Does Colonization Ever End?

79 years of independence after a hard fought struggle of decades may suggest the colonized finally again proclaim their identity, culture and language and the outside influence vanishes- however it has seemingly been the exact opposite. The Indian subcontinent which includes India, Pakistan and Bangladesh for centuries was ruled by the British. Indians were forced to adapt to the British ways of life. Politicians like Gandhi and Jinnah spent a lifetime fighting for the independence of their respective communities and died right after fulfilling their legacy. Unfortunately, the legacy of the British is seen to be as firm or perhaps even more despite the Indians being given autonomy.

English still takes preference over urdu in Pakistan with highly qualified exams and degrees being taught and conducted in English. Any Pakistani with formidable expertise in Urdu stands nowhere near an average English speaking citizen. Though the government has made Urdu as a compulsory subject till high levels of education, it serves no practical purpose in becoming successful. While learning English can lead pathways into civil service, abroad employment opportunities and high societal class. Though it is understood that English can be regarded as a universal language important for the increased globalization, the point is how Pakistanis stopped having any regard for their national language altogether. This disregard is usually seen in the young generations with the majority only speaking English.

The racism and taboo around skin color never left the Subcontinent either. White skin color is still regarded as conventionally attractive and darker shades are looked down upon, especially in women. The rise of whitening creams for all income consumers are witnessed in both India and Pakistan. Advertisements of companies like Fair n Lovely promote these unhealthy and unrealistic beauty standards. South Asians are forced to live in a system where they still idolize their past colonizers. The same pattern can be followed in minute details such as the concept of contact lenses, with brown people wearing blue contacts over their brown eyes to appear more attractive. The stigma around Indians looking “Indian”  is very much alive when in contrast they should start accepting and appreciating the natural DNA they were born with.

The higher class speaking English is often associated with them differentiating themselves from the working class as well as a show of how educated they are whilst anyone speaking languages such as Punjabi are considered rustic. During the independence, Punjab became divided which further reduced the authenticity of such a heritage while in the North, Khaybar Pakhtun Khwa became associated with religious fanatics and anyone speaking Pashto started getting regarded as a terrorist. This so-called independence may have removed British authority on papers and in the government but the scars it left on the traditions and cultural identity never recovered.

Though it can be seen from an opposite lens that the British rule brought western laws of governance, a democratic parliament and gave numerous rights to women who were excruciatingly oppressed in the Indian customs with them being killed once their husbands died and thrown onto the funeral pyres. The British built railways, and colleges promoted education over religion which helped shape the Sub continent into becoming more “civilized”. Though all these investments proceeded on the blood of millions of Indians who were starved and killed in the process.

Hence the Colonization which was regarded as to regulate the Subcontinent was in fact exploitation in disguise, the worst one being the partition line drawn by Cyril Radcliffe. Millions died, millions lost their connections with their lineage and roots and millions are still being forced to look upon the European standards while the majority have accepted them as the norm.