The Colour Of Otherness

When I first visited London 20 years ago, Indians and Pakistanis, burying political differences, were interacting as an Asian group. Having never travelled to Pakistan till then, my first exposure to Pakistanis was through Indian friends in this city. But with hostility peaking between both countries, the social barriers are now clearly visible. Personally, it was gratifying to learn that Indian-Muslims living in Britain do not share the fanatic mindset of the neighbours and are more secular in their approach. One hears that the Pakistanis have a monopoly over the local red-light areas, the drug mafia, passport forgeries and other illegal trades; little wonder that the word Paki has become the biggest abuse around. The unfortunate aspect is that because of colour similarities, other Asians are often clubbed under that ignoble category.