Ways to Decolonize the Colonial mindset of people in the Pakistani Context
Though it's been years since we have colonized, still, we speak the tongue of colonizers, caged in a bubble of a colonial mindset that compels people to follow the western culture. I know, we watch American seasons right? we know things about their culture, we tend to be more like English than Pakistani. This mentality needs to be changed, we need to think out of that caged mind to be free, both physically and mentally.
Ways to Decolonize our thoughts.
Promote your Language
It is possible to break out from the colonial attitude and promote your culture, values, beliefs, and heritage, it is achievable through writing in our national language i.e Urdu. Writing stories, novels, dramas, articles in Urdu so that new generation may well-informed of our lost customs, the most ingenious and dignified culture we had, people back then were honest and simple, they used to help individuals without thinking of benefit, but lately defaming and insulting people has become a trend. However, I remember how we had this bedtime story culture, obviously, speaking of Urdu, our grandparents used to tell bedtime stories about life, morality, being grateful, and honesty, these characteristics represent how language can build and grow us, but western civilization rusted our heads. Furthermore, organize language-oriented communities of well-educated people who are deeply rooted in Urdu language and culture; narrate stories of our past struggles, efforts, and motivations. Surely, we will be proud of our ancestry
Don’t walk in with a colonial mindset and say, “We know your problem and we’re going to fix it. Peter Buffett
Using Media To Promote Your Culture
Media is so vast these days, you can actually learn a lot about your religion, history, and traditions. The famous Turkish series Ertughrul Ghazi is a well-known example, the show represents their rich Turkish language, but it also manages to promote their dress code, cuisine, abundant culture, and most importantly our religion Islam. In addition, the renowned series break the viewership record of Bollywood movies in Pakistan conducted in a survey. This demonstrates how these shows have the potential to revive true history and traditions, the development of similar shows in Pakistan would promote our language and practices. Eventually, the colonized mind of people would be free.
Colonialism deprives you of your self-esteem and to get it back you have to fight to redress the balance. “Imran Khan”
Promote Pakistani Brands to Ensure Economic Freedom
Decolonization is associated with economic freedom, yes you heard it correctly, to promote economic stability the correct way is to promote the local brands in Pakistan. The standard of brands must be high quality to confirm the needs of individuals. In this way, the real dogmas of society would be challenged, and people would begin to praise Pakistani brands. However, Pakistani clothing brands should be under Government authority that has certain guidelines of dress code, this will cut out the western clothes from our society. Besides, the labels of products should be written both in Urdu and English Language as this will aid Pakistan’s export economy, and the rise of the economy will surpass the Western brands to collapse. Undoubtedly, it will definitely motivate us to appreciate our brands to be Western-free.
We must all decolonize our minds in Western culture to be able to think differently about nature, abut the destruction humans cause.”
― Bell Hooks, Belonging: A Culture of Place.I understand, changing the concept to what we felt was right would be difficult, but Decolonisation is breakable, we just need to accept that we have been influenced by Colonisation.
