Pakistan and Diana: A Cross-cultural Love

Words by Shahzada Qasim

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This is a rare vintage poster for the National Dance Ensemble from Pakistan when they made their grand debut performance in New York City in 1973 at the Hulu Theatre in Madison Square Garden. The show featured celebrated Kathak dancer Nahid Siddiqui who rose to fame in the 70s but in the late 70s, martial law was declared in Pakistan and dancing was banned. She left Pakistan and relocated to London but was told she couldn't dance anywhere in the world without the permission from the government of Pakistan. Siddiqui defied these rules though and continued to dance. "How can you ban beauty?" asked Siddiqui. (Available now as print)

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Pakistan and Diana: A Cross-cultural Love

The 1990’s in Pakistan conjures up a culturally brilliant scene: gratifying music, ravishing clothing, mystic paintings, and portraits all over-shadowed with creativity, cinema growth, bangles, Urdu poetry, literature, and pop culture on the whole that extended from sports to personalities. And of course how can I not mention Lady Diana who effortlessly became a part of this magnificent decade. 

The colonial legacy that has been lingering in Pakistan since Partition continues to foster a sense of subservience towards our indigenous elements – our own people, our languages, and our cultures, while uplifting colonial norms and values. But before delving into this article, however, it must be clarified that writing about Princess Diana is certainly not an extension of that very colonial legacy. I am not glorifying the British Royal Family which, after all, is Imperial; but rather I am solely shedding light on how Diana Spencer intrinsically became a part of the Pakistani culture, and that how a person with a totally different culture, language, and a member of the monarchy who ruled the entire subcontinent has somehow emerged as the only non-Pakistani person in the world to be loved so much by the nation. Therefore, the foundation of Diana’s love is cultural relevance, despite its irrelevance and hence any inferiority complex is not relevant.