[The Times of India, 26.06.99]

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War would be suicidal for both nations: Pakistani poet

By Ikram Ali

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Lucknow: Rebel Pakistani poet John Elia said it would be suicidal for both
Pakistan and India if the Kargil skirmishes turn into a full-scale war.
The Vajpayee government, he felt, was guilty of initiating a nuclear race
in the sub-continent. India, he said, should not have tested the nuclear
bombs.

The poet doubted whether the opinion of intellectuals, artistes and poets
would create and atmosphere of mutual trust and goodwill. "Poets and
writers," said Elia, "have no role to play we have outlived our utility.
Maulana Azad, Josh Malihabadi, Allama Bukhari might have played a
significant role in the freedom struggle but the present crop has
virtually no role in this politically- dominated society. It is the
politicians who have strained the ties."

Asked whether he felt he should not have come here right now, Elia replied
in the negative. "I was here when Babri Masjid was demolished and the
communal atmosphere was surcharged. Even then I did not feel threatened. I
was invited here. Why should I be threatened?" He said there was always
trust and respect between the people of the two countries.
On poetry currently being written in Pakistan, Elia said: "It is generally
the poetry of the uprooted, written by those who have migrated from India
and also by those who have left villages for towns."
On contemporary Indian writing, he said: "Your poetry lacks totality and
universality. It also lacks depth. The stress is on lighter subjects." He
nevertheless had a few words of praise for Nida Fazli, Irfan Siddiqui,
Meraj Faizabadi and Krishna Bihari `Noor'.

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