Reflection Paper

Usama Jamal

19100072

Family Reflection Paper

AlhamduLILLAH. I am one of the few fortunate persons who are blessed by the Lord to enjoy the sweet shade of their grandparents. My maternal Grandfather and paternal grandmother both are alive. As I was asked to write a family reflection paper, I contacted both of them and asked them, “who am I?” My grandfather told me that we belonged to Jalandhar in the Ferozepur district. So demographically, we are historically Indian. I believed him and narrated the same identity to my paternal grandmother. She refuted my grandfather’s narrative and said, something very conservative, that we believe in the sovereignty of Allah and the finality of prophethood on Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ. We are first and last Muslims only. Our outlook should not be narrowed to demographical states. She said that we were never Indians because demographically states disrupt and reconcile. So there is always a shift in this temporary identity. Why not stick to an identity which is permanent? I really got convinced by my grandmother’s arguments and considered myself Muslim only. Next I approached my father and asked him about my identity. He gave me an entirely new viewpoint. He said that his identity should not affect my identity. If he considers himself a historical Indian, then I shall not consider myself an Indian. He thinks that identity is related to where one is born. Since I am born in Lahore, and in a broader sense in Pakistan, I should consider myself a Pakistani first and foremost. Further, I asked my younger sister that which identity she likes to be called by? She said that she would prefer calling herself a Punjabi speaker. According to her, language is the most important factor in uniting a nation. It was one of the causes of separation of East Pakistan from West Pakistan; pretty emotional narrative. Finally, I approached my mother and asked her that what would she like to say about my identity. She said that she feels proud of her creed....