present for ours.
This Independence Day, lets make a pledge to educate ourselves more about the harsh realities of partition and truly honor the “qurbaniyan” of our forefathers by working for the betterment of our country. Fathers have chopped their daughters heads off to prevent them from being dishonored, entire families have been wiped away, women have had to suffer so much at the hands of savage men, common people have been separated permanently from their loved ones and what not to bring our country into existence. The least we can do is educate ourselves and hold the British Raj responsible for their negligence and incompetence to deal with an issue of such significance. Apart from lighting firecrackers, playing national songs on loop on our speakers, decorating our streets with national flags (which we will later step on) and racing our cars in the city to show off our privilege, I think dedicating some time to this cause on independence day wouldn’t be a bad idea after-all.
To the people who gave these “qurbaniyan”: Hum bhoolay nahi hain. Here’s a stamp to commemorate Pakistan’s Independence day by remembering the unsung heroes of the 1947 partition who selflessly sacrificed their present for ours.
