Suresh Oberoi’s recent statement calling for a total ban on Pakistani artists, cricketers and even visitors to India is a hardline nationalist sentiment that is becoming increasingly common in the current Indo-Pak relations.
He not only called Pakistan an “enemy nation” but also felt ashamed to invite Pakistanis for any cultural or sporting exchange. While this resonates with some, it exposes a glaring contradiction when seen with his son Vivek Oberoi.
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Vivek Oberoi, now a Dubai based entrepreneur, has openly spoken about how the cosmopolitan environment of UAE allows Indians and Pakistanis to work and celebrate together, blurring the lines that seem so rigid from afar.
His business in Dubai reportedly has Pakistani clients and partners and he has spoken fondly about the love and affection he has for Pakistanis in UAE. This is in stark contrast to his father’s uncompromising statement.
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The Oberoi episode is an instance of the larger Indian dilemma: public figures often take hardline nationalist stance for a domestic audience and their families and businesses thrive in global hubs where such divisions are irrelevant.
Ultimately the Oberois’ story is not about hypocrisy but about the complexity of identity, commerce and coexistence in a globalised world.
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