I write today not to inform you of what you already know, but rather to express my self-acclaimed enlightenment in the form of a request. A plea. A cry. An epiphany! CATHARSIS! Call it whatever you want. Strongest apologies for this first-person narrative as I felt this may have been the best way to verbalize the subconscious clutter.
I find myself in the midst of a mental crossroad as of late. I awake to question your intention, your ideology, your pride and your distinct attitude towards your neighbour - specifically he whom you are not, and he who is not of you. Desi community and mentality seem as though will never progress in their lifetime - so as long as there is man, there will be war (figuratively, of course). Though one may not be the socialite, nor the outcast, how does one define their place in society - Pakistani society, to be more correct.
I may have a few answers for those who are curious - possibly not the best nor the most profound - but, I promise to royally offend you by the end of this piece or give you the support, nay, COURAGE, to speak up when you witness such crimes against humanity. Beginning this journey of superiority, allow me to turn back the clocks a couple years.
DISCLAIMER: The following heinous material is neither endorsed nor tolerated by the author. Forgive me, for I am just trying to make a point for those who seem to be frozen in the early post-Partition period (cca. 1940-1980).
Let me provide you with a quick example from what I have observed over these years as an obedient, developing member of Pakistani society,
Indians > Pakistanis > Bangladeshis
Would you agree? Of course you would not. Who could imagine someone living in this day an age could have such destructive thoughts and belief systems, right? Well, I have certainly been proven wrong! Pakistanis to THIS DAY still feel noble and superior to our Bangladeshi neighbours. Although we seem to have this strict hatred towards Indians, I am pretty sure the concept has only been confused with the better-defining Inferiority Complex. Pakistanis have been attempting to win hearts and respect for over half a century from the global leading nations. Why do we (shamefully admitting myself) Pakistanis feel we need to say or do things that will impress those of "higher" status or nobility? Did we NOT construct this country to abolish the Caste System or was that all for namesake and this pretentious identity?!
Let me paint a picture for you. I have been involved in somewhat of a personal assignment where speaking to such, hmm, CIVILIZED human beings has truly been the inspiration for this criticism. According to popular belief - this does not take much investigation, mind you - what separates the so-called Upper Social Class (UC) from the rest - Middle, Lower, Absolute Poverty - is the following:
Let me paint a picture for you. I have been involved in somewhat of a personal assignment where speaking to such, hmm, CIVILIZED human beings has truly been the inspiration for this criticism. According to popular belief - this does not take much investigation, mind you - what separates the so-called Upper Social Class (UC) from the rest - Middle, Lower, Absolute Poverty - is the following:
Natural Family Disposition
If you come from a long line of royalty, business-, or land-owning family members, you're set. You will have your life delivered on a silver platter and no one to complain or point a finger at you. You are the elite, cream of the crop, king amongst mere men and women. You, my friend, are immortal.
Residential Area
Every individual resides somewhere, stating the obvious. But just because you are waking up, walking and talking amongst coffee-drinkers, brand whores, unnatural British-accented buffoons and their foreign cars does not give you the right to shun someone based on where they live.
Career/Job
This, I suppose makes the most sense - the lesser of the evils. It is natural to want to belong and/or mingle amongst those of your own profession and like-mindedness career-wise. You have much to discuss and much more in common. Again, allow this not to get to your head. Just because you are a doctor does not mean your fellow nurse is insignificant and not worthy of your time.
Education
My favourite. "Education" in its literal sense means nothing but, "Where are you studying and how much are you paying for your tuition?" Our forefathers (and current generations) have made the transition into North America or Europe to provide that education for their succeeders. And for that, I would like to personally thank you for thinking of us when you migrated. It is, in fact, quite noble to give up one's own hopes and dreams - a better tomorrow for your kids. However, UC Pakistanis seem to not care whether one's kids have an MBA or a basic Undergraduate Degree (a "BA Pass," per se). What matters is if you have attended a school abroad (such as Oxford, Harvard, McGill or other foreign universities). By default, you are granted bragging rights if you have attended such schools - regardless of having been successful without them.
Salary/Finances
Self-explanatory - and possibly ties all the above headings together. Money runs the UC's life, you see. You will refuse to attend events and occasions that are beneath you - events that do not include your aristrocratic partners, that do not allow you to dress up in the latest designer-wear or give you that opportunity to poke your hollow, rhinoplastic nose in the air and follow-up with phony compliments and air kisses.
- pause -
I'm beginning to lose focus as to why I initiated this rant.
What I was trying to convey was the fact that Pakistani society has become so unbelievably materialistic over time where we start to lose sight to what should actually matter in life: your faith, your compassion for all things living, your trust in the goodness of humanity as well as your bias-free outlook.
I sit here staring at my screen, feeling so sad for how some of us will never change our mindsets because we are constantly brain-washed. Forget media. The hatred, discrimination and ideologies passed on from generation-to-generation is what we need to target. While I live in Canada, a predominantly discrimination-free country and fight against racism, sexism and other -isms, it saddens me that Pakistani society will never really break out of its superior mindset.
I don't really have a concluding statement, but I'm sure I'll think one up eventually. Hmmm...
GEM!! you have an excellent combination of humor wit and ridiculously factual observations. thx for writing and keep up with more similar pieces! xox
ReplyDeleteI have lost count of the time I've spent (and continue to, like a bad habit you can't break) dissecting the society we come from. Trying to understand the reasons why we've drawn these dark and thick boundaries between each other. Why it's so hard for us to evolve.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I feel, it is a combination of ignorance, an arrogance of that ignorance, and our deep-seated insecurities. A person only feels the need to exert power and control over another when they have a hole inside their selves. They have probably felt weak and weary of themselves for long enough, and so, when the opportunity presents itself to exert superiority over another, they jump at it. It's pitiful to be honest. And there is a no better way of showing such lack of character than this. But then, this is how I feel. I think one of our greatest flaw as a people have been to not look inside ourselves first, and instead, point out everyone elses shortcomings, wrongs, ugliness. I guess because its easier that way. To point the finger. Than to stare into the mirror. But its caught up to us, hasn't it? We're standing still, as the world moves in another direction. Ahhh, I don't know if I'm making sense anymore.
I enjoyed this post deej! love anything thats thought-provoking.
xxx
Although I do agree with MM on what she's said about society's inability to evolve, I don't necessary believe that it's strictly ignorance and arrogance that drive people to behave the way that you, Deej, have pointed out so well in your piece.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the product of these types of discriminatory actions and sentiments lie in the way modern society prioritizes its values and what it considers to be important. We see corporations, industry, and businesses erupting quite literally everywhere. Even in places where, and forgive me for "typecasting", 'village life' thrived without the craze for modernization and the need to industrialize, we see the Western imposition taking precedent. The obsession with money and hence material goods are a reality of the society in which we live.
Can anyone blame Pakistanis, or Indians, or Bangladeshis to want the same things as the rest of the world? I don't know if it would be ignorance of the fellow being so much as a thirst to completely immerse oneself in today's capitalistic society.
Although I do not believe that profiling someone based on status, wealth, or education holds ANY merit, I have to accept that, more often than not, individuals are a product of their environment, but must be held accountable for how they behave in that environment. It's a cut-throat kind of worldly machine, where competition is the engine, and degradation of our fellow kind seems to be fueling the whole party. Unfortunate truths that are justified by a must-do attitude.
ugh too used to facebook, there is no "Like" button on here... but you get the point... (Y)
ReplyDelete