A common survey was distributed to a both Pakistani and Indian individuals from a variety of age groups. Responses are exactly as participants in survey typed them. They have not been edited for format or grammar.

The results are as follows:

1.) Age, Gender: 24 year-old Male

Nationality: Indian-American(Born in the United States )

1.How big of an influence have the issues of partition and partition itself( Independence from Britain , Indian and Pakistani separation, Indian and Pakistani religious conflict, Dispute over Kashmir , etc.) been on your upbringing? Were these issues heavily discussed during your upbringing? Did you yourself ever express any sentiment on these issues? If so, how?

I would honestly have to say not that big of an influence. Occasionally, it would be a topic of conversation but I wouldn’t say that these issues were discussed “heavily.” No, I didn’t provide my own point of view most of the time, not until I was better informed at least. I did make my own thoughts aware starting college.

2. How big of an influence are the issues of partition on your life right now? Do you discuss them with your friends/family? If so, in what context?

Again, not a huge topic of conversation. As human beings we tend to talk about issues that are near and dear. Partition and Kashmir are not near in time or geographical location and generally not dear to those of us who are the children of immigrants. When I do discuss it with friends and family, it tends to follow the lines of what a shame it is, how unfortunate it is. I tend to discuss the tragedy that fall-out of partition is really just a remnant of the British colonial divide-and-conquer style of rule.

3. What are your current sentiments about Partition( Independence from Britain , Indian and Pakistani separation, Indian and Pakistani religious conflict, Dispute over Kashmir , etc.)?

I alluded to this in #2. I feel that currently, Indians, Pakistanis, and Kashmiris are stuck in history. There have been recent strides in the dialogue between the two countries – starting of bus routes, a cricket match, and a joint statement issued by leaders of both countries saying they were committed to finding a resolution. I am currently hopeful for the future. There is a great deal in common – not just the differences stressed by radical individuals at both extremes.

4. Have you ever felt or expressed any negative sentiments against the Indian/Pakistani people? If so, have you ever acted upon them?

Well, difficult question. I have felt that both Indians and Pakistanis have been incredibly stupid and stuck in history. The current conflict is a joint problem, to with both countries are stakeholders. There are many reasons for this including local politics, within country politics, international influences.

5. What do you feel is the best resolution for the conflict between India and Pakistan at this time?

I think that both countries should accept the current boundary of Kashmir – with minor concessions on both sides. They should accept the current LoC (line of control) as the international border. Neither country wants to lose face domestically by ceding all of Kashmir to the other. Unless both India and Pakistan are willing to accept a little less than an entire Kashmir “pie,” the negotiations will go nowhere. If they accept only part of Kashmir , I expect both India and Pakistan to enjoy benefits in other arenas – increased trade, decreased spending on defense geared at each other.

2.) Age, Gender: 20 year-old Female

Nationality: Pakistani(Born in Pakistan )

1. How big of an influence have the issues of partition and partition itself( Independence from Britain , Indian and Pakistani separation, Indian and Pakistani religious conflict, Dispute over Kashmir , etc.) been on your upbringing? Were these issues heavily discussed during your upbringing? Did you yourself ever express any sentiment on these issues? If so, how?

Only to the extent of grandparents telling stories about how they came to Pakistan from India at the time of partition. Never really discussed otherwise except in school history lessons. I always felt proud of the fact that we were able to drive out the British and carve out a nation that we could truly call ours. Though I wonder if partition would’ve been necessary for that latter part. But if the state of Muslims in the sub-continent before partition is anything to go by, I suppose partition was a good thing, for everybody’s sake.

2. How big of an influence are the issues of partition on your life right now? Do you discuss them with your friends/family? If so, in what context?

Not a whole lot. There are other problems to deal with right now.

3. What are your current sentiments about Partition( Independence from Britain , Indian and Pakistani separation, Indian and Pakistani religious conflict, Dispute over Kashmir , etc.)?

I feel that partition might have been necessary under the circumstances at the time. I feel both Pakistan and India should let Kashmir be. And I don’t see any reason why the two countries should have religious conflict since sovereign states should be able to deal with each other on a secular basis. I feel that education of the masses in both countries is essential to achieve that.

4. Have you ever felt or expressed any negative sentiments against the Indian/Pakistani people? If so, have you ever acted upon them?

I felt disgusted when I learnt of the atrocities committed by both sides before and during partition, but other than that I have never had any negative sentiments.

5. What do you feel is the best resolution for the conflict between India and Pakistan at this time?

bygones be bygones. The leaders in both countries should compromise a little and take action which would be in the interest of the region rather than the kind of action that would win them popular support in the next election. And like I said, people in both countries, I mean the masses, need to be educated. That I feel is at the core of most problems in the region.

To let

3.) Age, Gender: 53 year-old Male

Nationality: American(Born in India )

1. How big of an influence have the issues of partition and partition itself( Independence from Britain , Indian and Pakistani separation, Indian and Pakistani religious conflict, Dispute over Kashmir , etc.) been on your upbringing? (YES) Were these issues heavily discussed during your upbringing? NO Did you yourself ever express any sentiment on these issues? If so, how? YES. SENTIMENTS WERE EXPRESSED AS FOLLOWS:

1. PARTITION WAS ENGINEERED BY POWER HUNGRY MUSLIM LEADER NAMED MR. JINNAH.
2. PARTITION SET INDIA AND PAKISTAN BACK WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMY AND WORLD STATUS FOR BOTH COUNTRIES.
3. PARTITION CREATED THE MOST DEVICIVE ISSUE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES; KASHMIR.
4. PARTITION ALSO CREATED UNNCESSARY ANIMOSITY BETWEEN HINDU RELIGION AND ISLAM.

