Dual identity - Pakistani and Indian

[Sehrysh]

Re: Dual identity - Pakistani and Indian

@Naabigh

The Bold part in above quoted statement is the real bone of contention - How come you acclaim yourself as a Muhajir , just on the basis of the fact that you Grands moved from what is currently an Indian territory, to Pakistan post-partition.
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Let’s extrapolate this concept to children of Pakistani emigrants to other countries (UK, US, Canada, AUS, etc.) - why should they or should they not acclaim themselves as Pakistani if they were born outside of Pakistan?**

We all bloody need to own this country - My grand parents including my father , who was born in India - migrated to Pakistan - They were immigrants or Muhajirs not me . neither me mah who was born in pakistan .

Still half my naniyal lives in India - and half in pakistan - but does it make those living in India to love Pakistan - na it doesn’t !

I have spoken to many of them and they are more Indian than any Ram Gopal or Sukivernder singh you know .

So why cant we just be Pakistani - instead of labelling ourselves as Muhajirs .

Ah, but that’s the rub, my being Canadian, I was taught as part of the political/social policy of the nation, that I can own and celebrate my ethnic cultural heritage and still be Canadian. I can proudly be Pakistani-Canadian. So, if Canada allows me to hyphenate my identity, my inclination is to hyphenate my Pakistani identity as well.

As I said in an earlier post, I was neither born nor raised in Pakistan. My connection to India is not as tenuous as for others - my dada and dadi lived and died in India and it was only my father and two of his sisters who moved to Pakistan.

I do consider myself to be Pakistani-Canadian - based on the circumstances of my heritage, it’s the natural connection I make. But, if I express any loyalty or pride (and like I’ve said throughout - these are two different emotions) in India, it automatically garners me the tag of a traitor to Pakistan. That’s what I find difficult to reconcile myself to.

@Niksik

Anyhow, I hope my daughters grow up to love whichever country from what their experiences are and not from what they hear from media and/or people, just like I do.

Precisely my point! I can love both countries without being disloyal to either. Yet, the response I get from some is that I must choose Pakistan and have no remaining loyalty or affection (and I use both words since there is a difference in the sentiment) for India.