Sal’s Story: undeterred, From Karachi to Boston: A Journey of Resilience and Activism
Wherever I Hug My Cat, That’s My Home. Looking at Salman "Sal" Khan hugging his cat Leo (“my cat child”) in his Boston apartment, it’s difficult to remember how radically displaced he feels. Calling himself a “child of partition” — since his late father was only 2 years old when he left Northern India (Agra) for what became Pakistan.
Sal was born and raised in Abu Dhabi, UAE till the age of 10 as an expat Pakistani; and then moved and grew up in Karachi, Pakistan for the next 19 years, where he was made to feel as an “outsider” since he belonged to an ethnolinguistic minority community (Urdu speaking Mahajirs) from British India who came to Pakistan for a better life of safety and freedom.
In both Abu Dubai (UAE) and Karachi (Pakistan), Sal's early experiences were marked by cultural adjustments and a burgeoning awareness of social injustices. His effeminate demeanor subjected him to bullying, yet it also kindled a fierce spirit of inquiry and rebellion against social norms. This led him down the path of activism and journalism, where he championed LGBTQ human rights and environmental issues in Pakistan, a country where such advocacy was not just rare but perilous.
The political and human rights situation in Pakistan compelled Sal to seek asylum in the United States in 2019. Sal’s trip from Pakistan to the United States is a poignant journey featuring resilience and activism. Landing in Boston, he found himself in a new battle, not against the dangers of activism in a conservative society, but against the subtle bigotries at play when integrating into an ostensibly liberal but deeply divided American society. Despite these challenges, Sal has immersed himself in the local community, contributing to various organizations and commissions focused on LGBTQ+ rights and issues facing the Asian American community and other marginalized groups.
Sal's academic pursuits in psychology mirror his life's work: to understand, help, and heal. He is driven by the conviction that mental health support is crucial, especially for LGBTQ individuals, asylum seekers, and those facing discrimination based on their marginal identities. This conviction is deeply personal, born from his struggles with PTSD, depression, and anxiety, stemming from his own experiences. As he puts it, “I often feel like I have survived one trauma in one part of the world (Pakistan). And then coming here (US), I am reliving another trauma all over again!.”
Sal's life underscores the complex realities of asylum seekers in the United States, challenging the narrative of America as a simple melting pot of opportunity. It highlights the nuanced battles for acceptance, security, and identity that many immigrants face, further complicated by their LGBTQ identity.
Despite these obstacles, Sal remains undeterred, channelling his experiences into creative and academic endeavours. He dreams of one day writing a memoir or poetry that reflects not only his life but the broader struggles of LGBTQ asylum seekers. Paralleling the journeys of many others looking for safety, Sal has made it from Karachi to Boston, but he’s still searching for home.
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