My ever growing identity
People constantly ask me why I chose to live in Karachi
The writer is assistant professor of media and communications at IBA’s Department of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts
Last August I moved from the UK to Karachi, Pakistan. Now that I have experienced enough rocky rickshaw rides before learning of apps for taxis and have lived through my fair share of food poisoning, I think I am ready to share what it feels like to answer the question, “Why Pakistan?”
People constantly ask me why I chose to live in Karachi. Now, usually when I am posed this question, the inquisitive person doesn’t stop at just asking me once, “Why Pakistan?” but begins an inquisition and in doing so initially becomes repetitive before prying into other areas of my personal life. Thus, I initially try to evade the question by smiling. I then answer by giving them one layer of what could be a very long answer, saying it’s because of the opportunity to teach media which for me is a passion in itself. However, people don’t buy that, even though it is very true and very much a part of one layer of my answer, so I then go onto another layer as to why I am in Pakistan which is “because it’s a country I know more than others, my parents are from Pakistan.” Apparently, having roots in Pakistan is not a good enough answer to choosing to work in Pakistan and hence the inquisitive nature continues, “But why Pakistan?” I have had opinionated people say, “So you must be out of touch with the culture?” “How do you manage?” “Do you know the language?” These really are very hurtful questions, I am of a hybrid identity, born in the UK and have chosen to come to Pakistan. I am not out of touch with my culture and love the traditional clothes, am respectful of not only the predominant religion, Islam, being a Muslim but all the other religions surrounding me as Karachi is a super diverse city. I definitely know the language, being trilingual since I was very young (English, Punjabi and Urdu) and overall I manage quite well.
Why people ask the question about moving to Pakistan insensitively, I don’t know. It’s not really one that I like being questioned about. I’m not as foreign as one may think and believe there is no such thing as a “good” or “bad” city or country if what the person questioning is trying to get at. Karachi and most cities in Pakistan as across the world have their ups and downs, it might be transport systems, food or a whole host of different reasons but that doesn’t make them “bad cities” to live in.
Having been brought up in the UK with Islamic values from parents who are from Pakistan, I am proud of having a hybrid identity which also attaches to it a certain Britishness, in terms of mannerisms.
Having lived for the most part of my life in Birmingham, I am a Brummie and miss it, so do I long for more trips to Lahore, my Punjabi origins. My most recent experience of living in Karachi has added yet a new addition to my identity. I regard Karachi for now as my city, a city which is growing on me every day despite what friends, family and acquaintances think back at home in the UK and more so the opinions of family and people I come into contact with in Pakistan. Overall, I feel that each of these cities has given me their unique identities and in doing so my identity is forever growing. I am as much a Brummie as I am a Lahorite and in the way that I have recently been defending the city of lights, a Karachiite too. Now that the three identities have merged and there appears to be two-thirds belonging to the largest and second largest cities of Pakistan, next time I am asked?, “Why Pakistan?” my answer will be, “Why not?”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2017.
People constantly ask me why I chose to live in Karachi. Now, usually when I am posed this question, the inquisitive person doesn’t stop at just asking me once, “Why Pakistan?” but begins an inquisition and in doing so initially becomes repetitive before prying into other areas of my personal life. Thus, I initially try to evade the question by smiling. I then answer by giving them one layer of what could be a very long answer, saying it’s because of the opportunity to teach media which for me is a passion in itself. However, people don’t buy that, even though it is very true and very much a part of one layer of my answer, so I then go onto another layer as to why I am in Pakistan which is “because it’s a country I know more than others, my parents are from Pakistan.” Apparently, having roots in Pakistan is not a good enough answer to choosing to work in Pakistan and hence the inquisitive nature continues, “But why Pakistan?” I have had opinionated people say, “So you must be out of touch with the culture?” “How do you manage?” “Do you know the language?” These really are very hurtful questions, I am of a hybrid identity, born in the UK and have chosen to come to Pakistan. I am not out of touch with my culture and love the traditional clothes, am respectful of not only the predominant religion, Islam, being a Muslim but all the other religions surrounding me as Karachi is a super diverse city. I definitely know the language, being trilingual since I was very young (English, Punjabi and Urdu) and overall I manage quite well.
Why people ask the question about moving to Pakistan insensitively, I don’t know. It’s not really one that I like being questioned about. I’m not as foreign as one may think and believe there is no such thing as a “good” or “bad” city or country if what the person questioning is trying to get at. Karachi and most cities in Pakistan as across the world have their ups and downs, it might be transport systems, food or a whole host of different reasons but that doesn’t make them “bad cities” to live in.
Having been brought up in the UK with Islamic values from parents who are from Pakistan, I am proud of having a hybrid identity which also attaches to it a certain Britishness, in terms of mannerisms.
Having lived for the most part of my life in Birmingham, I am a Brummie and miss it, so do I long for more trips to Lahore, my Punjabi origins. My most recent experience of living in Karachi has added yet a new addition to my identity. I regard Karachi for now as my city, a city which is growing on me every day despite what friends, family and acquaintances think back at home in the UK and more so the opinions of family and people I come into contact with in Pakistan. Overall, I feel that each of these cities has given me their unique identities and in doing so my identity is forever growing. I am as much a Brummie as I am a Lahorite and in the way that I have recently been defending the city of lights, a Karachiite too. Now that the three identities have merged and there appears to be two-thirds belonging to the largest and second largest cities of Pakistan, next time I am asked?, “Why Pakistan?” my answer will be, “Why not?”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2017.