The deteriorating cultural relations between India and Pakistan are a sad reflection of the jingoism and frustration that has permeated the affairs of the nuclear neighbours.
Pakistan last week imposed a blanket ban on Indian television and radio shows, a day after one of India’s top film directors pledged not to hire actors from Pakistan in response to a top Indian cinema group’s announcement to boycott films with Pakistani actors.
Both are unfortunate developments and call for a review and rethink. Contrary to such misplaced notions of nationalistic pride, it is the shared bonds of a common culture — from films and music to theatre, visual arts and literature — that should help the people of the two countries transcend their long-standing political differences and the rising rhetoric of mutual suspicion and fearmongering. Indeed, cultural diplomacy is one of the best options available, particularly when sustaining political dialogue becomes difficult.
History also shows us that no nation has been able to progress by casting cultural aspersions on their presumed rivals. In fact, at the height of the Cold War in 1958, it was American pianist Harvey Lavan Cliburn Jr — who studied piano in the Russian romantic tradition — who won the hearts and minds of people worldwide by winning the Soviet Union’s first International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition. Both Indians and Pakistanis can similarly be heartened by the robust history of cultural exchanges between the two nations and the great respect they hold for each other’s cultural icons — and should actively work towards nurturing it rather than curbing it.
Both India and Pakistan have been the victims of terrorism and violence, and therefore the pursuit of justice for both should continue in full swing. But so should the centuries-old cultural relations. The battle for territorial safety and security should be fought elsewhere, not on screens big and small.
