This is the article in The New (Jang) today in Opinion. Read the excerpts:
"....Every segment of our life is saturated with either Indian or western principles and Lahore is one of the most seriously affected areas. Localities that suffer a scarcity of electricity and hygienic water do not miss video rental shops. People who seem to be without the basic necessities of life like water, power and sanitation flaunt dish antennas on their terraces. Even the slums turn to the satellite or Indian cinema for entertainment.
Those who don't have these windows of entertainment turn to music. Indian songs echo throughout the dingiest streets of town. Even on patriotic days like August 14, cars jammed from bumper to bumper on the Mall, blare out Hindi-pop. Shamelessly, I would say! The printed media is no better. They run after the scent of an Indian celebrity and exploit it to the fullest. If a popular personality happens to drop by, journalists hound him or her. The awe our society has for them is evident and crystal clear. Books and articles written by Hindu authors are read like the Holy Book. They are not perceived as insights into the enemy's mind but as better bits of reading.
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The Hindu festival of Holi takes up its own colours in Pakistan. Basant, again a Sikh tradition, is upheld with utmost festivity. We plagiarise their movies down to titles and songs. Indian products, especially clothes, are considered a notch above our own. Our marriage ceremonies reflect complete Hindu traditions. The way we express sorrow, again, is less Islamic and more Hindu. This 'Indianisation' of our Islamic culture has crossed all bounds. This cultural aping has seeped in into every crevice of our life.
While the Islamic world celebrates the holy month of Rajab, the pro-India pseudos of our society are painting rangolis on their doorsteps and lighting diyas in recognition of the Hindu festival of diwali.
It's not just the media who is besotted. All governments that have remained in power, civilian or military, have expressed a fondness for Indian stars. General Zia's love for actor Shatrugan Sinha was famous in all quarters. He would delay inaugurations of important events in anticipation of Mr Sinha's arrival. Nawaz Sharif, in his tenure, bestowed such respect upon Dilip Kumar. He was invited to Pakistan and awarded a national prize. Not bad for the enemy!
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In this love/hate relationship, all enmity bubbles to the brim when the two countries assemble to play cricket. Slogans are shouted, sportsmen are pelted with debris and stadiums are set alight. Yet these sentiments do not seem to represent those of our players. They love getting chummy with Indians. Imran Khan has always been a popular figure in Indian social circles. He frequently invites Indian performers like Sukhbir and Daler Mehndi to help raise funds for his hospital. Others like Mohsin Khan retire from cricket and feel more honourable serving the Indian film industry.
In fact it's not just our cricketers who like to visit India. Our stars and starlets drool at the prospect. The pity is that they go, get trapped in the bright lights, and end up giving unpatriotic comments. You'll find our singers on their charts and our actresses on their stage shows. Artistes like Komal Rizvi, Adnan Sami, Ali Haider, Junoon, Shazia Manzoor and Najam don't feel successful until they've had their songs recorded in India. For them all, the grass is definitely greener on the other side of the border."
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"....Every segment of our life is saturated with either Indian or western principles and Lahore is one of the most seriously affected areas. Localities that suffer a scarcity of electricity and hygienic water do not miss video rental shops. People who seem to be without the basic necessities of life like water, power and sanitation flaunt dish antennas on their terraces. Even the slums turn to the satellite or Indian cinema for entertainment.
Those who don't have these windows of entertainment turn to music. Indian songs echo throughout the dingiest streets of town. Even on patriotic days like August 14, cars jammed from bumper to bumper on the Mall, blare out Hindi-pop. Shamelessly, I would say! The printed media is no better. They run after the scent of an Indian celebrity and exploit it to the fullest. If a popular personality happens to drop by, journalists hound him or her. The awe our society has for them is evident and crystal clear. Books and articles written by Hindu authors are read like the Holy Book. They are not perceived as insights into the enemy's mind but as better bits of reading.
.............
...........
The Hindu festival of Holi takes up its own colours in Pakistan. Basant, again a Sikh tradition, is upheld with utmost festivity. We plagiarise their movies down to titles and songs. Indian products, especially clothes, are considered a notch above our own. Our marriage ceremonies reflect complete Hindu traditions. The way we express sorrow, again, is less Islamic and more Hindu. This 'Indianisation' of our Islamic culture has crossed all bounds. This cultural aping has seeped in into every crevice of our life.
While the Islamic world celebrates the holy month of Rajab, the pro-India pseudos of our society are painting rangolis on their doorsteps and lighting diyas in recognition of the Hindu festival of diwali.
It's not just the media who is besotted. All governments that have remained in power, civilian or military, have expressed a fondness for Indian stars. General Zia's love for actor Shatrugan Sinha was famous in all quarters. He would delay inaugurations of important events in anticipation of Mr Sinha's arrival. Nawaz Sharif, in his tenure, bestowed such respect upon Dilip Kumar. He was invited to Pakistan and awarded a national prize. Not bad for the enemy!
............
In this love/hate relationship, all enmity bubbles to the brim when the two countries assemble to play cricket. Slogans are shouted, sportsmen are pelted with debris and stadiums are set alight. Yet these sentiments do not seem to represent those of our players. They love getting chummy with Indians. Imran Khan has always been a popular figure in Indian social circles. He frequently invites Indian performers like Sukhbir and Daler Mehndi to help raise funds for his hospital. Others like Mohsin Khan retire from cricket and feel more honourable serving the Indian film industry.
In fact it's not just our cricketers who like to visit India. Our stars and starlets drool at the prospect. The pity is that they go, get trapped in the bright lights, and end up giving unpatriotic comments. You'll find our singers on their charts and our actresses on their stage shows. Artistes like Komal Rizvi, Adnan Sami, Ali Haider, Junoon, Shazia Manzoor and Najam don't feel successful until they've had their songs recorded in India. For them all, the grass is definitely greener on the other side of the border."
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