South Asian: Not ME !!

TTG has a scathing attack on why the term South-Asian is a wrong nomenclature. I completely agree with him.

So pardon me, if I take offense at being associated with a bunch of suicide bombers, and fundamentalist pricks. Of course, one argues that the “average” Pakistani and Bangladeshi is not responsible for these characters either. Which may or or may not be true, but the fact is, that we Indians have worked hard to carve out a name for our country – it stands for something. The Idea of India is not a new concept. It’s been around for a good 2000 years or so. Replacing the Idea of India with one of South Asia devalues everything that India has achieved to group it right back with a surrounding basket cases.

Go here for the whole post and the discussion in the comments section.

Published

By arZan

...

4 comments

  1. Hey, thanks for linking! Have been silently checking your blog out for a while now. This South Asian thing really gets my goat! Have replied to your comment on my site (but too lazy to reproduce it). Cheers!

  2. raven

    yes our cultural similarities do transcend political boundaries. But then the stand the country takes is based on what their politicians want. I am sure that if you ask the average Pakistani dude, he or she would not want the cross border terrorism that is going on just now.

    One cannot deny the fact that Pakistan was formed as a way to do everything opposite of India. So even though it landed up being a Muslim state, there are more Muslims ( i think) in India than Pakistan. At the same time there is more freedom for the same Muslims in India than in Pakistan.

    So then what is the basis of the country ?? Politicians have use this hatred against India as political ammo in everything they do.

  3. I’m sorry you feel this way, arzan. Our cultural similarities transcend political boundaries; that’s what the inclusive term “South Asia” says. (I’d go for Indian Subcontinent, or the Subcontinent, but Subcontinental is a mouthful and South Asian isn’t 🙂

    Re: taking offense at being associated with suicide bombers and fundamentalist pricks – now that’s a broad brush, wouldn’t you think? Who in their right mind would want to be associated with suicide bombers anyway?

Comments are closed.