Pakistan Day: Loyalty to Two Lands

Can a person have loyalty to two lands? I think so, in fact I believe so.  I am American born and have spent my whole life in the US but have strong roots in Pakistan, the land where my parents, grandparents, great grandparents, husband and in-laws were born. I naturally have loyalty and love for my beloved America but through my parents’ efforts, I also fell in love with a foreign land.

I fell in love with a place where combined, I have spent less than one year of my whole life. I fell in love with a place I at one time I did not even go to for over 12 years. I fell in love with a place that has so many faults, has notoriety and cannot seem to have working electricity everywhere at all times. I fell in love with a place where my gastrointestinal system still does not approve of, has a streak of bad politicians one after another until perhaps just now and where Amazon still does not deliver to.

I remember our trips as far back to the 1980’s, when I was six years old and my grandparents lived in inner city Lahore. I remember the love and welcoming arms of family, extended family and neighbors. I remember waking up to the dhol wala drumming away to “Mast Qalandar” early in the morning, the early morning fog, kites in the sky, the lemony chick pea concoction tiny old lady on the corner used to sell kids and then kids would take turns riding her creaky metal swing. I remember the mixed scents of delicious food, dirt, livestock and gutter. I remember opting for a horse and carriage “tanga” ride over car or rickshaw and asking the horseman questions about the horse such as its name, age and then get angry at him when he would whip the horse. I remember stealing two tiny goats with my cousin and bringing them home as, “our new pets” then having to return them right away. I remember hearing the prayer calls from different mosques in various directions; each muezzin competing to be louder than the other.

Camel at Rana Resort, outside of Lahore

I remember the odd way the street vendors would yell out the names of products they were selling like, “garam garam aaandayyyy” and others I cannot even figure out how to repeat! I remember going to the Northern areas and visiting Muree, Swat, Malam Jaba. I have yet to see such beautiful mountains anywhere else. Even the Rockies have nothing on Pakistan’s Northern side. The car teetering along the side of the cliff on its way up the mountain was an experience in itself. I remember the beautiful parks and gardens. I remember walking around in Mughal era architecture; palaces, mosques, temples, shrines and Lahore Fort. Everyone knew us as the “Amreeki” kids, so we got extra attention, weird stares and more love. How could one not fall in love with such an enchanted place?

There was a gap of 12 years when I did not visit Pakistan because most of my family had migrated to the US. I returned in my 20’s to find Lahore had completely changed and literally got bigger. The livestock was gone from the city, so no more horse and carriage rides for me. Pakistan’s version of “white flight” had happened and everyone lived in the new, cleaner, more beautiful parts of Lahore. There were lavish malls, more fancy restaurants; more parks and outdoor spaces and expensive boutiques. McDonalds and many other American establishments had made their way there. Reminiscing about my childhood, I asked my driver to take me to old city Lahore. It was as I returned back in time. Old city changed but did not change. Take away livestock and gutter, add mobile phones and newer cars to the same people who seemed to have been in a time capsule.

Traditionally decorated truck.

Fast forward years later, most of my husband’s family lives in Pakistan and we are fortunate enough to be able to go back almost every year. We bought this oil painting from an artist in Lahore a couple years ago. It is my Lahore, hanging in my dining room. Although my trips to Pakistan with my daughter are shorter than the trips my mom made with us; I still plan to do my best let her experience and hopefully fall in love with this enchanted, foreign land that is my home away from home, in my heart.

🇵🇰 Happy Pakistan Day 🇵🇰

An oil painting depicting Badshahi Mosque and Gurdwara Dera Sahib from Lahore Fort in Walled City, Lahore.