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“Students, what do you think should be done to solve India-Pakistan problem?” As soon as Harsh Sir, the ninth standard History teacher asked this question he grinned. He used to grin whenever he posed witty questions to the students. “Think and answer.” Harsh Sir was not in a hurry. That was the only day after half-yearly examination and before the winter vacation. So, the class teachers were asked to keep the students engaged in their own way in this extra session. Harsh Sir’s question was provocative enough to draw the attention of the class. “The solution is that Pakistan must forget about Kashmir. They have enough problems of their own. Look at their cricket team. It’s all in mess.” Sandeep, the most talkative boy of the class and a cricket freak said. The class chuckled at this remark. “Sir, we have enough power to finish off Pakistan. A war will solve this problem permanently.” Ruchi, the class topper said. The whole class nodded in agreement barring Sumit, who was known for his offbeat views. “Sumit, don’t you agree?” Harsh Sir probed. “According to me, India and Pakistan should become one country. Because…” The class started booing loudly. “When India had good batsmen only and Pakistan had good bowlers, merger could have been good idea to make the best team of the world. But now, no way.” Sandeep had all cricket reasons. “How can you think this crazy? Pakistan is bleeding us with thousand cuts through terrorism.” Antara, who is good at history, retorted. “Calm down class. If West Germany and East Germany can unite why not India and Pakistan! Let’s hear him out.” Harsh Sir signaled Sumit to continue. “A merger will save a lot of money from spending on arms.” “Wow! That’s an awesome Idea. Indeed India and Pakistan spend a lot of their precious resources in arms.” Harsh Sir gave thumbs-up to Sumit. “But Sir, USA spends the most on arms and India and Pakistan are nowhere close.” Pallavi, who was good at dates and numbers opined. “True. USA also exports lot of arms to countries like India and Pakistan. All countries are in arms- race. In this race, it does not matter how much arms you have, it matters how much extra you have than your competitor. Therefore, though the world has arms to destroy the whole earth multiple times, we keep piling up more arms.” “Sir, don’t we need our borders to be protected?” Ruchi rhetorically asked. “We don’t choose our neighbours. If these countries are hostile, do we have any choice?” Antara too followed. “Valid questions.” Harsh Sir thought for a while. Pointing at Pawan, who was a transfer student from an adjacent state, he asked the class, “Tell me children, why we need defense forces to protect our borders from neigbouring countries, whereas we don’t have similar arrangement to protect our state border from Pawan’s state?” Harsh Sir ginned again. “This is simply because both of our states were under the same national government.” Atul, who is fond of civics, responded. “That’s correct. A common government gives us that confidence. Not only among provincial states, but also among citizens. None of us move with knives and guns to protect ourselves from others. Because we know government will take care and punish those who will harm us. Government is a necessity for all challenges like security, roads and rails, infrastructure, law and order, and many more issues which is beyond the individual capacity to tackle. Am I right?” The class affirmed, “Yes Sir.” “In that case, how about having a world government a borderless world?” Harsh Sir’s eyes sparkled. “But Sir, all the responsibilities have been undertaken by national governments. What would be role of global government?” Atul asked. “Good question Atul. So, can all of you identify problems, which is beyond an individual country’s capacity?” “Climate change”, Ruchi said. “Global pandemic”, Sandeep said. “Terrorism”, Antara said. “Great. All these problems are better solved with a world government. Also, any international disputes between countries can be handled by the global government, instead of lingering for generations.” Harsh Sir asserted. “This will also prevent criminals from committing a crime in one country and escaping to another.” Pawan reasoned. “True. And most importantly, it would relieve countries on spending billions on military as inter-country disputes could be solved in court of law nonviolently like we do solve inter-state disputes in the Supreme Court. Isn’t it?” “Sir, isn’t World Government impractical? How this will be formed? Who will do it?” Ruchi had all doubts. “See children, in India democracy looked impractical in the pre-colonial and colonial years. How many common men had dreamt of a system in which they would be equaled with kings? Or how many kings would have thought in their wildest imagination that they would be equaled to their subjects? But under the political structure everything fell into line. But yes we needed English, as a common enemy to unite. Now as you all have said, climate change, corona virus, terrorism are good enough reasons for us to unite.” Harsh Sir continued, “But for this, we need to put our belongingness or loyalty in correct order. We need to think ourselves to be a world citizen first, then an Indian or an American, or an English, or a Pakistani and so on. This is a step forward from the current thought process, where one is appealed to think to be an Indian first, then a Bengali or a Punjabi or Tamilian or so on. For this, we of course need ‘globe in mind’ attitude, which will pave the way towards borderless world.” Harsh Sir took a pause and said, “Please remember the historic UNESCO Preamble, which states 'Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.’” Harsh Sir closed the session while the class thumped the desk in appreciation.