Many of my fellow British Pakistanis/ Mirpuris complain about the attitude of the older generation, particularly women. They complain about endemic gossiping, back biting, intrusion into the lives of others and a complete lack of sensitivity for the individuality of others. Mothers-in-law are particularly unpopular. They argue that the caricature of mothers-in-law in Bollywood movies, where they are often seen as overpowering, manipulative and even neurotic, is not entirely off the mark. I have some sympathy for such sentiments.
My theory is that a lack of education is behind all this. Many of these people are completely illiterate. Education opens up new horizons and interests. However, when you cannot read or write any language, or understand the main language of the country you live in, your options are limited. This is further compounded if your language, such as Mirpuri, is an unwritten language. There aren’t many subjects you can talk about.
1 comment:
It is true that education is the light, however we have to understand that not everyone can be educated, even if everyone was educated you will still get people who back-bite, ignore lower class people and laugh behind peoples back. why just women, even men tend to talk against one another.
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