I had a fantastic time at the Scottish Pakistani Association dinner meeting with the Consul General of Pakistan and a number of figures that have worked on projects between Pakistan and Scotland for a number of years. Growing up in Scotland, like many 3^rd generation Scots-Asians, I sometimes struggled to balance the understanding of my existence between two cultures that in many ways do not compliment each other. However, it is through the work of people like Dr Azra and Peter Meadows that the differences between the nations can be celebrated as opposed to the commonality being the backbone of cultural appreciation for one another.

I have never been a fan of the phrase “there is more that brings us together than divides us” as it implies, to me, that only through being similar we can build foundations for trust, respect or tolerance. Attending events like the SPA dinner is always a humbling experience as I am able to meet with individuals who have put in decades of hard work alongside academics and grassroots community activists for the betterment of society and cultural appreciation.