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The real story is not about the Chaiwala. The real story is about us

The real story is not about the Chaiwala. The real story is about us

Arshad Khan’s story is one of reverse sexism, reverse objectification and reverse stereotyping.
Updated 19 Oct, 2016

Social media feeds are a curious thing. They most effectively exhibit the best and the worst of humanity – our confused composite collage of mood and mind: from cataloguing everything from analysis pieces in The Economist to gifs of our pets doing adorable things like ‘existing’ to our status updates on daily coffee binges.

However, for the past two days, one of the most sighted images on social media has been the #Chaiwala — no names needed.

Headlines reading "This blue-eyed chai wala is being called Pakistan’s ‘nuclear weapon’" (Times of India); “There’s hot tea in town” (Hindustan Times) are looped on Twitter.

Who is this man? What is his superpower?

Apparently, it’s his blue eyes. And apparently there is no expiry date on our colonial baggage.

Arshad Khan hails from Mardan and was suddenly catapulted to fame when Islamabad-based photographer Jiah Ali instagrammed a photo of him pouring tea two days ago.

On so many levels, Khan’s story is one of social reversals: reverse sexism, reverse objectification and reverse stereotyping.

And while it is by no means unprecedented for women to swoon over good-looking men any more than it is for men to do so over women, the ick factor in this particular situation is underlined by class rather than gender.

A huge part of me wishes to dismiss this story as just another silly social media frenzy over a good-looking person drawing the general unwarranted attention that good looks draw anywhere in the world.

And it is, and I would, except for when one witnesses a poor man being harassed on screen with ridiculous questions that highlight how insensitive some of us are to class questions and constructs in the face of pretty pictures.

Again, harassment isn’t an unprecedented event either and it is rather odd to feel outraged exclusively when it happens to a man, considering it happens to be the staple of most women’s lives in Pakistan.

Women are reduced to the lowest common denominator of their looks every single day regardless of their class or credentials — so why is this troubling?

Perhaps it is the sheer belligerence of how the harassment has manifested. After all, if one were to reverse the situation to its mundane manifestation where the sexual object is a woman then the outrage about the media campaign attached would by no means be an amusing footnote as it has been with Khan.

If hordes of men began tweeting and meming pictures of a female check-out girl because of her beautiful complexion and blue eyes, many of us would be outraged. I know I would be. Not because the standards that separate sexual objectification from beauty form such a slippery slope, but over the question of agency.

The same rules apply in this context, and so honesty compels me to acknowledge that reverse sexism is still a form of sexism.

Harassing a tea boy for his looks is just as problematic as harassing a waitress, a problem compounded by class dynamics that mean the tea boy in question cannot even read the language used to describe him or access the forum on which he has gained global fame.

The only real surprise is to witness such desperate lack of agency on part of a male member of the object-subject spectrum.

However, there are many pointing out the ‘upside’ of these turn of events. Khan has apparently been offered a modelling contract and that fateful photo that he did not invite may end up changing his life.

A true Cinderella story indeed.

One could bring up the question that it is ‘unfair’ for him to get a fresh start off his ‘good looks’ when the man standing next to him won’t — but that would be disingenuous at best and classist at worst.

After all, we do not take to task all the actors, models and general ‘pretty people’ who profit off their looks around the world — so it would be especially cruel to target Khan if he manages to do so by accident.

A poor man is attractive — why are we surprised?

The real story is not about Khan at all. The man was just doing his job and pouring tea. The real story is about us and how we see him or feel the need to.

There is the obvious surprise that a ‘tea boy’ could possibly be that good looking, as if attractiveness were the sole provenance of the privileged.

There is internet posse of swooning women and aggravated men negotiating how ‘blue’ his eyes really are, once again underscoring that at the end of the day, our colonial complexes run bone deep and not just skin deep.

There are people making memes laden with sexual innuendo featuring Khan’s photo edited in various outfits, because there are always people making memes to make matters worse.

There is the reporter who single-handedly sums up everything wrong with reporting protocol in Pakistan.

But above all there is us and how we use social media to broadcast our silliest selves with such extravagant flair.

Sexual objectification is a global epidemic and it is by no means exclusive to Pakistan.

When people navigate skewed standards of beauty, it is important to consider how much choice we have in the matter.

For many of us, who to some degree or other participate in living up (or down, depending on one’s perspective) to beauty standards, the degree of agency varies. There is a point when wanting to attract attention and appear beautiful is natural, there is another where it turns duplicitous and then there is a point beyond that where it becomes dangerous.

There is definitely an element of coercion in beauty and how it is constructed differently for men and women. While it is an asset for one gender, it is a necessity for the other.

Khan’s story is not earth-shattering and certainly doesn’t deserve consideration beyond the scope of the event, but it offers up interesting parallels for all of us.

As both a student and teacher of gender, I have always endeavoured to try and keep my rage and resentment at the treatment of women in this country in perspective and in line with offering solutions rather than just complaining about circumstances.

This is not to say that I don’t have sympathy and stand in solidarity with all the women who do complain because we have earned that right. That is why this is an odd position to find myself in, defending that rare case of reverse-sexism a man suffers over the uncountable ones women do.

My only defence lies in the fact that this case is being constructed along class lines rather than gender, which makes it particularly problematic and that opposing such bigotry for women demands opposing it for men too.

Comments

Shumaila Oct 19, 2016 02:22pm
This reminds of Sharbat Gula - An Afghan Girl who's photographic portrait by journalist Steve McCurry appeared on the June 1985 cover of National Geographic, and made ripples across the world.. ..Natural beauty makes its own space regardless of gender.
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Satt Oct 19, 2016 02:28pm
Please don't spoil the innocent local boy,its more happiness in selling tea and live with your family than throat cutting fashion world.
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Mahmood Oct 19, 2016 02:33pm
And I thought it was all about piping hot chai!! how wrong was I!? How shallow of us, instead of the tea, we are obsessed with the tea maker. As if sipping the tea made by his hands will bring us eternal youth, or maybe ladies could fulfill some unmet fantasies??
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Bitter Truth Oct 19, 2016 02:40pm
This all, only depicts and further proves that as a nation we have nothing productive to work on.
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Skeptic Oct 19, 2016 02:45pm
it speaks of our double standards and hypocrisies as well. If a man was t publish a picture of a pretty girl and praised her looks, the feminists will be all over him for ogling a female. But women are free to express shameless desires about good-looking men? Better yet, they should stop living in the fantasy world of major, congested and polluted cities like Karachi and Lahore or from behind their tablets and keyboards, and travel to tribal areas, and see all the good-looking blue-eyed specimen to your heart's content! There's a whole different reality out there, the likes of which you rarely find in your neck of the woods.
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M. Malik Oct 19, 2016 02:53pm
Sad, how superficial we have become. This poor chai-wala will probably enjoy the glare and attention, with some fame for some time, but in the end, will probably run fast back to his village, to seek true and tested happiness, that will never be found in fashion or show-business. To each his own.
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JS Kazi Oct 19, 2016 03:04pm
" huge part of me wishes to dismiss this story as just another silly social media frenzy over a good-looking person drawing the general unwarranted attention that good looks draw anywhere in the world." Probably should have heeded that first impulse. You're just adding to pointless drivel regarding a non-issue. Could have started out with all the things that produce a Mardan man pouring chai in Islamabad. The things that produce immiseration, forced migrations in the name of economy and security. Otherwise, how is this article any different from self-absorbed civil society trying to displace a material problem into discourse and resolving it there for their own catharsis?
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sam Oct 19, 2016 03:08pm
A wonderful analysis
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wellwisher Oct 19, 2016 03:20pm
a good looking thing is well a good looking thing.Rare and desirable.
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wellwisher Oct 19, 2016 03:24pm
Dos any one remember how Nimmi, Madhubala and Dilip Kimar were discovered.Nimmi sold flowers at road junction, Madhubala was spotted at a local railway station and Dilip Kimar ran a fruit shop in cantonment town.All were irresistably good looking
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Junaid Iftikhar Oct 19, 2016 03:24pm
this is the most confusing article i have read in days. beauty n fame regardless of gender is a gift of God. the boy got famous simple is that and you are confusing us with jargon that doesnt apply here. pakistani people are simple and appreciative and a bit of time wasters :)
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Darshan Oct 19, 2016 03:25pm
Maybe, immature comparison with Narendra Modi the great!!!
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bee Oct 19, 2016 03:27pm
@Satt I am sure he can make his own decisions.
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Pakistani Woman Oct 19, 2016 03:35pm
He is a shareef decent person, I heard his interview. Request to all please let him remain shareef.
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ABCD Oct 19, 2016 03:44pm
Yea, two people, a Chai-wala fromPakistan and a Dhol-wali from China are making news. Best of luck to them.
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Harmony-1© Oct 19, 2016 03:49pm
@Bitter Truth - "we have nothing productive to work on". This is the same rhetoric as 'don't play just study' as though sports should not be considered a profession. He is doing "productive" enough work in selling tea and making a living!
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Amer Rao Oct 19, 2016 03:55pm
Hello Pakistan, Does any body remember Reshma, was a renowned Pakistani folk singer, Her story was same? And there are lots of other examples within Pakistan. Be realistic, world is changed now. Please see the big picture. Our private " corporate " sector must come forward and give him a fair chance in their Ads. Beside this, there is lots of potential he can make Chai Wala franchise too. The sky's the limit.
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Feroz Oct 19, 2016 03:56pm
The real story is Pakistanis' fascination with fair skin.
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Harmony-1© Oct 19, 2016 04:13pm
@Feroz - Indians even more. A commonality!
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rk singh Oct 19, 2016 04:27pm
@Feroz you are spot on. Add light coloured eyes. Same case in India.
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Taimoor Khan Oct 19, 2016 04:33pm
I have seen some media outlets approaching this young man and really asking some silly question. For heaven sake, the guy is only 18!! To call him a "Chaiwalla" on his face is very objectionable and down right pathetic. Respect people and what they do, because they are doing certain jobs not because of choice but due to circumstances.
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Satyameva Jayate Oct 19, 2016 04:47pm
Too much ado about nothing.
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Egoist Oct 19, 2016 04:58pm
I dont know why twice in your article you mentioned colonial complexes when blue eyes are not limited to english people and originate from a single genetic muation in human history and are recessive in nature, not to mention one of the rarest < 10% of the human population. People with blue eyes are found in a big range of area including South Asia. There is a lot of history about people with blue eyes and it cannot be simply categorized as colonial complex.
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Feroz Jamali Oct 19, 2016 05:01pm
Well written and appreciable effort.
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Jawed Mirza Oct 19, 2016 05:10pm
It does not take long to shoot to fame ,,,,,,don't forget one pound fish .......I wish Arshad Khan good luck
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Sam Oct 19, 2016 05:17pm
This is a very confusing article. Why is calling a chai wala , a chai wala offensive when you don't know his name? What is wrong with being a chai wala? Would someone be ashamed of being called Doctor, teacher or engineer? Chai wala makes a good Twitter handle. The guy is famous all over the world thanks to us "fickle" internet users. He is totally uneducated but with his new found fame may have a bright future ahead of him. Do him a favor and Luke his pictures more. I hope his fame lasts longer than a few days. Best of luck piyara chai wala. God gave you good looks. We hope you do something good.
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Logicaldude Oct 19, 2016 05:22pm
I see very little objectification. But certainly we are obsessed with light skin pigmentation and blue eyes, closer to European standard of good looks. Let the man enjoy his 15 minutes of fame. Hope some good comes out of it for him.
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Abu Ahmed Oct 19, 2016 06:08pm
All said and done, if the boy makes some good money, so much the better
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rick Oct 19, 2016 06:13pm
lets see if he can have same career as Modi.
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Jaleel Rahman Oct 19, 2016 06:18pm
Leave him alone. Modelling and else will steal his happiness.
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Iqbal khan Oct 19, 2016 06:27pm
The whole saga depicts our collective approach as we are still in subjugated colonial psychology. The real apathy is the government failed to provide education to people in the heart of its state. There would be many like Arshad Khan but it's not a pride to pick them all for the glamour of a media screen. The universal pride is to make them an asset for generations ahead.
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Sara Oct 19, 2016 06:41pm
@Shumaila this is very different from Steve McCurry's photograph because people are only admiring his beauty in a perverse fashion
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Fahim Oct 19, 2016 06:49pm
@Shumaila but no one was ogling over the picture of that Afghan girl and having all sorts of fantasies. Neither that girl was brought over the New York or Paris to be made a super model.
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Masood Hussain Oct 19, 2016 06:50pm
This meaningless social frenzy is going to change the life of a poor 'chaiwala'Wish him well in his new career.
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Syed Waqar Ali Oct 19, 2016 07:00pm
This reminds me of Bashir Sarban. Sarban means the one who rides a camel on his cart. He was spotted by Mr. Johnson, then Vice President of America. He rose to fame because Mr. Johnson invited him to America as his guest. These stories of Chai wala, Bashir Sarban or Sharbat Gula clearly prove ' wato izzo man tasha wato zillo man tasha'.
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Nadeem Shehzad Oct 19, 2016 07:24pm
Nation that prefers looks over abilities wonder why it can't compete with advanced nations. Western nations focus on capability of a person, and get impressed by the learned talent; backward nations focus too much on things like God's gifted beauty which is not achieved by human effort.
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ron Oct 19, 2016 07:26pm
If they truly want to help him, send him to school for gods sake
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Roz Oct 19, 2016 08:33pm
Thanks to Alexander The great
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T.M. Wazir Oct 19, 2016 09:11pm
Well, there are so many good looking pretty faces in Pakistan men and women but why him? Publicity sometimes called just pure luck. I am glad if he gets better life through this publicity.
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karr Oct 19, 2016 09:27pm
I think you are reading too much into this. The guy looks good. I hope he becomes a movie star.
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Asif Ali Lakho Oct 19, 2016 09:38pm
though he is a good looking guy and you praised good but instead of having selfy with him just show path to success in life now.
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Muiz Oct 19, 2016 09:45pm
@Bitter Truth I totally agree.
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Global Peace Oct 19, 2016 10:35pm
All wonder how come a poor man is attractive ? As if beauty is a property of rich man ?
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Jalaluddin S. Hussain Oct 19, 2016 11:24pm
The "Chaiwala" truly demonstrates self-confidence and dignity of labour.
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Hasnain Oct 19, 2016 11:35pm
Good points. I too think that everyone is making a big deal out of it not because he is good looking but because he is a "Chaiwala". Our minds are literally not comprehending how a low class person can be that good looking. Also, it is a picture taken by a professional photographer, an uncommon practice in the lower end of our society.
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Aree Oct 19, 2016 11:36pm
@JS Kazi wow!
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Vishnu Mahant Oct 20, 2016 12:07am
A Chaiwala is like anybody else, a good looking ugly or mediocre. Unless you are praising or making fun of him/her it is just a character. However, we humans, specially the good writers can make that character come alive, and suddenly we start seeing how we relate to them. A dog on a street corner can be a conversation piece! A tea seller being a good looking is part of the character.
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ROO JAVED Oct 20, 2016 12:15am
How about a movie "Chai Wala". No, I am not talking about the Panama Leaks.
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syed ali sohail bukhari Oct 20, 2016 12:33am
at least someone write it that i was waiting to hear from any media person!!! appriciated
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Ram Nath Satya Oct 20, 2016 01:28am
Like his rustic looks not a model. Not at all!!
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Jaswinder Sandhu Oct 20, 2016 01:56am
"A poor man is attractive — why are we surprised?" Because we are still victims of mental ghulaami of whites!
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shekhar gehlaut Oct 20, 2016 02:04am
Amazed by the elegance of the writer on such an ordinary issue, Beautifully written.
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U.Khan Oct 20, 2016 04:10am
It is true that " The real story is not about the Chaiwala. The real story is about us"... The real story is about desperation and not just a simple likeness for a good looking human being. There are lot more good looking people on the streets everyday, why not them and why only one specific individual , its because he has been objectified to a certain extent where all his weaknesses have been hidden and only one thing has taken over everything else. Its same what is happening in bollywood style movies and has been injected into the minds of our society. . Let me "congratulate" Sonia Gandhi who few years back when Star Plus started in pakistan said that she wants to conquer pakistan through their cultural invasion and i think they have done a really good job through all these years and we are watching its result now.
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Muhammad Modi Oct 20, 2016 05:10am
May be one day he becomes the PM and meet his counterpart
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Shuja Oct 20, 2016 06:16am
Wastage of time. In gilgit hazara this is common face.even in Karachi go nd take doodh patti chaye at Quetta restaurant...
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sivramkisen Oct 20, 2016 07:55am
Thank you for an excellent writeup. Dawn, you have done it again.
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sivramkisen Oct 20, 2016 07:58am
South have a loooong way to go to be free of colonization. It is a sort of religion, very similar brainwashing.
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Haider Oct 20, 2016 07:59am
Shahbaz sharif should take notice and name one orange train station after him.
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Chris Roberts Oct 20, 2016 08:48am
On a more positive note, because of the Internet and social media, people such as Arshad Khan are given opportunities they would otherwise have had no access to. There is a wealth of talent waiting to be discovered. Thanks to the photographer, this young man will do very well for himself. It's true that it is wrong to objectify another human being, but it's also true that good looks are one of the gifts given to men and women. If this leads to a career, what is wrong with that? Good to see that social media can also work wonders in this regard in Pakistan, too!
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Padma Poori Oct 20, 2016 08:52am
If you have it flaunt it why can men drool over hot women but we are not allowed the same gesture? May be Pakistani men this is avwake up call we are looking for men in shape, fashionable who take care of them selves & are groomed so workout we are getting picky !
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Mahmood Oct 20, 2016 09:50am
Don;t forget to make a nice cup of Chai., In the end, that skill may save your soul. The limelight of Fashion industry will buy you some creature comforts and materialistic life to enjoy for a while. But will never afford you contentment and true happiness... That can never be bought.
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Patriot chai wala Oct 20, 2016 10:04am
five minute fame....and when after some month everyone will forget him he will be left with guilt, when no will recognize him. dont push him into the limelight of grim fashion or media world.
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Yasir Masood Afaq Oct 20, 2016 10:26am
What a great piece. Keep it up Maria!
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Einstein Babar Oct 20, 2016 10:46am
I know many chai walas and tandoor walas much more handsome than many stars
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Adnan Oct 20, 2016 11:05am
Most of us are Shallow.
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Khara such Oct 20, 2016 11:24am
@Skeptic How you can use word "polluted" for Karachi and Lahore polluted. I wonder whether you have been to these two cities.
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Khara such Oct 20, 2016 11:26am
@Taimoor Khan Agree
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Khara such Oct 20, 2016 11:26am
Agree
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Raw Is War Oct 20, 2016 12:00pm
I am unable to understand the obsession of Pakistanis for beautiful and delicate looking men. In India people would be more interested if a women looks delicate and beautiful. In India nobody cares what men look like. Most of the India film heroes (I am not saying all) are not very good looking. But the Female leads are expected to be earth-shattering.
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Ani Oct 20, 2016 12:01pm
The moment his simplicity is replaced with modern looks,the whole charm is lost in between...!!!
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Xyy Oct 20, 2016 12:41pm
In wonder from last couple of days, I testify that we as a nation will get nothing in last as we are products of ready made stuff. Frankly speaking if he gives dapper look then what's wrong in it, anybody can finds millions in tribal areas but what in need is exploration. Please stop questioning the guy and leave him on his own, don't be double standard, don't pour your damn craziest and misdeeds thoughts on him.....
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Komal Saleem Oct 20, 2016 02:38pm
Well.. thats fine but if this attention changes his life for the better.....
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imran Oct 20, 2016 03:54pm
The article is more of a storm in a tea cup.
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nats Oct 20, 2016 06:18pm
Oh god, this is the most ridiculous article i have read in a while. I found the chaiwala- which is his profession and NOT AN INSULT as the author would have you believe- absolutely gorgeous and so did half the world apparently. Does finding a person attractive and expressing that opinion amount to objectification? No, it doesn't. Nowhere did people make fun of his profession, because frankly, there is nothing to ridicule there. Sexual objectification is when an individual is stripped of their humanity and dignity and simply looked at as an object of other people's gratification. Here, the man was not stripped, exposed, subjected to slurs or physical/mental harassment in anyway. The man landed a modelling contract for god's sake. And each so called race has its own beauty. I admire blue eyes as much as black ones and to say so cant admire the guy cause of his eyes is just mind-boggling cause now THAT is reverse racism. Mihaela Noroc's photobook capturing traditional beauties of each nation has recently been celebrated as an art of work and yet when the same is done to this guy, it's suddenly objectification. There is nothing wrong with people appreciating good looks!
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Syed Oct 20, 2016 06:33pm
Chai Wala has landed in Toronto, Just saw his NEWS in CP24 Toronto.
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Abid Oct 20, 2016 06:42pm
I thought green or blue eyes are a "defect" medically speaking that has adverse implications for sight. Any docs care to vouch for me or to correct me?
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Jh Oct 20, 2016 07:43pm
@Junaid Iftikhar true
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Jamil Soomro, NEW YORK CITY Oct 20, 2016 09:29pm
"The tea boy in question cannot even read the language used to describe him". What a deep realistically touching comment, showing fame and reality in its true aspects by Ms.Maria Amir.
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Padma Lakshami Oct 20, 2016 09:33pm
I am able to understand the obsession of Indians for beautiful and delicate women as Indian men rarely hot looking so for that reason In India nobody cares what men look like. Most of the India film heroes are mediocre looking. But Pakistani models & actors have that swarthy sexiness which sizzles with sensuality the thick black hair the different color bedroom eyes it send shivers across the hemisphere but with Indian men it's a big YAWN!
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Parveen Oct 20, 2016 09:59pm
@Raw Is War In India nobody cares what men look like. And it really shows, too.
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wasif khan Oct 20, 2016 11:14pm
the story was too long but the topic was just nothing. You should explain it in less words because time is money.
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Kollengode S Venkataraman Oct 21, 2016 12:11am
Thanx for your very honest sentence: "Apparently, it’s his blue eyes. And apparently there is no expiry date on our colonial baggage." In the Caucasian land, mostly in Northern Europe, both men and women "swoon" for darker skin tone and darker eyes, like the ones for Omar Sharif. In the more temperate climate and definitely in the subtropical and tropical belt, people fall for lighter skin tone and blue eyes. there is nothing absolute on matters of beauty. Whatever is relatively less abundant, is more attractive, simply because it is rate. I remember a Sanskrit verse by a Kashmiri poet that in translation reads, "In Kashmir, nobody cares for Saffron; in Southern India, Sandalwood is another piece of timber... ... Nobody cares for the thing that is abundant in its region; things are valuable only when they rare."
