Muhajir Culture Day: A Story of Identity and Struggle
Muhajir Cultural Day honors the tenacity and legacy of immigrants to Pakistan, emphasizing their accomplishments despite years of prejudice. It demands equality of representation, inclusivity, and solidarity.
In the beginning, the migrants who came to Pakistan during and after the 1947 Partition did not call themselves “Muhajirs.” Their migration was viewed as a realization of the subcontinental Muslims’ dream of a homeland in Pakistan. But after decades of cultural marginalization, systematic discrimination, and political alienation, their identity developed, leading to the creation of the Muhajir Cultural Day, a celebration of their heritage and tenacity.
The majority of Muhajirs who migrated settled in Sindh’s cities, including Karachi, Hyderabad, and Sukkur. They simply identified as Pakistanis and welcomed their new country. Despite being patriotic Pakistanis, Muhajirs experienced an increasing sense of identity crisis as a result of being called derogatory names such as “Panahgir,” “Hindustani,” and “Makkar.” They took satisfaction in using the word “Muhajir” since these labels served as a reminder of their outsider status. Both their migration narrative and their ongoing fight for acceptance were represented by this identity.
In response to decades of injustice, discrimination, and identity denial, Muhajir Cultural Day was established. It honors the distinctive history, language, art, and heritage of the Muhajir people. The inability of Pakistan’s successive governments to foster a cohesive national identity is the main cause of ethnic polarization in the country. Political leaders and rulers in Pakistan adopted divisive strategies after the founding founders’ deaths, favoring provincialism over nationalism.
The founders of Pakistan envisioned a country where all Muslims might live as equals and prosper together under one flag. Pakistan must embrace its diverse identity and overcome language and ethnic barriers in order to realize this objective. Muhajir Culture Day is a plea for fairness, equality, and the acknowledgment of each person’s contribution to the fabric of the country, not merely a celebration of one community’s heritage. Muhajir speaks urdu, the National Language of beloved Pakistan the mother land. As the poet says:
“Urdu hai jiska Naam, Hamin jante hain Dagh
Sare Jahan mei Dhoom hamari Zubaan ki hai”
By
Wania Tahir
Lecturer
Girls Postgraduate College Quetta Cantt