2. How big of an influence are the issues of partition on your life right now? ALMOST INSGINIFICANT, Do you discuss them with your friends/family? YES. If so, in what context? DESIRE TO HAVE PEACE AND PROSPERITY FOR INDIA AND PAKISTAN .

3. What are your current sentiments about Partition( Independence from Britain , Indian and Pakistani separation, Indian and Pakistani religious conflict, Dispute over Kashmir , etc.)? INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN WAS INEVITABLE. SEPERATION IS LIKE “WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.” IF KASHMIR ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED PEACEFULLY, THEN RELIGIOUS CONFLICT CAN BE MINIMIZED.

4. Have you ever felt or expressed any negative sentiments against the Indian/Pakistani people? If so, have you ever acted upon them? EXPRESSED NEGATIVE SENTIMENTS ABOUT LACK OF INDEPENDENT THINKING IN PAKISTAN ; SIMPLY BECAUSE RADICAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS CONTROL THE MASSES. LACK OF OVERALL EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN. PARTICULARLY TREATMENT OF WOMEN AS PROPERTY OF MEN IS PATHETIC.

5. What do you feel is the best resolution for the conflict between India and Pakistan at this time? TAKE THE CURRENT LOC( LINE OF CONTROL) AS BORDER. IT HAS BEEN TREATED AS BORDER FOR 50+ YEARS ANYWAY, SO MIGHT AS WELL MAKE IT OFFICIAL. REPLACE MILITARY WAR WITH TRADE WAR.

4.) Age, Gender: 24 year-old Female

Nationality: South Asian American(Born in the United States , of Indian origin)

1. How big of an influence have the issues of partition and partition itself( Independence from Britain , Indian and Pakistani separation, Indian and Pakistani religious conflict, Dispute over Kashmir , etc.) been on your upbringing? Were these issues heavily discussed during your upbringing? Did you yourself ever express any sentiment on these issues? If so, how?

These issues have not been a strong influence on my upbringing. Although I’m sure my parents discussed these issues, they didn’t bring them into my childhood. I didn’t really learn about these issues until college.

2. How big of an influence are the issues of partition on your life right now? Do you discuss them with your friends/family? If so, in what context?

I am aware of some issues related to partition, but I still wouldn’t call them an “influence” on my life because I am so removed from the issues and so secluded in a world of school and home life, as most people are. I do sometimes discuss these issues with friends and family. The strongest sources of information from which I learned about partition include the movie Earth and a panel of speakers at Youth Solidarity Summer (YSS) in New York City , where South Asian Americans spoke about their experiences in going to South Asia to work with people who have been devastated by partition. That was extremely moving and shocking.

3. What are your current sentiments about Partition( Independence from Britain , Indian and Pakistani separation, Indian and Pakistani religious conflict, Dispute over Kashmir , etc.)?

I think it is a blemish on our history and our country. A huge mistake, a huge loss, a terrible, unfortunate waste of lives and conflict between groups of people who are fundamentally the same. A raging civil war. As far as Independence from Britain , that I think is wonderful – but the other issues you listed are extremely unfortunate. It’s a horrible shame that what was meant to be a peaceful compromise has resulted in endless war.

4. Have you ever felt or expressed any negative sentiments against the Indian/Pakistani people? If so, have you ever acted upon them?

I’ve never felt any difference between myself and someone Pakistani. In America , I think young people from India and Pakistan feel similar, not different. I identify with my Pakistani friends – we are all South Asian American. I also hope that in perhaps another decade, the anger will have died and we can move past the wounds of partition. In this respect Veer-Zara is a powerful and beautiful movie with precisely this message.

I have heard the epithet “Paki” and it is extremely offensive to me, though I am not Pakistani. The source of the epithet is racism, and you don’t have to be Pakistani to take offense – people who make racist comments are equally ignorant about all people of color. Whether someone makes a racist comment about a Pakistani person or a black person or anyone else, we all must take offense and find a way to respond in a proactive way.

5. What do you feel is the best resolution for the conflict between India and Pakistan at this time?

Of course nothing simple can resolve something so major, but I think education and the use of media – especially since film is such a huge media in South Asia – should be aggressively and actively used to convey the kinds of messages you see in films like Veer-Zara.

It is easy to hate something we do not know, and hard to hate that which we know. So in addition to the use of media, we need to find ways to replace ideology with friendships. It is easy to wage war based on ideology, and very hard to wage war against a friend.

I think the biggest difficulty will be getting rid of the hatred that has been passed on from older generations. People who lived through Partition can never forget their rage, and they have probably passed that rage onto their children and grandchildren. That rage needs to be removed until we finally have a generation that is completely free of it. It is not unlike a cancer that needs to be completely killed off and replaced with a new generation of healthy cells.