GB’s independence: a lesson from Karbala

 History is replete with the incidents of war between right and evil with the first of them being the encounter between the sons of Adam over denial and provision of right. And the war between right and evil is continuing with its full force till today. Those who have any interest with history are well aware of the fact that when Ibrahim Khalilullah stood up against the forces of evil perpetrating injustices on the human being, he was provided help by the Almighty Allah because he was on the right path. Though the forces of darkness tried to eliminate human being, God Almighty got him defeated at the hands one of His small creatures.

Then came the tragedy of Karbala about 1,500 years ago when humanity saw brutality of man and that too towards the nephew of the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) and his family. The forces of Yazed broke all records of barbarity and injustices and perpetrated cruelty not only on the beloved nephew of the prophet but also on his family including women and children.

Humanity still remains aghast over the injustices and cruelty which were used by the Yazed forces against the holy family on the plain of Karbala. But more than the tragedy of Karbal, it became crystal clear that at the end of the day the victory was not that of the Yazedi forces that had invaded and crushed the small group of believers but that of right over evil. The lessons of Karbala teach us strength, steadfastness, and the resolve to raiser the flag of justice, fair play and principles. When the family of the holy prophet stood steadfast for so many days against the cruelties of the evil forces despite knowing well their fate and the strength of the enemy what lesson one should draw from their resolve?

The Karbala tragedy made it clear once and for all that right always prevails over the evil and till the day of judgment it gives the lesson to the human being that evil never succeed even if it used brutal forces to crush the truth.

With the passage of time, human being has seen that there is a war going on between the right and the evil forces. When we visit history, we see that in every era, evil forces have been trying to crush truth, subdue the weak and loot the resources of those who had no power to protect their rights. But in every such endeavour, right always comes out victorious and never allows the evil forces to prevail.

When we look at the history of Gilgit-Baltistan, the people here have also been confronting similar forces who have been out there to deprive them of their rights and eliminate their existence for the last over 63 years. These perpetrators of injustices have been using all means to achieve their objectives by hook or by crook. People of the region have been divided in the name of religion and ethnicity. They have been pit against each other so that they remain fighting each other unable to stand for protection of their rights. Even we pause for a moment we see clear signs of cruelties and barbarity being perpetrated on the masses of the region. Is there any son of the soil who has not suffered at the hands of the forces of darkness in the region, not suffered due to the division in society in the name of religion and cast, ethnicity etc. By sacrificing his life and that of his near and dear ones, Hussain (AS) taught us a lesson not to bow to the forces of darkness and cruelty but to fight back and raise the flag of justice high at all costs. Today, we should also renew our struggle for attainment of the basic rights of the two million people of Gilgit-Baltistan which have been tattered at the hands of those who have been occupying our area for the so many decades. It is clear that our salvation lies at following the true path of Hussain (SA).

If we want a just society where we can live with all our rights guaranteed with anyone being discriminated against on the basis of religion, creed, ethnicity and colour, we have to wage a war on the basis of the teaching and example of Hussain and the spirit of his companions.

It is time the people of Gilgit-Baltistan pondered over what they have been doing for the last over six decades and what they have gained and lost during this period. Should we continue our complacency in the hope that one day we will get our lost rights without rising against the forces who have denied us all our rights. Time has come we changed our thinking to live as a free and independent nation. We observe the tragedy of Karbala each year but so far we have failed to act upon the lesson of Karbala.

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