Reflections
By Faraz Khan
Islamabad, Pakistan
The ongoing corona pandemic has given an opportunity to reflect upon our life experiences. I look back at my formative years, particularly as a student in Pakistan, US and the United Kingdom. A lot has changed around me since.
Growing up, I had heard much about this magical place called America. The mantra was to go West, young man, and you can achieve anything. I chose, therefore, to attend a liberal arts college in the state of Massachusetts. In the fall of 2004, I arrived to a changed America. The aftermath of 9/11 was unfolding, with the brunt directed towards Muslims. It was also the year that George Bush got re-elected to office, something that a lot of my liberal American friends found hard to digest.
I realized early on that I had a lot to learn about the American way of life. Living on my own and being accountable to myself was not something that I had grown up accustomed to in Pakistan. The differing family structure, individual freedoms and well-functioning public institutions were unfamiliar to me at the time. In Pakistan there was a strong reliance and dependence on family; societal norms and customs drove social interactions. As far as the State was concerned, not much was expected and not much was given.
Most of my American friends were studying and working part-time, supporting themselves on their own. Few had time for Pakistani style ‘gup shup’ over a cup of tea. Reliance on family support and backing was scant. This was a shift from my relatively slow-paced and comfortable lifestyle in Pakistan. The American system acknowledged hard work and facilitated upward mobility provided the requisite effort was put in. In stark contrast in Pakistan individual success often had more to do with extraneous factors, rather than individual merit.
In 2009, I decided to pursue a Master’s degree from the United Kingdom. This time, my base was London which was a world apart from the small town of Worcester, Massachusetts. London was a unique city filled with history, culture, entertainment and notorious for its unpredictable weather. The British education system was also miles apart from its American counterpart. The style of learning was much more formal, direct and academic in nature.
My time in London was marked by a rather embarrassing controversy involving the Pakistan Cricket team. Three main players including the captain were involved in spot-fixing during the 2010 Lord’s Test match. For a meagre sum of money, our players had brought shame to the country. Being a cricket pundit, I was heckled by many of my friends and faced great consternation. Lord’s was also the ground where I had eye-witnessed Pakistan capitulate to Australia in the Cricket World Cup Final of 1999.
Completing my education, I moved back to Pakistan. This year marks my tenth year back. As I look back with a different perspective, I see a country that has been through a lot. We have seen years of political turmoil, economic hardships and security issues. Yet, as I have evolved over the years, so too has Pakistan. Political awareness and the role of civil society and media have definitely advanced. The continuation of democratic process has also been a welcome change from yesteryears. Terrorism has gradually diminished and Pakistan is fast emerging as one of the recommended travel destinations for 2020 and beyond.
Over the years, I have had the privilege to interact with many overseas Pakistanis who have achieved remarkable success. Many have thrived when given the right opportunities and a level playing field. A notable example is the current Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who rose from humble beginnings to achieve monumental success. Moeen Ali, an iconic star in the England cricket team is another such case. Similarly, many Pakistani-origin doctors and engineers have risen to heights in the United States.
Why, then do we not hear of Sadiq Khan type stories in Pakistan? Why must the son of a bus-driver only be a bus-driver in Pakistan and nothing more? Why do we not hear of “self-made” stories here? I believe the answers lie within. We, as a nation need to shoulder collective responsibility for past failures and focus on building each other up. Only when we take pride in the success of others around us, will we flourish as a nation.
I, for one, have faith that with the right approach, future generations will not have to go West to make something of their lives. The Pakistani dream shall suffice.
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