Identity, culture and religion, who we really are...?

By Barrister Amjad Malik

I had the opportunity to attend a discussion, which was organised by the BBC Urdu service at the newly built Irish centre in the heart of Cheetham Hill Manchester. This is the ward which produced the first Asian Muslim Lord Mayor of Pakistani origin and the region which produced the first MEP and the country’s Minister of Pakistani origin. In the audience of around 60 people predominantly of Pakistani origin, including the first, second and third generation and there were also some international students from the local university in the region were in attendance. The topic was on the identity, culture and religion and who we really are? and what we really feel as to our identity. It was a classic topic depicting the true indifference and the way society feels and its different strides.

I enjoyed the discussion and I felt that the discussion was relevant with the climate and that the answer always changes with the circumstances. Migrants who came to the UK pre 1970 had a different spectrum than those who came after the 1970’s having some experience overseas. The generation which was born, bred and educated in Britain in the modern day universities feel totally different. The culture and identity along with the passage of time, inherited  baggage, convenience and experience is ever changing, evolving and interestingly developing into the next phase. British Pakistani Muslims conveniently pick and choose like they are at a convenient store and or at a delicious restaurant offering a buffet. We are British Pakistanis when Afridi hits a smashing two sixes against India, or Boxer Amir Khan boxes his opponent winning the title, and we are British when we are confronted with Pakistani politics and or a debate on the local television watched by parents which only half of the children understand due to language barrier. Their mind sleeps listening to news of the country they hardly know but heard a lot. We are pure British when it comes to football ,and life style as Pakistan does not have a football team in the league and has not got a comparator, No level playing field. We are orthodox Muslims when it comes to the emotional question of foreign policy readily pitched in the media on Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan due to discontent and reservations. But when it comes to visibility we are, but when it comes to practice we are like anybody else. Looking after the neighbour, telling the truth, cleanliness, moral values, piety, teaching of sacrifice all seems too much to do for some.

I think from the audience religion seemed a fixed feature. Understandably though religion must not come in between our true identity, as we are what we are and as a Muslim you do not have a choice to identify yourself as a non Muslim. But as it offers a way of life, then I guess from the appearance of our colour and our practices in day to day life our ‘musalmaan’ (Muslim entity) comes in open and peeps through everywhere. If we are at a social gathering and do not drink alcohol, we have to confess that we are Muslims, and have to eat vegetarian food as halal is not available. Having a beard or wearing the hijab, fasting and or going for prayer always trigger religious identity question mark without fail so as prejudices and misconceptions. I agree though that religious identity becomes for a minority community an emotional issue and people would like to be known as Muslims first, then by their national identity attached to origin or place of abode. So unwillingly, even if we do not wish to keeping it private, we will be known as Muslim.

Then it comes to whether we are loyal subjects, British and or bringing our ethnicity and country of origin back to the debate a Pakistani. I feel that culture and our country of nationality contribute to describing one’s true identity. Those who came to the UK after spending 20 years in Pakistan will always bring some of their experiences of adulthood, schooling, language, upbringing and the circumstances in which they were raised in their country of origin with them. People from Pakistan are no way different than others i.e from South Asia , Africa and or middle east. So a Pakistan having experience will not be able to confuse his identity until and unless he spends the same amount of time in the host country where he migrated to. Therefore we see Pakistanis sticking to their own food, culture, news items and day to day life of the country of origin due to their siblings present back home who they affectionately support. The experience which keeps refreshing their memories as well as segregated environment and facilities i.e halal butchers, Pakistani convenient store, GP, Lawyer and councillor services. Thus we have many restaurants, political activities, interest in local issues relevant to those minority communities which migrated to Britain. The culture south Asia brings a variety of good and bad role models. People love cricket, food, politics and religious debates which ignite emotions. So there will be more of Muslim British Pakistanis because of their heritage, the culture they have experienced and the country of their adoption. So culture reflects from the practice of majority of the community and it slowly dissolves and or mixes with others. However culture based on religious teachings and practices will hardly diminish due to the faith attached to it.

There is a group of people who were born and bred here and would like to identify themselves as British Muslims except British Pakistanis. We cannot argue with them because they are third generation born and bred here. They hear about the country of their parents’ origin from the media, parents and or from guests in town and cultural behaviours. Due to the climate and circumstances the experiences of country and or people is minimal. Due to the Urdu language proficiency there is always cognitive thinking, which also hinders the way the first generation think and what the current generation prefers to think. This translation continuously goes on and it is subject to the preference of the individual whether they wish to listen and read the whole or part of the topic/news/story. The ideal classic situation will be where all three generations are given a choice and they will each watch same programme with convenience and pleasure. Currently, all three watch and enjoy different programmes at one time. The first generation will watch Indian soaps and or news from their country of origin, the second middle generation will watch local and International mixed, and the third generation will watch music channels, British soaps and or sports.  There is less preference towards identifying themselves from the country of origin (Pakistan) than the country of birth or domicile (Britain). There is no harm in it as the experience one has is from the country of their birth, nationality and the society they live in.

So whether we really are British Pakistanis and or British Muslims is a local issue not an international issue. I think we are all and or some in different situations or none. That is what Britain is all about cherishing and giving you a window of opportunity to pick and choose. Excel if you wish to and or remain on public funds if you do not feel like working. But integration should not be by force. Integration is not conditional to people of different faith and religion to come and join the majority. We are not less integrated if we do not drink and eat with the majority of their choice. Integration with free will and bringing the best on the table is the best. I think Britain has many cultures, languages and diverse features in its society and integration to any one will be destructive to any one distinct language and or quality. However, the communities may all know the language of the country of residence and can teach the language of country of origin if they wish to promote connection between the first to third generation. If they wish to watch same TV programme in one room they all must understand that language is equal whether you watch East enders or Pakistani News at GEO or other minority community channels. Sport plays an important part in providing role model as does religion. So I felt that British born Pakistanis will be Pakistani when Pakistan wins cricket and or when their religious identity is in question they are straightaway Muslims. Otherwise they will best known by the identity of the country where they domiciled.

Finally, the political question of whether Britain will see a Pakistani origin Prime Minister is an interesting one. Although the majority agreed that the system in place has the capacity to have one. Looking at the first female Chair of the ruling party, the cabinet Minister, the first MEP, the first Lord Mayor, I can safely say that ‘yes’ it is possible but that has nothing to with the debate of culture and identity. The system offers a free ride to one who wishes to climb up and have a dream and passion to act on it.  The Justice system and fair play is the key ingredient which promises the fertile environment where such thinking can be accommodated. Whether we are Muslims, British and or Pakistan is beside the point, the core issue is society has all three of them equally. Integration amongst these three is not convenient, hence integration amongst other communities is a gradual process and society must welcome all language, cultures and heritages to full enjoy this cosmopolitan culture.

Pakistan in itself a country of 200 million and hopefully it will encompass that small group with disconnect and identity issues either way and will welcome those British Muslims visiting Pakistan, with their British passports professing their nationalities. I think Pakistan will never question their colour and or religion like Britain does, or should they?. It is a marriage of convenience, experience and preferences and a lot of it depends on what is going on with an individual, family, group, and country’s demonic lives. A war can make British Muslim youth emotional if its against a Muslim country, a cricket match a Pakistani and place of residence, freedom of expression and choice, home, job, marriage, future and children abode issues straightaway to a safe zone (British). So whoever we are, we must cherish that salient feature of our life whether we are Muslims, British, and or Pakistani or all or some.

Barrister Amjad Malik, is a Chair of the Association of Pakistani lawyers (UK) and participated as a panellist in this debate on identify

19 March 2014