My cab driver yesterday was South Asian, and we’d been conversing in our mother tongues – a mix of Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi.
As is the custom amongst fellow desis, once we were a bit comfortable, he asked me where in India I came from. I gave him the usual answer.
I asked him whether he was from India or Pakistan. He replied, nonchalantly, Kashmir.
Those familiar with South Asian geopolitics will understand, that this statement of origin says a lot.
He came from Mirpur – a town in Pakistan controlled Kashmir about as close to heart of Kashmir valley as Jammu is in Indian controlled Kashmir. Quite far. Yet, his answer was Kashmir, not Pakistan.
Posted from WordPress for Android