United in sport, divided by politicians
December 1st 2008 22:21
It's hard to find a more complex set of political and social issues than the Pakistan-India confrontation. The partition and creation of Pakistan in 1947 was politically driven and created more problems than it solved.
I learned a heartbreaking fact a couple of years ago. When the Indian cricket team plays a Test match anywhere in the world, every cricket fan in Pakistan follows the game just as avidly as if it was Pakistan playing. They still accept, indeed take, the Indian team as their own.
If this grassroots, instinctive evidence counts for anything, it says that, 61 years after political partition, culturally they remain one nation.
But since when did the honesty of grassroots instinct and passion sway opinion in the halls of political expediency?
Recommended background reading: Deep Pencil post
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