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“All the world is a common humanity.”
This simple truth is often lost in a time when enemies are manufactured, not discovered. The ruthless thrive on creating divisions, proclaiming superiority, and fighting over land, rivers, and natural resources—things that, in reality, belong neither to nations nor rulers, but to the Holy One. Humanity is not master over creation; we are but one part of it. And yet, nationalism, weaponized faith, and state violence have made us forget this deeper moral calling.
Pulwama and the Politics of Blame
Pulwama was, and remains, a tragedy. It took the lives of young soldiers, devastated families, and shook India. But no independent international commission has conclusively established its origins. Responsibility must fall on perpetrators, not be broadened into the vilification of an entire country.
It is easy to blame “Pakistan” as a monolith. It is harder, but necessary, to distinguish between those who commit violent acts and the millions who simply want to live their lives in peace. To criminalize a whole nation is intellectually lazy, politically opportunistic, and morally bankrupt. It serves only the interests of those who thrive on perpetual enmity.
Global Citizens Know Better
For those who have lived and worked overseas, the lesson is obvious: humanity is indivisible. In global peace networks, the Global South solidarity movements, human rights campaigns, LGBTQ struggles, anti-nuclear activism—we learn that national identities melt into a deeper recognition of each other as kin. The idea of enemies dissolves when one fights alongside comrades from another continent.
This is why gestures matter. Which brings me to the cricket field.
Cricket and the Missed Handshake
What happened after the recent cricket match in Dubai was not a triumph of patriotism, but a failure of civility. As the Pakistani team remained on the field, Indian players walked off without shaking hands. It was a petty, undignified act, unworthy of a sport that has historically been a bridge between peoples.
What does a cricket match have to do with the unresolved political conflict in Kashmir? Absolutely nothing. Sport, if anything, should be the space where humanity meets across divisions. That India’s players chose otherwise was not a symbol of strength, but of insecurity.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is, on paper, an independent sports body. It is not meant to be an extension of the Ministry of External Affairs. The cricket pitch is not a battlefield; it is not meant to mirror diplomatic hostilities.
Social Media and the War of Comparisons
The matter was made worse by the toxic atmosphere on social media. Endless comparisons flew: Jasprit Bumrah was declared “better” than Wasim Akram, anointing him prematurely as a cricketing legend. Such debates, fuelled by nationalistic frenzy, miss the point entirely. Let Bumrah’s career speak for itself over time. Wasim Akram, for his part, is celebrated across the world as a craftsman of swing bowling, not merely as a Pakistani.
Reducing players to pawns of nationalism dishonors both sport and spirit. It deprives us of the joy of cricket, which has always been about artistry, grit, and unpredictable beauty—not about which side of a border one was born on.
Shared Histories, Shared Futures
Those Indians who have travelled to Lahore, Karachi, or Islamabad carry back stories of hospitality so overwhelming that prejudices crumble. They return home humbled by warmth and generosity. Friendships formed across these visits last lifetimes. Similarly, Pakistani visitors to India discover bonds of culture, music, food, and humor that are unmistakably shared.
Our nations are not strangers. We are siblings torn apart by political borders. To caricature Pakistan as merely a “terrorist state” is to deny this shared heritage. And if we must descend into labels, let us be honest: India too bears stains—tourists are raped, migrants brutalized, dissenters silenced, and political murders carried out with impunity. Moral superiority is a poor game for either side to play.
Let Cricket Be the Stadium of Peace
Imagine, instead, cricket as a peace stadium. Why stop at cricket? Hockey, too, is shared history. Music concerts, poetry festivals, theatre exchanges, youth debates, and women’s sports leagues could become bridges of trust. Our artists, poets, singers, and actors have long admired each other across the border. Why not create institutional pathways to sustain this?
And alongside such exchanges, let us not skirt the central question: Kashmir. Peace between India and Pakistan will remain elusive without an honest, mediated dialogue on Kashmir. This is not about conceding ground but about acknowledging suffering, identity, and dignity. Let cricket not be a distraction from Kashmir, but a reminder of the humanity at stake.
Small Gestures, Big Meanings
A handshake is a small act. Yet it is also a profound one. It signals maturity, humility, and courage. To shake hands after a match is to affirm that competition ends when the game ends. It is to show young fans that rivalry is not enmity, that dignity outlasts victory or defeat.
We often forget that sport can humanize what politics dehumanizes. In a region trapped in cycles of suspicion, a simple handshake could speak louder than diplomatic communiqués. It could teach us that the future does not have to be hostage to the past.
Toward a Common Humanity
Enemies, as I began by saying, are a false construct. They are created by those who profit from division. When leaders use sport to inflame nationalism, we must resist. When commentators reduce players to flags, we must remember they are first human beings, artists of their craft.
The future of India and Pakistan cannot be built on boycotts, bitterness, and political theatre. It must rest on the recognition that we share histories, languages, rivers, and songs. We share grief. We share joy. Above all, we share a common humanity.
Let us shake hands. It is, after all, the civilized thing to do.
*Ranjan Solomon is a political commentator, human rights defender, and an original ‘galli’ cricketer
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.