Poetry and music are transforming Pakistani Society

Poetry sings reality

It has actually brought utter discriminations to an end, led dictators to vacate the seat for democracy, asked masses to voice for their fundamental rights and leaders to go with extreme vigilance

Poetry and music are the two mediums that have always been an influential kind of art to persuade mindsets, status quo and the narratives. History of this world is evident of a perpetual shift in civilisations and nation states caused by music and poetry. Poets give sense to words and music gives a soul to it, eventually creates and speaks volume to whom it can concern.

Poetry when transformed into music actually holds a concrete psychological impact on the minds of people, creates a sense, compels thought process to begin and let ones soul nurture. In the political realm, poetry and music together have played a vital role in changing the fate of nations altogether. Be it eliminating racism from the world, be it creating a classless society, be it voicing for human rights and to fight against all the social political and economic impediments. It has actually brought utter discriminations to an end, led dictators to vacate the seat for democracy, asked masses to voice for their fundamental rights and leaders to go with extreme vigilance. Not just ones or not occasionally but in every course of time, these two mediums addressed the pertinent issues, highlighted the miseries and encountered backlash for the bitter truth being told. However, in no age, under no pressure, poets singers and musicians spread the wisdom down to the core, educated the most illiterate societies and made a difference in this world.

“A poet is a liar who always speaks the truth” (Jean Cocteau)

Squeezing the argument to Pakistan, and the role of music and poetry in political socialisation, to a Pakistani, its seems interesting and a moment of pride that what poets this land has produced, how mesmerising those words are, how compassionate those expressions are and how realistic those situations were, actually holds tons of wisdom.

Being an illiterate society (majorly) masses understood the poetic expression covered by music rather than any positive legislation ever made to them. That’s why poets are ‘the acknowledged legislators of this world’. Association, bonding and relation matters at every age, in every scenario and on each ground we set to achieve any objective. The post independence era marked some traumatic incidents being overlooked by the then government, perhaps being given due heed by poets and writers for that matter.

Laali akhan di pai dasdi ae

Roye tusi v ho roye asi v haan (Ustad Daaman)

Waris Shah, Bulleh Shah, Miyan Mohammad Baksh, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Ahmed Faraz, Habib Jalib and to name a few who have instilled in history the significance of every passing day even a moment is being discussed to show the velocity of those times.

Moreover, urdu and Punjabi poetry became a cause for national integration whenever needed. Iqbal clearly mentioned in his well known concept of khudi, ‘It’s not only a human being but the whole society should have a sense of I-am-ness to exude integrity’.

Agar jawan  hon meri qoum k jusoor o ghayyur

Qalandri meri kuch kam Sikandari se nahin

In the most critical times of wars Pakistan had to fight against traditional rival, soulful poetic expression being given voice by influential musical instruments and powerful vocals

Ae puttar hattan te nai vikday

Ki labdi phirain bazaar kure

Then hits the time of cession, the episode of 1971, Faiz contributed the best he could do to make the then rulers realise about the loss being done that damaged the very sanctity of newborn.

Hum k there ajnabi kitni mulaqaton k baad, phir banain gay aashna kitni mulaqaton k baad

Kab nazar main aye gee be daagh sabze ki bahar, khoon k dhabbe dhulain gay kitni barsaton k baad

Un se jo kehne gaye they faiz jaan sadqa kiye, ankahi hee reh gayi who baat sab baton k baad

This piece of poetry is multifold, examines the cost of damage, hits hard on the loss to humans of both the sides, yearns for reunion and disappointed at the disintegration not geographically but emotionally and psychologically. However, at least served the purpose!

Our land is unique, its people are immune to so many vicissitudes, afflicted, heartbroken, being tried for no reason, welcomed any system in placed for the name of Islamisation, social and economic development, devolution and what not. Poets and singers are curse and a blessing both, curse for few and blessing to many. Read the howling, observed the turbulence, experienced the wailing of the poor, questioned the dictator, pen down the tough ordeals and dimensioned the masses to ASK the dictator or to revolt if not being heard.

In today’s time when countless issues have crunched almost all of us, barely left us with any productive thought than to think how self survival can be ensured, the contemporary music class brought forward and re-iterated those words of hope which lit the light of this nation once again

 

Aaj Bazar main pabajaulan chalo

Chashm e nam jaan e shoridan kaafo nahin

Tauhmat e Ishq poshida kaafi nahin

Whatever is given to you is not worth this nation, what is being asked to surrender is against the divine laws, what you have been blamed for is not the sin you have committed, speak up, join hands and long for a bettertomorrow

Bas naam rahe ga Allah ka

Jo ghayeb bhi hai hazir bhi

Jo nazir bhi hai manzar bhi

Uthe ga analhaq ka nara

Jo main bhi hou awr tum bhi ho

Awr raaj kare gee khalq e khuda

Jo main bhi houn awr tum bhi ho

Hum daikahin gay

Lazim k hum bhi daikhain gay

In today’s time when countless issues have crunched almost all of us, barely left us with any productive thought than to think how self survival can be ensured, the contemporary music class brought forward and re-iterated those words of hope which lit the light of this nation once again, laal the band focuses on communist line and the agenda of equality and class less society

Jigar dareeda houn, chaak-e-jigar ki baat suno

Umeed e sehar ki baat suno

Shikasta pa houn, malal e safar ki baat suno

Umeed e sehar ki baat suno

Coke studio revitalised the spirit of unity and anticipated a pleasant morning with

Sohni dharti Allah rakhe, Qadam Qadam abad

Qadam qadam abad tujhe, qadam qadam abad

Anwar Maqsood adds more to it and ensures the Sovereign will protect what He has created for the creatures.

Jab ye sohni dharti Allah ne bnai hai toh who ise shad bhi rakhe ga awr abad bhi

Words may fall short to write about the contributions of these artists and to acknowledge their services and the rough patch they have been through. If someone to be given a due credit in initiating the process of political socialisation, it’s this land that is being fertile in producing poets and singers who could make this oblivious nation a concerned, thoughtful and sensitive.

Jo ruke to koh e garan they hum, jo chalet oh jaan se guzar gaye

Raah e Ishq hum ne qadam qadam, tujhe yaadgar bana diya