WEB CHUTNEY

We, the people, create our own boundaries - then we cry and whine but do nothing about them. Here’s a list of debacles that Pakistanis go through.

1. The obsession with ‘gora-pan’

Whether it’s a girl or a boy, Pakistanis love gora-pan! You’ll find fairness creams and what-nots that guarantee 100% fairness. There is also the need for finding a ‘gori bahu’ or a ‘gora damaad’ because people who aren’t fair cannot offer you happiness. #Stereotyping

2. The great fascination with English, because speaking Urdu is too low standard

The obvious reaction is that English is indeed an edge, but looking down upon those who aren’t good at it is unfair. Talent, comprehensive understanding, qualities are far more a perk than just English.

3. Marriage: the most important thing between your birth and death

“Larki 25 saal ki hogayi hai, iski shaadi nahi karni kya?”
“Aray larkay ki job lag gayi hai? Tou shaadi kab kar rahain hain uski?”

Career aspirations, adventure and discovering oneself is basically fuzool ki baatain.

4. Blind faith in political parties

One does not follow a political party because they have extrapolated from it, but because their family/ friends/ peers do. Also, you are either led on by the political parties or you are compelled to vote for them due to ‘circumstances’.

5. Superstition: it goes a long way

The best of people, even the smartest clique would fear crossing the road because a black cat just passed by. A lot of us are changing, there are people who believe in a lot of myths.

6. Blaming the system

All political parties are corrupt, every leader is corrupt, but we are not. Why is the city dirty? The municipality should do something about it, but you should not. We never contribute to the corruption, the system does. Right?

7. Cricket gods and everything else goes for a nought

Cricket may be a popular sport in Pakistan but we often forget that every individual can have an opinion of their own. While there is a lot going on for cricket, there isn’t much invested in other sports in Pakistan where true potential can be found.

8. Education = Herd mentality

Only below average people will opt for humanities / art / language etc since science is for really bright minds. Almost each one of us who has taken the road less travelled can relate to this until you stand out and prove yourself. Well, even then the credit for your success will be given to your luck because you’re not a doctor or engineer.

9. Obsession with society

It is so hard to pen down things that we do and the things that we don’t because ‘char log kya kahen gay?‘

10. Striving on conspiracy theories

We love conspiracies of all forms; there was an earthquake, it is because women have strayed away from the path of righteousness; there was an attack, it must have been India; there is a problem in our history books, you are anti-Pakistan; there is no rain, it is because of the Jewish Lobby. EVERYTHING can become a conspiracy and we love to indulge, even when our minds tell us to calm down.

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. – Barack Obama.

No we did not quote Obama because we are American-lovers. We quoted him because he is right.

The original version of this post can be found here