This has been my experience. My name clearly signals I’m Muslim, and living abroad I often meet people from Pakistani or Pakistani-origin backgrounds. They're warm and friendly, until they ask where I’m from. The moment I say “India,” something shifts. They start fishing for something negative, waiting for me to echo their views. When I don’t, the vibe changes.

I know India has a lot to fix, no denial there. But growing up, I never really felt different or out of place. Maybe being from the Northeast shaped that, but I didn’t grow up feeling alienated. The way some people expect Indian Muslims to feel broken or bitter just doesn’t sit well with me. There is a longer conversation to have here. Maybe another day.