Stereotype # 9 – Oh, so you’re from India? Right?

Wrong. I am from Pakistan. Indian and Pakistan are two different countries located however, on the same continent. We may all be Asians, yes. But calling Pakistanis, Indians is geographically incorrect! People from both sides of the border look alike in some ways. Most would mistake one from another. However, like India and Pakistan are alike in many ways, they are very different in a lot of other ways too.

Pakistanis would take offense to being called an Indian. The two countries may have been one at one point, but ever since 1947, they have both gone their separate ways. They have separate agendas, contrasting mindsets and completely different residents. The biggest distinguishing factor that may be very confusing for the non-Pakistanis is the language of the natives of both the countries. While both Pakistanis and Indians can tell in a second if it’s Hindi or Urdu that is being spoken, for the non-Pakistanis, both the languages sound exactly the same.

Here a Step-by-Step guide on how foreigners can save themselves from the embarrassment of calling an Indian, a Pakistani and a Pakistani, an Indian:

Step 1: Ask them where they are from instead of guessing.

Step 2: Ask them their favourite food. If you are lucky, a Pakistani would name a meat dish and an Indian, a veg-dish. IF YOU ARE LUCKY, that is. (This step may have a 10 % error ratio)

Step 3: Do not ask them about their state/province/city before you have guessed their nationality. This might confuse you since some places in Indian and Pakistan have the same names. For example: Punjab, Hyderabad.

Step 4: Do not stat a discussion with them on their historical background as a way to cleverly guess their nationality. Both the countries share the same history.

Step 5: Start the conversation by asking them a quick question. Gandhi or Jinnah? Both the natives are very sentimental about their national heroes. An Indian would most certainly say Gandhi, while a Pakistani would say Jinnah. (This step has a 100 % success rate)

Step 6: Do not start a discussion with them on movies. I repeat, do not. Indians would talk about Bollywood. And Pakistanis? Also Bollywood.

Good luck guessing one from the other.

Stereotype – Pakistanis and Indians, one and the same? Status = BUSTED!

Stereotype # 7 - Pakistani women are forced to cover themselves

Pakistan is not as repressive as you take it to be. It has evolved to great heights. True that three to four decades back, the Pakistani society was more open and culturally diverse than it is now but things are not on a constant downhill either!

Covering themselves up is a choice that each and every woman has. In fact, many would argue that wearing a Hijab is not in the religion but is a culturally imposed tradition. I don't mean to get into such a debate. But the point here is, women cover themselves if they feel the need to do so and as per their personal choice. They are certainly not forced to do so in this day and age.

However, exceptions exist. In certain families, it's a tradition for their women to cover themselves when they step outdoors. The subsequent women in the family tend to follow the tradition. Conservatives exist everywhere. There's nothing all that bad about it. Just like there's nothing wrong about covering yourself. But unlike what the stereotype implies, women are not punished beyond expectations if they don't happen to wear a dupatta (scarf) on their head!

Some of the more prominent cities of Pakistan are modern, are open to change and enthusiastically welcome the mainstream fashion! The locals here dress however they like and there is certainly no question anywhere over whether women have to cover themselves or not.

If you're taking a set of incidences that prove otherwise, and forming your assumptions on them, then I'm sorry - You're just going along with a stereotype that need serious busting.

Pakistan is fashionable!

Watch out, Paris! Here we come!

Stereotype - Pakistani women are forced to cover themselves. Status = BUSTED!

Stereotype # 2 - All Pakistani’s Hate Indians

Three words – No we don’t!

Or at least, not all of us do.

Pakistan has a lot in common with India; both being multi-cultural countries that share more than just a common border.

Born just a day apart. The not-so-quite twins!

Natives from both the countries looking almost alike.

Make a Pakistani and an Indian stand shoulder to shoulder and you wouldn’t be able to discern one’s national identity from the other.

No such thing as a communication barrier.

Then how can you possibly hate one of your own?

For Pakistani’s reading this post and bloating with angry, ready to burst and vehemently disagree, here’s the deal. There could be a possibility of you just being indifferent towards India rather than blindly hating on it.

So I repeat, not ALL of us hate India.

We love to groove to the beats of Honey Singh!

All of the latest Indian flicks make Pakistani’s throng to cinemas in hordes!

Our shaadi’s are incomplete without medley dances, Bollywood style!

And this is just the cinematic and musical aspect of our not-so-hateful relationship with India.

I had an opportunity to visit India during my final year in school. As expected, I had been exposed to loads of politicallyand historically motivated BS about India by that time (Courtesy: History Books). However, I crossed the border with as much enthusiastic about India as I would have about visiting any other foreign country for the first time. By the end of the 12-Day trip I had learnt important life lessons. Best of which was, it doesn’t take much to hate on someone, but it definitely takes a lot to like someone who you’ve been taught to hate since pretty much the time you first opened your eyes into this world.  

So in conclusion

India is beautiful, its food is almost as good as ours. :D A little non-veg but with the same tarka and spices! :D

The people there treat you like you’e royalty. I’m pretty sure we don’t get such treatment in any other foreign country.

Pakistani's and Indians have the potential to form beautiful friendships.

And lastly, just like we don’t all hate India, neither do all Indians have Shiv Sena in them.

Hence proved,

Not all Pakistani’s hate Indians.

Stereotype - All Pakistani’s hate Indians. Status = BUSTED!

PS: For those who do in fact hate India, because I am aware that exceptions exist, maybe all you haters could shift yur attitude a bit. How about going with the Plain White T’s “Hate is a strong word, but I really really really don’t like you.” ;)

PPS: We don’t all hate India, but a Pakistan vs. India cricket match and IT IS WAR! :D