For the Gen Z, it is all about connecting with others
dubai — Today, millions of Indians around the world will be celebrating their country’s independence day. But for thousands of generation Z expatriates in the UAE, the day shares as much importance to them as the Pakistan and UAE national days do.
With many of these children and teens born and raised in the UAE, they have connected with peers spanning tens of nationalities. And it’s that experience which has taught them to celebrate independence through union. For Indian expatriate Krtajnaa Prem, today is all about connecting with others.
“I would say 80 per cent of my friends are Pakistanis. Given that both our countries celebrate their independence days so close together, we take it as a time to talk about that Independence; we share our opinions. But I see all of us as one; there is no divide,” said Prem, the Grade 10 Winchester Jebel Ali student.
But it’s not just the teens and parents celebrating independence through union. The UAE’s youngest students are too; like 10-yearold Mishal Faraz.
Her mother Iram said India’s Independence Day is “one of those red letters days” for her children. “For them, days like this are just as important as their birthdays.”
Born and raised as an Indian in the UAE, Mishal said she feels privileged. “I get to celebrate two incredible days in the world calendar; both the Indian and UAE national days, and I celebrate them with much excitement. Tomorrow, I’ll wake up really early at around 5am to watch the national parade in India. It’s so colourful and majestic.”
And after starting the day with “such pride”, she said she will then continue the celebrations by making Indian flags with her friends, as well raising some probing questions about her home country. “I’ve prepared a questionnaire for after dinner. I’ve put in questions like ‘How many states are there in India?’ ‘In which year did India win independence?.”
Though today is all about India’s Independence, Mishal said with many friends from Pakistan too, being able to celebrate both days one after the other promotes a feeling of “oneness”.
Like Iram, Pakistani mother-oftwo Maheen Mehmood Ali said her children celebrate India’s Independence just as much as they do Pakistan’s.