Comments on: A memsahib in Pakistan

By: Guest

Guest — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:31:00 +0000

Adnan, you just said there is an obsession with whiter skin among Pakistanis and that its linked with financial prosperity. On the same note, you mention the fact that people from Northern areas (Gilgit / Skardu) are like caucasians, hence white.

What you FAIL to mention is the fact that these Northern Pakistani people are among the most financially worse off compared to other parts of Pakistan. As a matter of fact, the whole province of NWFP and Balochistan is financially worse off compared to Punjab and Sindh.

There is absolutely no link in Pakistan between financial prosperity and skin color. In fact, how many ‘blonde’ and ‘blue-eyed’ politicians, businessmen, aristocrats and bureaucrats can you point out in Pakistan?

By: Adnan Khan

Adnan Khan — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:07:00 +0000

Its the same as people being called ‘asians’ and ‘indians’ in the western world. Since most Pakistani cannot identify a European or an American even after talking to the person, the label ‘Gori’ is the default answer left. I’d say its not offending in any way. Its just the way the average Pakistani would talk about you, without any prejudice. Infact, I can’t think of any other word describing a Caucasian in Urdu.

Yes, Pakistanis have some kind of obsession with the white(er) skin, which is harder to explain. There is a pattern of lighter skin tones found with financial prosperity, although its a huge generalisation. (People from the northern areas of Gilgit/ Skardu are indistinguishable from a caucasian, specially with so many having blue eyes).

By: Rukhsana

Rukhsana — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:02:00 +0000

I am an African lady living in Pakistan 20 years, and am reasonably “well dressed”, “well spoken” (what you mean to say is actually affluent, which i am) but I’ve never been called memsahib or baji. This article is true, as i understand the Pakistani culture from a neutral point of view. Skin color, class system, social status and money is very important in the daily life of Pakistanis.

By: Rukhsana

Rukhsana — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:02:00 +0000

By: rh

rh — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:28:00 +0000

if you we feel youve been targeted and branded we feel we have been too!
such a generalization was completely unnecessary if not entirely false.
or perhaps this was just to get the attention of your readers, after
all, who’d be interested to hear about the economic situation which is
why most well dressed and well spoken women our targeted as memsahib or
baji even if they are the blackest of pakistanis (myself included)
theres that streak of imperialistic opinion that you oblviously
missed.

By: rh

rh — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:28:00 +0000

By: t5c

t5c — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:22:00 +0000

My God, you have got some issues. Considering you were traveling in a Rickshaw, I can tell you are not financially well off, thus the complex. I dont mean to be too abrupt, but seriously, I’d love to know which places treat white people like that. Unfortunately my poor ‘English’ wife never got such treatment, now shes jealous!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:43:00 +0000

Thanks Stephen! Hope your time in Matador U is as helpful was mine was.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:43:00 +0000

Thanks Stephen! Hope your time in Matador U is as helpful was mine was.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:40:00 +0000

Hkan – I would have a problem if in English people referred to me as ‘white girl’ – I don’t find my identity in my skin color. It’s different if people use a word like ‘gori’ to refer to/identify someone rather than simply to describe the person’s physical appearance.