Capturing true spirit of the Kartarpur corridor, WSN says it is time to forge ahead, notwithstanding the rabid ranting by vested interests.

The Sikh prayers of 70 years have been answered.  With hatred all around, especially over borders and movement of people, the news of the opening of a corridor between two nuclear power countries -India and Pakistan, comes as a sigh of relief and serves as a remarkable example of what a tiny Sikh nation has enabled these countries to do.

The commendable initiative by the Pakistan Government to open a visa-free corridor to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur from Gurdwara Sahib Dera Baba Nanak and other connected steps like issuing special commemorative coin on Guru Nanak Sahib, between the two separated parts of Panjaab, is a momentous sign of bigger and better things that can come for the Panjaabi and the wider Indian and Pakistani populations, locked and straight-jacketed within the current artificial territorial boundaries of South Asia.

It is positively commendable that the Pakistan PM Imran Khan and the Pakistan Army Chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa -himself a Panjaabi, have combined their visionary and proactive leadership to make this unique development happen.

All too often, Pakistan is subject to a tirade of scurrilous hate propaganda by the Indian government, Indian politicians and the ever-compliant Indian media. This is a special hate-mongering that the Indian side take great pleasure in, and excel in; moronic, irrational and obsessive hate mania. Sadly, despite the sanctity and overwhelming symbolism of the Kartarpur corridor, even this time, this vicious the mania is unsuppressed.

Blaming and taunting Pakistan is a favourite deflection for the Indian establishment, to hide its grave failures in governance, law and order, public health, human rights and more. Blame everything on the perceived enemy, and whip up frenzied hatred amongst its own desperate, deprived and disadvantaged masses.

Imran Khan’s profound and deep-felt speech at the recent official initiation event of this corridor, focused on transforming attitudes from hate to co-operation and conflict to collaboration across both India and Pakistan. His speech is highly noteworthy in both tone and content, providing a refreshing contrast to the rabid and taunting outbursts of the Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, Indian army chief Bipin Rawat and Indian Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

For the record, the Kartarpur corridor is in the works for decades. Indian diplomats and leaders have taken initiatives and backtracked. Their Pakistani counterparts have taken the initiative on many an occasion but awaited response from the Indian side. To Narendra Modi’s credit, it may be said that his comparison of the opening of the Kartarpur corridor with the dismantling of the Berlin wall in Germany was definitely praiseworthy; but, unfortunately, engulfed in the immediate negative hype created by his ministers, the Indian army chief and a xenophobic Indian media.

The coming of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor represents more than just a one-off development. It is the start and springboard to much greater things for Panjaab and its people, and the wider South Asian continent.

The unprecedented and courageous initiative shown by the current Pakistan government and the follow up Indian collaboration, howsoever belated, is truly commendable, and outshines and outstrips the moronic mongering of the notorious and infamous Capt Amarinder Singh and his friends in Dheli and across the power grab Indian establishment.  

This initiative is more importantly about people, history, unity and social cohesion. It is about reconnecting what is rooted and ingrained in the Panjaabi mind and spirit. It opens a spring of excitement, and hope of what more could and should follow. It is a radical and courageous step forward, which needs to be duplicated in other constructive and tangible ways.

The Kartarpur corridor initiative is a truly positive initiative for all Panjaabis, across both sides of the artificial boundary. The historic anniversary of the indigenous Guru of Panjaab, provides the stateless, partitioned Panjaabi people an expression to their intrinsic Panjaabi spirit; so connected, inspired and informed by Guru Nanak over ten lives.