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The myth that a supernatural
hound will kill the heir to the Baskerville family, because of a
200-year-old curse was shattered by the master sleuth Sherlock Holmes only
after the mythical hound was killed. (The Hound of Baskervilles) The human
mind is ceaselessly preoccupied with misapprehensions (superstition based,
or otherwise) and mutual suspicions due to insecurities, misplaced fears and
misgivings. Behavioural patterns, attitudes, body language and gesticulation
are all crafted, on the basis of a matrix composed of the above factors.
As with interpersonal
relationships, the bilateral relationship between two nations is also
defined by the extent of under standing or suspicion between them. In
addition, the foreign policy of nations, by and large, gives primacy to
their respective national interest. The trail of death and destruction
following the recent quake which hit J&K, Pakistan and PoK was a tragedy of
unprecedented magnitude in the region. If there was any moment in history,
when the governments and the people of India and Pakistan could have lent
shoulders to one another, or wiped each other's tears, it was this.
Sadly, these two nations
(India and Pakistan) did not do enough to cast off their embittered baggage.
Several villages on the PoK side of the LOC were completely destroyed. Most
of these were logistically more easily accessible from J&K and India's offer
to Islamabad to reach out to such areas was rejected by the latter, owing to
insecurity and misapprehension. Had Islamabad accepted India's offer, it
would perhaps have prevented some avoidable human and material losses. The
cornerstone of sustainable bilateral relationship can't be anything but
mutual trust and faith.
A child, who after a
sustained spell of juvenile delinquency becomes a hardened criminal, will
find it extremely difficult to prove his or her reformed status (even
following such reformation) to his own parents, let alone wipe out social
stigma, which scars his character or mars his future. Only trust, faith and
confidence-building measures can work such a magic. Any small
beginning indicating that such a child has realised past mistakes and
determined to turn a new leaf and keep to the narrow path, should be
acknowledged by family and society by a reassuringly encouraging response. |
