from my perspective, ramadan is the way ramzan is spelled in intl media. as a muslim living in america, i have no problem sticking with an internationally known and recognized spelling w/o getting into the indian-muslim/pakistani-muslim collective mindset or history. i am not one to arabicize every urdu word as some kind of reverent gesture but i like to feel a sense of solidarity with diverse muslim friends living all over the world. ramzan/ramadan, tomato/tamato, it’s all good as long as we understand the spirit of this islamic month.
i understand the arabization of south asian muslim culture and how it sets off alarm bells for many. particulalrly in pakistan, it indicates the influence saudi arabia has bought with its oil-money. but i am making a point about how that does not impact me as much, since i live in the west. muslims (all of them) are only 1.6-1.7% of the US population. my worry for the future is not losing the authenticity of pakistani culture (ramzan vs ramadan) but rather the increasingly islamophobic/racist nature of public discourse in america. in that worry, i stand together with all american muslims, irrespective of their ethnicities or cultural histories. also, ramadan mubarak is the standard greeting here, like merry xmas or l’shanah tovah. it’s what my christian, jewish and atheist friends wish me. i can live with that.