Posted:
Today's episode quite frankly had me watching with my eyes half closed waiting for it to be over so I could stop cringing. The disappointment I feel at what the makers are showing so insensitively... it is actually very hurtful and damaging. Pakistan and India have enough tension among themselves to show animosity via our TV serials too, and that too using wholly exaggerated and dramatised dialogues.
I am British but my mother and my dad's parents were born in Pakistan, well it was India when my granddad was born. I love the culture, the beauty, the Urdu language and so much more, but the political situation there always saddens me. The fact there are political tensions that have nothing to do with the civilians on the ground, yet when they are spoken of Pakistani people as a whole are dragged into it.
Yes, there are terrorists in Pakistan but they aren't 'bred like grass', and it is not every Pakistani's sole mission to attack India and Indians. In fact, it may come as a surprise to the CVs but people of all faiths openly practice in Pakistan, people are accepting, neighbourly and hospitable. You'd never go hungry in a Pakistani household if you were a traveller walking by! And the majority of Pakistanis actually want to peacefully coexist with India, we want there to be cricket series' against our neighbours, we want to appreciate the art India have to offer just as we want India to be able to appreciate ours (i.e. our music and dramas).
The words used against Pakistan and our people are hurtful and a misrepresentation. Not to mention the stereotypical background music and language that was used in that cringeworthy scene where Vividha wants to speak to the ambassador. We are not perfect, but neither are Indians, both sides have made mistakes and done wrong in this conflict and I am not denying that. But persecuting Pakistani people, targeting Pakistan deliberately all in the name of glorifying an Army Captain who (in the show) has done little to protect his country, is that not wrong?
This show is fiction, and fiction does tend to exaggerate some things and romanticise others, but if the portrayal of terrorism cannot be done sensitively I think it should be avoided altogether. In Pakistan, Pakistanis are the greatest victims of terrorism, schoolkids in some areas live in fear of terror attacks because of what has previously happened. A little bias towards India is fine, but this nationalism that is being forced down us is too much. No land should come above humanity.
I'm sorry for posting such a ranty post on here and I do not mean any offence, I think Vikram performed brilliantly in today's letter scene, but I feel it's important to raise this issue to the makers and make people aware of the fact that what is being shown is inaccurate and wrong. If you want to glorify the Indian army how about actually showing the Captain doing some stuff to save the country rather than just saying big dialogues and needing two defenceless civilians to come and rescue him. Just a thought.
Anupamaa
Seher Hone Ko Hai
