Welcome to our fourth post of All Around South Asia! Once a month we will be interviewing our followers from different regions of South Asia so we can share their culture with all of you! For our fourth post, we are exploring Pakistani culture. This week we interviewed Subul Ahmad who is a senior at Waubonsie Valley High School!
Growing up in America do you feel like you were still able to connect with your culture/language, if so how?
Yes, kind of. For me, it was pretty easy to stay connected to my culture because I am a first-generation immigrant, so my parents continue to proudly keep up with Pakistani traditions. They primarily speak Punjabi at home, with a little bit of Urdu. It may be different for people whose parents are born in the United States, though. Personally, I do regret that I am not as fluent in Punjabi and Urdu as I used to be. The phenomenon of South Asians who are born in the United States forgetting their native language is pretty popular. In the future, I hope to reconnect and get more in touch with my cultural background so that future generations are aware that being Pakistani is such an important aspect of their identities, as the case is with any ethnicity.
What is unique to the region of South Asia you are from?
Pakistanis are extremely hospitable. Tourists and visitors are always welcomed with open arms. For example, whenever I visit Pakistan, so many people insist on helping my family with various tasks for free, even if they could really use the money. Pakistani culture and even religious beliefs encourage Pakistanis to be welcoming and respectful towards guests. For instance, according to Islamic teachings, a guest is a blessing from God, so it is important to give them the best treatment possible. Overall, Pakistanis are helpful, friendly, and approachable. Pakistanis are extremely compassionate, and Pakistan has the largest volunteer ambulance service in the world. It also offers services like shelter for the homeless, free health care, drug rehabilitation, orphanage and adoption services, and local and international disaster relief.
What do you dislike about your culture?
Though gender segregation has dramatically diminished, it still exists. Stigma exists against working women, divorced women, co-education, etc. By law, education in Pakistan is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of five and 16, or up through grade 10. However, that does not always get practiced because some families do not regard education as important for girls and instead expect them to prioritize household chores. Some people cling to the mindset that men should be the primary breadwinners for families, so there is no point in women receiving an education if they will be stay-at-home mothers instead of entering the workforce. I see this as extremely wrong and fundamentally unacceptable because all people are entitled to an education, regardless of what their future plans may be. Knowledge is power. Furthermore, I dislike that there is a lot of corruption in Pakistan, and politicians tend to control the country and put their needs before other people’s. As a result, there are problems like instability, poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment.
Were you ever embarrassed by your culture and if so how did that change?
I have never really been embarrassed by my culture. However, I understand that it can be hard for some people to accept themselves when they are surrounded by people who practice different cultural customs or people who consider American cultural customs as the norm. People may be embarrassed by the fact that their parents have accents, their families wear unique clothes, or their families eat unique foods. It is normal to feel that way, but I think as people grow up and mature, they can embrace their culture more easily and be grateful for it because it sets them apart from others. Truly, every culture is beautiful in its own way, and I hope that one day all of us will be able to recognize that.
What are common stereotypes about people in the region you are from?
Because of past heartbreaking events, a common but extremely false perception of Pakistan is that it is terrorism-inflicted, hostile country. In history classes, Pakistani students may feel uncomfortable when the subject of terrorism comes up, and all eyes subtly turn to them. I’ve been there myself. After the tragic, heart-wrenching events of 9/11, women wearing hijabs were publicly insulted and brutally attacked because of the hatred that had risen against Muslims. All Muslims are not terrorists, and words can not describe how much it distresses me that there are people out there who still believe that to this day. The prejudice and discrimination holds Pakistanis back from opportunities like jobs. In fact, a lot of Pakistanis are victims to terrorism, as so many people continue to be wrongly killed by foreign militaries. Furthermore, the Pakistan vs. India conflict gets blown out of proportion, and it has devastating effects, so I hope that the nations can overcome it together. Pakistanis do not despise Indians at all. In fact, shops all over Pakistan sell Indian jewelry and beauty products, and Pakistanis love Bollywood almost as much as Indians do. Another Pakistani stereotype is that all women are oppressed, but Pakistan has come a long way when it comes to women’s rights, and remarkable women like Malala Yousafzai continue to combat those barriers. Moreover, people tend to believe that the Pakistani population entirely consists of Muslims. While a majority of Pakistanis are Muslim, there are also Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and more. Similarly, people tend to associate Pakistan with the language Urdu because it is the official national language. In reality, only about 8% of Pakistan’s population speaks Urdu as a first language, about 44% speak Punjabi, 15% speak Pashto, and 31% speak other languages.
What is your favorite thing to do/place to go when you visit the region you are from?
I am from Lahore, so every time I visit, I love to go to the Anarkali Bazaar. A bazaar is a marketplace where people can buy food from owners of small shops and eat yummy food from small restaurants. Anarkali Bazaar is one of the oldest bazaars in South Asia, and it is a great place to buy beautiful clothing, jewelry, fabric, and other items. There are two sections: “Old Anarkali Bazaar” and “New Anarkali Bazaar.” Old Anarkali Bazaar is where you can try traditional food like fruit chaat and dahi bhalla, and New Anarkali Bazaar is where you can buy traditional dresses, shoes, jewelry, bangles, mehndi, and handmade goods. I love the atmosphere because everyone is so smiley and lively. It’s amusing to watch customers bargain with shopkeepers for the best price possible. The architecture is also beautiful, with influences from the Mughal and British colonial eras.
