UAE's youth celebrate Pakistan independence through union

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'd 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," the Grade 10 Winchester Jebel Ali student told Khaleej Times.
And for his mother Sonia, that togetherness is heartening to see.
"Of course, my children take pride in their Indian heritage, but they respect the heritage of their neigbours too. Tomorrow, we will launch a live stream of the parade in India to start the celebrations."
Growing up in India herself, Sonia said she always celebrated the day as a child, but after 17 years in the UAE, her own children haven't been able to gain that first hand experience back home.
"As a child brought up in small town in India, we always had a flag hosting. It was a very sentimental time and my children want to learn about that experience I had."
So to instill that sense of pride in her kids, she has an open question policy with them.
"Whenever the national anthem is played, I stand up and they often ask me what I'm doing, so I tell them and they mirror me."
But after making a life for her family in the UAE, she said the UAE national anthem has become just as important to her and her children as the Indian national anthem.
"This country has been close to my heart for 17 years, so to have the opportunity to celebrate my India's Independence, Pakistan's Independence and the UAE's independence all under one roof is special to our family."
But it's not just the teens and parents celebrating independence through union.
The UAE's youngest students are too; like 10-year-old Mishal Rizvi.
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 told Khaleej Times 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-of-two Maheen Mehmood Ali said her children celebrate India's Independence just as much as they do Pakistan's.
"I do this so they will get to understand that there is no class or racism. We want to promote this image of togetherness no matter what your background is."
On Monday, her six- and two-year-old girls both sported the colours of India and Pakistan during I-Day celebrations and they will be doing the same again today.
"We have only been in the UAE for one year so they are used to celebrating this day at home, but here, they get to share the experience with different nationalities."
- Kelly@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai