In our society, divided by class, language, ethnicity, and politics, understanding perspective and perception can be the bridge we need
By Abdullah Usman Morai
If ten people stand before a single tree and describe what they see, each one will offer a different account. One might focus on the color of the leaves, another on its shade, a third on the memory it evokes. This is not just imagination—it’s the human condition. We do not merely see the world; we interpret it.
Perspective is the lens through which we view life, shaped by our past, our culture, and our emotions. Perception is how our brain processes sensory information to form our version of reality. Together, they form the backbone of how we relate to each other, make decisions, form beliefs, and understand our place in this complex world.
In a diverse country like Pakistan, especially in culturally layered regions such as Sindh, these concepts are not just academic—they are deeply lived experiences.
The Science Behind Perception: A Mindful Mirage
At its core, perception is a biological function. Our five senses gather data, and the brain interprets it. But the brain does not operate in isolation—it filters, edits, and interprets that data based on past experiences, expectations, and emotions.
A famous example in psychology is the Rubin Vase—some see a vase, others see two faces. What you perceive depends on what your mind expects. In everyday life, a street vendor shouting loudly in Karachi may be perceived as aggressive by a foreign tourist, but as completely normal by a local who’s grown up hearing such rhythms of the bazaar.
Even memory—something we often trust—is shaped by perception. Two siblings remembering the same childhood event may recall it completely differently. The sister may remember their mother’s kindness on a rainy day in Khairpur, while the brother may remember the cold and the muddy schoolyard. Neither is wrong—they experienced it differently.
Perspective as a Personal Lens: Our Worldview Is Not Universal
In the desert village of Tharparkar, a family views the monsoon not just as rainfall but as a divine blessing. To someone in flooded Karachi, the same rain might be perceived as a disaster. Both are correct, in their own way.
Our perspective is influenced by language, religion, education, gender, caste, and even geography. A man from the elite areas of Islamabad may perceive a street protest as a traffic nuisance, while a young man from rural Sindh may see it as the only way to have his voice heard.
Culture also plays a major role. In Sindhi households, it is customary to offer tea to every guest, even a stranger. Declining it may be seen as disrespectful. But someone from another cultural background might perceive insistence on hospitality as overbearing. This innocent cultural mismatch can cause confusion, or worse, unintended offense.
The famous proverb ”The blind who stumbles is forgiven, but the one who sees and stumbles is not” , responsibility increases with awareness.
Perception vs. Reality: The Illusion of Truth
We often mistake our perception for objective reality. But perception is subjective. It’s possible for people to see the same scene and walk away with entirely different interpretations.
Consider a political rally in Hyderabad. To supporters, it is a symbol of democratic energy and popular will. To critics, it might seem like chaos, noise, and disruption. The rally is the same—the perception is not.
Misunderstandings in Pakistan often stem from this gap between perception and reality. A girl wearing jeans might be perceived by some as “modern” or “rebellious,” while others may see her as confident and independent. The label depends on the observer’s lens, not on the girl’s truth.
In village jirgas, justice may be perceived by elders as swift and rooted in tradition. But to a human rights activist, the same system may appear unjust and patriarchal. Again, both interpretations are valid within their own worlds.
Perspective in Conflict and Communication: The Power of Empathy
Why do so many arguments escalate unnecessarily? Because we assume that others see the world as we do. They don’t.
In family conflicts, like inheritance disputes in Sindhi families, misunderstandings often arise not from greed but from different emotional perspectives. One sibling may view a property as a symbol of ancestral pride. Another may see it as a burden. Without understanding each other’s perspective, they talk at each other, not to each other.
Consider a real case from Shikarpur, where two neighboring families feuded for decades over a land boundary, believing the other had malicious intentions. When finally brought together by a local mediator who encouraged them to listen to each other’s history and fears, they discovered both families had misinterpreted decades of silence as hostility. The land had not changed—the perception of one another had.
Art, Literature, and Perspective: Mirrors of the Mind
Writers and artists play with perception. The Sindhi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai one of Sindh’s most revered Sufi poets, wrote verses that could be interpreted spiritually, politically, or romantically—depending on the reader’s inner world.
Literature allows us to inhabit perspectives that aren’t ours. A Sindhi short story about a fisherman on the Indus isn’t just about fishing—it’s a metaphor for survival, tradition, and resilience. Film directors manipulate angles, lighting, and sound to play with the viewer’s perception, creating layered narratives where truth is elusive.
In Urdu literature, Manto explored the blurred lines of morality through stories like Toba Tek Singh, where the sane and insane are indistinguishable in Partition’s chaos. The story forces us to ask—what is madness, and who defines it?
Modern Pakistani cinema has also begun to explore perception, which challenges the viewer’s assumptions about reputation, and community judgment.
Growth Through Changing Perspectives: The Transformative Power of Experience
Nothing challenges perspective more than lived experience.
A friend once told me about a man from Nawabshah who disliked dogs all his life. Then he adopted a stray injured puppy that had followed him home during a thunderstorm. Over weeks, as he nursed it back to health, his perspective changed. He began to see animals not as threats, but as companions. The world hadn’t changed—but his lens had.
Many Pakistanis who travel abroad return with fresh views—some more tolerant, others more aware of their roots. A friend from Sindh told me how her perspective changed when she studied in Lahore. “I thought people there looked down on us,” she said. “But then I realized they just didn’t know our stories.”
Perspective shifts often happen in moments of vulnerability—grief, loss, love, illness. They humble us. They make us question what we thought was absolute.
Reflection: Questions That Open the Mind
- Can I truly understand someone I disagree with?
- Do I mistake familiarity for truth?
- What if I am not always right?
- Can I grow by listening to stories unlike mine?
These are not easy questions. But they are necessary.
Conclusion: The Wisdom of Many Eyes
We are not gods—we see the world in fragments. Yet when we begin to see through the eyes of others, our own vision becomes clearer, more compassionate, more human.
In Pakistan, where our society is often divided by class, language, ethnicity, and politics, understanding perspective and perception can be the bridge we need. In Sindh, where centuries of history, Sufi wisdom, and poetic tradition whisper tales of coexistence, there is already a blueprint.
Let us teach children that every person carries a story. Let us remind leaders that every citizen sees differently. Let us remember that behind every argument, there’s a human being shaped by their world.
Because when we change the way we see, we change the world we live in.
Read: The Arrogance of Ignorance
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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process. He writes articles from time to time. A frequent traveler, he also does podcast on YouTube with channel name: VASJE Podcast.
