On 20th January, 2021, a video was circulated on social media that was gaining everyone’s attention and interest. Earlier, the viral video was posted on the Instagram page of the restaurant but it was later removed after receiving extreme backlash. In the one-minute-and-18-second clip, the women introduce themselves as Uzma and Dia — owners of Cannoli by Cafe Soul in Islamabad. They go on to ask their cafe manager of nine years to introduce himself in English and then laugh as he struggles to speak in a language he is clearly not comfortable with.
The women faced severe criticism on social media after the video went viral and made #BoycottCannoli one of the top trends in Pakistan. Within an hour the matter came into the spotlight and people all over social media raised their voices in support of the manager. Majority hit out at the ‘colonial mindset owners’ while others roasted them with hilarious memes. The video also gained the attention of Pakistani celebrities who spoke up to express their concerns about the issue. Shaneira Akram- wife of legendary cricket player Wasim Akram, lashed out at owners of the Islamabad café over insulting their employee for his failure to speak English and challenged them for a competition. “I’m bored too so I challenge you ladies to an English competition,” Shaneira wrote on Instagram in response to one of the owners who appeared in the viral video starting the discussion. The brutal trolling continued as comedian Ali Gul Pir posted a video on his Twitter handle where he can be seen in a parody of the viral video.
Two content creators from islamabad invited the citizens to participate in an Urdu Mushaira outside the Cannoli Café Soul in Islamabad (January 23). On FaceBook,18,900 people responded to the invitation, with 1,600 indicating they are going and 9,400 saying they are interested. The mushaira actually took place right outside the café as people recited urdu poetry and mocked the owners of the café.
After facing severe backlash, Cannoli café rebranded its logo in Urdu. Moreover, a statement was released by the owners in response, saying they are “saddened” over the reaction to the video. “We are saddened and appalled by the reaction of the people, how they have misconstrued our banter with a team member,” read a statement by the owners on Instagram.
The viral video also sheds a light on about how it’s time to let go of thoughts like English language is a symbol of superiority. This might serve as a reminder that’s its high time to leave behind the post-colonial hangover and proudly embrace our culture and language.