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Requiescat Oct 21, 2016 02:19am
@Shumaila : indeed! Since class consciousness, elitist mindsets, colonial baggage et al are not going away, all power to the 'sheen tagha' aka green eyes. I have green eyes and had there been tweet storms in bygone days, 'I would a been a contender :))' Here's lookin at you kid, may you and your family thrive on a lucrative modelling career.
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KS Oct 21, 2016 04:11am
By reading this analysis. I truly feel calm and relaxed like as if I had a paracetamol, I was wondering how should I convey my emotions and share it with the whole world as not to make a fuss about everything. Once again thanks for highlighting my feelings so wonderfully.
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Syed F. Hussaini Oct 21, 2016 06:14am
In our segregated society, women could express their liking and feelings only among themselves; it is changing. It is empowerment for women. Qandeel Baloch was simply telling the world what she liked. She was silenced. Now, millions of women are just saying, publicly, they like the looks of this man. To some extent, in our society, it is now possible for women to speak and express their feelings. It is good that women speak.
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A. K. Oct 21, 2016 07:44am
== "Apparently it is his blue eyes. and apparently there is no expiry date on our colonial baggage"== Please visit FATA some day and see the abundance of blue, green and hazel colored eyes. Black eyes are outnumbered by hazel ones in my own tribe in Mohmand Agency. I am one such "Hazel Khan". Our grandmothers and mothers, I assure you, did not sleep with our erstwhile colonial rulers.
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ak Oct 21, 2016 11:53am
This article is deep, reallyyyyy deep...
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shahzad naeem Oct 21, 2016 03:32pm
This is the take of rulers of the day,that they fail to provide equal opportunity to all. The precious human resource is wasted away everywhere in whole of the country.Where we see innocent kids,boys and girls both, even infants spreading their palms for begging. Irony is,while the Government of the day can envision the laying of multi-billion rupees infrastructure projects for logistics and commuting ,they fail to ponder the value of hapless.
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Sunil Oct 21, 2016 05:14pm
I saw this in TV at USA today morning. This is the positive that need to come out from this region. No body is interested n war.
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sabazwari Oct 21, 2016 07:35pm
The real story is that if you have what it takes, can become a star overnight in Pakistan. Contrary to the prevailing belief, your success is not dependent on social origin or class, Silver lining for anybody with any talent.
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Harris Oct 22, 2016 01:32pm
Just shows how shallow we are. The young man in question has been given high hopes of a better life and future which is nothing but just 15 minutes of fame. Everyone wants to sign him for modelling gigs, but nobody cares about sending him to school. If he could do that he probably would not be selling tea in the first place. If you really want to do something for him, pay for his school. Of course we only care about our Instagram Followers, not the real cause.
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Muhammad Farooq Oct 23, 2016 08:57pm
Today, I went Sunday Bazaar for weekly shopping. At once I was really shocked and surprised to see a large number of men and women around Arshad Khan's Tea Stall. What a stupid hype and craziness of social media sensational breakout. In the same Bazaar you can observe poor children and women are searching for food from the garbage. And no one is ready to notice these poor.
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Friendly Huda Oct 23, 2016 10:09pm
@Harris Thank you Harris for speaking my mind. Let's do it together and contribute his schooling.
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Riaz Oct 23, 2016 11:19pm
@Egoist, you are right but I don't understand the problem of the writer. What is the need to write about the Colonial period. There are many people having blue and green eyes in KP and Kashmir and this is nothing to do with Colonial time.
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Nasir Islam Oct 24, 2016 01:09am
Please don't be boorish, the guy is handsome. People everywhere like the handsome men and pretty women. When you don't know someone the only thing you go buy is his / her looks and appearance. Let him have his day in the sun.
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ZIAURRAHMAN Oct 24, 2016 10:18am
a nice story of mr arsha from mardan chai wala, but i told you their are many peopal like this in over country Pakistan
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Left right sir Oct 24, 2016 11:15am
We are all chai walay he should be give the peace price for bringing Indian and Pakistan together.
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Khan Saab Oct 25, 2016 06:42pm
Indeed its our double standard and hypocrisy thats running in our Society. Anyhow a balanced approach from writer.. (Y)
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