Many Indian communities, such as Rajput, Jatts, and various Brahmin communities in the north as well as Menons/Nairs and Coorgs all claim ancestry to migrants from present-day-Afghanistan (at least when they’re not trying to claim Greek heritage).

Yes, I know this all too well, it is present in my family too, although from my reading and thinking I believe this to be a slave/colonized mentality. North and South Indians are much more similar to each other than either is to non-desis. Wanting to be an Iranian or Turk is to be a self-hating Indian, but, yes it is all too common in my North Indian circles.

Also, Pashtuns may have committed crimes against Indian women and war-crimes against Indians in general, but so have Turkic tribes, Iranians, British, Portuguese, and Greeks. But never forget that the greatest crimes against women are the female infanticide occurring everyday and also the deva-dasi culture of centuries past which allowed priests to have sex with young girls at temples. So we should not single out Pashtuns.

Good points. I agree. I have often thought, in a nearly taboo-like way, that many of the worst features of my North-Indian Hindu culture (female infanticide, village women covering their heads, “honor killings,” abusive marriages to ABD’s/CBD’s) are the result of too much cultural influence on “us” from the Central Asian invaders. In that way, I look more to South India as “authentically Indian” (even though I speak fluently only English/Hindi/Punjabi). Also, my IIT was in South India, and I really like the lively intelligence of the people there.

Shilpa, Many Indian communities, such as Rajput, Jatts, and various Brahmin communities in the north as well as Menons/Nairs and Coorgs all claim ancestry to migrants from present-day-Afghanistan (at least when they’re not trying to claim Greek heritage). Also, in India, we refer to brawny Muslims as “Pathan”, no matter what their origins are from. And many Indian Muslims try to claim that they are part Pashtuns. After all, “Khan” is a common surname amongst Indian Muslims.

I tried posting the exact hyperlinks for this information. It seems that on the various forums that I have followed in the past, that the Indo-Americans there all tried to link their backgrounds with that of Afganis. However, they don’t really try to find links or commonalities with South Indians, but that’s a different story.

Also, Pashtuns may have committed crimes against Indian women and war-crimes against Indians in general, but so have Turkic tribes, Iranians, British, Portuguese, and Greeks. But never forget that the greatest crimes against women are the female infanticide occurring everyday and also the deva-dasi culture of centuries past which allowed priests to have sex with young girls at temples. So we should not single out Pashtuns.

All I was saying is that

Some commentators believe that the proposed devolution of political power to the prime minister in cabinet might herald a change. But this is deceptive. The dominance of the army in the country’s political culture, whether directly running the country or in the background, is too much a fact of life in Pakistan.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\04\28\story_28-4-2010_pg3_4

Shilpa-bhan, I base my views on the fact that there seems to be a lot of social benefits of a caste in South Asia, especially India, to have had origins in present-day Afghanistan. For example: Karhade Brahmins, Saraswat Brahmins, Kamboj/Kamboh, Nandas, Kodavas from Kannada, Nagar Brahmins, Lohanas, Hyderabadis from AP (not Sindh), and even Nairs from South India all claim to have ancestors from Afghanistan.

Also, who didn’t rape Indians? Uzbeks, Aryans, British, Portuguese, Greeks, Iranians, various Turkic dynasties, and Brahmins have committed various crimes within India. By the way, the latter actually institionalised the rape of virgin girls at temples called deva dasis.

I don’t know what to make of this statement. It’s akin to saying Indians have a lot of respect for Brazilians. It’s a gross generalization. It’s neither here nor there, and it could be true or false. Who knows?

I meant to say, can you keep the same handle

I feel truly sorry for you. You are one of the reasons why South Asians in this country may never become a force politically. It is bad enough that politics is shunned, but even more so when we stereotype all Pushtuns be they in Iran, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, or in the West.