Comments (13)
Share this article
Print this page
Email a friend
- RSS
- Today's Paper
- Subscribe
- beta 2.0
High: 26°C
Low: 16°C
Alerts
Damadam mast qalandar in New York
There was a time, not too long ago, when Pakistani visitors or residents in the US wore Pakistan on their sleeves, so...
The writer is a human resource consultant currently based in New York aziz.akhmad@tribune.com.pk
There was a time, not too long ago, when Pakistani visitors or residents in the US wore Pakistan on their sleeves, so to speak. They would love to be asked where they are from and, in reply, gave an enthusiastic discourse on Pakistan — its history and geography, the Mohenjodaros and the mountains. They felt good talking about their country. Not anymore.
Now they would rather no one ask them where they are from. They are guarded and self-conscious of their identity especially after the May 1 incident when Faisal Shahzad, a self-confessed “soldier of Islam”, attempted to blow up Times Square in the heart of New York City.
The reticence of Pakistanis can be gauged from this incident: A friend of mine, a doctor, who has been in the US for over 20 years, was sitting at a bar in a restaurant. The bartender, during the usual chitchat bartenders have with their customers, asked the doctor where he was from. “Do you really want to know?” the doctor responded, half-jokingly. “Pakistan?” the bartender guessed.
The reluctance of the doctor to readily disclose his origin and the ease with which the bartender guessed the answer is a sad commentary on the reputation Pakistan has built for itself in the last decade or so.
Therefore, it was a rare sight, last week, to see hundreds of Pakistanis living in New York City and surrounding areas gather in Union Square Park singing, swaying, waving their flags, happily showing off their identity. An organisation called Pakistani Peace Builders, encouraged and assisted by Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN, Abdullah Hussain Haroon, had set up a show of Sufi music. The idea was to tell New Yorkers, and through them the rest of America, that people like Faisal Shahzad do not define Pakistan and that a vast majority of Pakistanis believe in tolerance, respect and a commitment to universal human rights.
It was an open-air event held in Union Square, a busy and happening place in New York City. More than 2,000 people turned up to watch the three hour long show. The crowd included, other than Pakistanis, several ethnicities including Indians and “local” Americans.
The music troupe included performers from all provinces of Pakistan. However, the main attraction was Abida Parveen, the reigning queen of Sufi music in Pakistan. The Daily Telegraph rightly described her as “one of the greatest singers of the world — even if you can’t understand her”. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the show, clapping and swaying to the beat. However, when Abida came on stage as the last performer and began with what has become her signature Sufi song, “Damadam mast qalandar”, the crowd was electrified. The two drummers (on dhols), in accompaniment, sent additional voltage into the crowd. One couldn’t see a single person standing still. Even an American woman, not too far from me, whom I had noticed earlier sitting still in a folding chair she had brought with her because of an apparent leg problem, stood up and started dancing. A distinguished looking tall, middle-aged Sikh, in a scarlet red turban, who sat inscrutably throughout the show, broke into bhangra. Music does cast a spell over people. Iqbal was right when he said: Rahay na Aibak-o-Ghauri kay ma’rkay baaqi/Hamaisha taza-o-sheerin hai naghma-I-Khusro. (No one remembers the battles of Aibak and Ghauri/But music of Khusro lives sweet and fresh forever.)
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2010.
Reader Comments (13)
Latest News
Subway bomb plotter's father jailed for destroying evidence
Mohammed Wali Zazi lied to investigators looking in to a bomb plot by his son Najibullah.
Shady business: Raid at drug den leads to shoot-out
The raid took place at Shireen Jinnah Colony where suspects opened fire at the officers and set their vehicle alight.
Missing records: Anti-corruption sweep in 5 union council offices
Anti-Corruption Department said they were searching for the records from 2009 to 2011.
Jet-setting: Imran Khan scheduled to arrive today
Imran Khan will be on his first Karachi visit since his rally in the city on December 25, 2011.
Harassement: Scrap dealer takes IG, DIG, others to court
Policemen accused of seizing scrap worth Rs1.5 million and taking Rs600,000 in bribes.
Recent Slideshows
More in Opinion
10 things I hate about writing a column
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2012 The Express Tribune News Network.