What’s a fun fact most people don’t know about being Pakistani?
Pakistan is extremely diverse, historically, geographically, and ethnically. The Indian, Persian, Afghan, Central Asian, South Asian and Western Asian influences in Pakistani culture are apparent. There are over 15 major ethnic groups in Pakistan, such as Punjabis, Sindhis, Baloch, Pashtuns, Kashmiris, Hazaras, Makranis and Baltis, that bring different cultural customs, clothing, food, and music from places like the Indus Valley, Africa, or Tibet to Pakistan. There are 73 to 76 languages spoken in Pakistan.
Have you experienced Islamophobia from other groups of South Asia? If yes, please describe your experiences.
I have not experienced a lot of Islamophobia because I am lucky enough to live in a pretty diverse and welcoming area, but of course, I have received the occasional terrorist and religious joke here and there from other South Asians. A lot of us are privileged that we have not had direct contact with dangerous situations of terrorism and violence, so people forget about the severity of it and carelessly joke around about it. Personally, almost every time I have traveled at an airport, a member of my family or I have been “randomly checked” because the staff noticed that we had Muslim names and felt threatened. Given how uncomfortable and upset Pakistanis feel when they are discriminated against in situations like this, even small comments and terrorist jokes are more offensive than people believe, especially if it’s coming from a close friend. Furthermore, jokes about Islam are common because it is a distinct religion, and it can be hard for people to understand things that are different from what they are used to. Jokes about Islam are just as hurtful because people are disrespecting things that are sacred to Muslims. I am a strong believer in the idea of treating people the way you would want to be treated, and I do not think other South Asians would want their religions to be disrespected, so I wish people who do act like this would show the same courtesy to Muslims.
What can South Asians do to speak up for Muslims experiencing Islamophobia?
Though Islamophobia may only directly affect the small percentage of South Asians that are Muslims, I believe that it concerns all South Asians because we should stand in solidarity together. Islamophobia is not just a type of religious intolerance, but it can also be classified as a form of racism that manifests in terrible hate crimes, like the Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand. If more South Asians do not actively speak out against Islamophobia, policymakers will continue to fail to provide support for the Muslim community, and we cannot afford to fail the generation fo young American-Muslims like this. In a world where we are still socially distanced from one another, social media is a powerful force that South Asians can use to help change the narrative on Islamophobia. By influencing your friends and family that follow you, you are being a part of a bigger cause that is working on building more inclusive communities to end Islamophobia. Uplift the stories and voices of Muslim people so that people do not simply regard Muslims in one-dimensional and stereotypical ways, focusing on extremism or victimhood. Follow Muslim activists, thinkers, artists, writers, and business owners and share their work. Instead of simply reposting stories against Islamophobia, share Muslim stories of resistance and resilience to inspire others to join the cause against Islamophobia. Contact elected officials to end discriminatory policies. Support organizations that aid immigrants, refugees, and Muslims. Offer support to Muslim friends and family. If you witness someone say something Islamophobic whether it is online or offline, privately talk to them.
How do you feel when all of South Asia is generalized as being Indian?
When all of South Asia is generalized as being Indian, I feel unimportant. Pakistan has a distinct history and separate struggles. It is not right to simply morph it into Indian history and culture. I love and respect Indians, but I want to be recognized for what I really am: Pakistani. Rather than generalizing all of South Asia as being Indian, people taking the time to note and remember that someone is Pakistani conveys respect and inclusion. A little bit of effort goes a long way!
Do you feel like Muslims are underrepresented in America, and if so how can we change that?
Yes, I feel that we need to desperately increase Muslim representation in America. More Muslim Americans are running for public office than ever. If you agree with these candidates’ policies and are in the position to do so, please exercise your right to vote, as it is essential to being a good citizen! More positive Muslim representation in media could also go a long way. Hasan Minhaj, host of the Netflix show Patriot Act, often incorporated his faith and experiences being a Muslim American into his episodes, and I appreciate how that increased people’s awareness to the challenges that Muslims face, from Islamophobia to struggling to fit in because of a lack of representation. However, a common thematic arc that I see in media is TV shows like Elite depicting Muslim hijabis as oppressed and “liberating” themselves by removing their hijab, rejecting their faith, and adopting western customs. This is an extremely inaccurate representation that women are held back by their faith and hijabs when in reality they provide empowerment and protection. The message that Muslim women need to remove their hijab and completely assimilate into American society to be free is dangerous. Instead, it is important that more Muslim characters who live balanced lives and appreciate their faith are depicted in media. I would love to see American media not just incorporate Muslims as token diversity but representation with prominent main characters being Muslim.
Favorites:
Food: Nihari, butter chicken, seekh kebab, aloo paratha
Movies/Music: Any of Atif Aslam’s songs, like Tere Bin, O Saathi, and Dil Diyan Gallan!
Holidays/ Traditions: Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha
That's all for this week's post! There's no post next week, but check back at the end of May for another All Around South Asia Post!
Check out Subul's Personal Blog!