Wattan ki mitti
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(We grew up singing the anthems from the wars of 19, listening to stories of freedom, and then chose 14th August as our wedding date also. Aj bhi Pakistan ka harr mausam yaad ata hai, kyun keh hai toh apna ghar.” Hamare gharon keh sath pura mulk saja hua. “1965, 1971 ki jangon keh taraanay gaatay, azaadi ki dastanain suntay baray huay toh shaadi ka din bhi 14th August hi chuna.
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The lady who got married on 14th August more than 35 years ago had a very sweet message to share with us. Now imagine moving away from the place where it all happened. Imagine celebrating two occasions on the same date each year. Yup, that was what we used to look forward to.” One fun thing that day though was, a variety program happening in our phuppo’s neighbourhood sponsored by the mohalla fund in which kids used to participate and also got presents. Mom dad singing along with every milli tarana that played on telly and me just rolling my eyes. “ August 14th takes me back a very long way in my childhood, houses all decorated, PTV telecasting milli naghmas, dad taking us out to see the city at night all lit up and then in the morning, he used to wake us up around 7.30 a.m to watch the parade happening in Islamabad. The gruff vibrating noise of generators in my neighbour’s houses used to lull me to sleep as I pretended to see shapes in the stars above me.”Ī few other expats, have memories associated with Independence Day in particular and the day brings with it a flood of memories. I remember it like it was yesterday how during my childhood, late night load shedding used to force us to grab our mattresses and drag them to the rooftop of my grandmother’s house. This is because for me growing up in Karachi the night sky dotted with innumerable twinkling stars was a very important memory. “I live in Toronto on the 20th floor of a building yet even on good days with clear skies, the night sky is quite inky & blank which always makes me feel like it’s lacking something. For some, however, the memories are more sensorial in nature. and building yourself a home far away from home.”īiryani on the weekends, chai and biscuit in the evenings with one’s family, pakoray on rainy days are small yet important memories that many Pakistanis associate with the country. It’s trying to piece together all these familiar aspects in an unfamiliar place. “ It’s a feeling of constantly searching for the familiar- be it in people, food, clothes or sports. You might not know the person but you know where they come from, and that kicks off endless conversations about the familiar. The excitement of meeting another Pakistani abroad, specially if they are from the same city as yours, is much like running into one of your classmates years down the line. We all know at least one person living overseas who hoards on Pakola and Shan masala every chance they get. While most expats may consciously make the choice of moving out of Pakistan, some part of them looks for Pakistan in their new homes.
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As the nation celebrates today, Cutacut spoke to expats living in Dubai, London, Riyadh, Toronto, and Budapest to understand what Pakistan means to them. For Pakistani expats however, the same day might hold very different meanings.Īccording to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, approximately 8.8 million Pakistanis live abroad. Be it the fireworks at midnight, the variations of flags that adorn the streets days in advance, or the crowd at sea view on the national holiday, joy and patriotism fill the streets of Pakistan. KARACHI: 14th August simply means celebration.