Technical feedback? webmaster@tribune.com.pk
A well written article on the psyche of Pakistanis outside their country and some what on the Sufi music as well. Pakistanis have that special thing where they are always proud, even proud being the near failed state, who else can get that tag in SE Asia. Notoriety or famous, don’t have mush difference for them, yes, finally now some where the human factor has grown in them and they feel a little bit ashamed. Having come in touch with them in any where outside Pakistan, one could always feel that they were quite proud of being people with ‘courage’ who could happily carry any act, good or bad and usually bad.Recommend
Good deed lives for ever.Try to adopt tolerance and love for the humanity.Recommend
It is true of almost all the nations in the world.Politicians and media make and break impressions about issues in the minds of common man on the street.When Afghanistan was to be attacked the media showed mud houses,poor souls with goats and rough terrain etc. ,but after the invading armies claimed victory the scenario on TV screens was changed over night to limousines,well maintained mansions, carpeted roads and bazaars hustling with activity.The Pakistanis living in America are to be blamed for not propagating the true image of Pakistan and the feelings of common man on the street.They do not mix with masses, but instead try to be confined to their own community.There should not be any apologetic attitude,they are also part of America in contributing in its success and development and most of them hold American nationality.
Music and culture is no doubt an international language,it should be promoted to bind the world community together.Recommend
The music was an invitation to dance and the colourful dresses were pleasure to eyes. Unfortunately. this colour of Islam is ignored in Pakistan.Recommend
Pakistanis are a proud nation and will always be so. Its true that some corrupt elements and bigoted politicians have damaged our reputation but we will come around like always.
We stand by our religion and our beliefs. If America is not ashamed about George Bush, Timothy McVeigh and Donald Rumsfeld then no nation in the the world has to be conscious about what America thinks!Recommend
if Sufi music can bring radical change in emotions one should understand the power of thoughts.no religion promote violence.people are still living in Pakistan because they have firm believe in allah subhana tau-allah who can give life to an insect in stone even.Recommend
@Adeel:
It’s not the “corrupt elements and bigoted politicians” who have painted Pakistan in a violent image. It is the Sufi Mohammads and Mullah Fazlullahs, the Baitullahs and Hakimullahs, the Lashkars and Jaish and their supporters who have done that.
You are free to “stand by your religion and beliefs”. Nobody can, or wish to take it away from you.Recommend
good and bad people live everywhere but country can’t be badRecommend
Why was the writer so hesitant to mention the name of AAfia Siddiqui along with the name of Faisal Shehzad? Both were involved in acts which brought bad name to this wonderful country.Recommend
Our PROPHET(PBU) Said that if a man killed another humanbeing he killed the whole humanity . And if a man rescues one human being he rescues humanity. This is ISLAM .Recommend
@Nick
You have understood, very correctly, the nature of Pakistani citizens. Not only they are proud but they are also proud of “Being Proud”.Recommend
Didn’t Iqbal say: “Raqs-o-Mauseeqi se hai noor-o-saroor-e-anjuman”? If that alone can give us an elevated image then surely there is no dearth of that genre of human activity in Pakistan. Like many our other activities, Pakistanis are also very proud of their music, culture and literature. The open air event at Union Square has just proved that. Let us get out of the great game for which we alone are not solely responsible, then we are capable of entertaining the world to their liking. We shall InshAllah soon be able to come out of the present crisis.Recommend
“We shall InshAllah soon be able to come out of the present crisis.”
@Altaf
There are two possibilities according to in what you Believe.
If you believe that Allah creates everything, then certainly the present crisis is a natural phenomenon. A true believer will try to please Allah by prayers and will advance more and more towards Islam. Since the establishment of the State of Pakistan, its citizens are becoming more and more Islamic and the crisis is always expanding. It is not “soon” that you will come out of the crisis.
The second possibility is that you may believe in Allah but also believe that man is free to act and is responsible for his actions. In this case I should remind you that all the mess of the present crisis is because of religion in the governing system of Pakistan. Islam is the base and raison d’être of the state of Pakistan. From its inception to the present day all ruling Pakistani leaders have used Islam to better govern (CONTROL) the people. This interference of the religion in the state affair can not be erased in Islamic Republic. The present crisis has a long future life.
In crisis you are and in crisis you will remain!
“Dust thou art and Dust to return est.”Recommend