True thoughts: From Shafqat, with love

Singer slams boycott of artists in open letter to people of Pakistan and India

While the slamming and banning of artists continues, singer Shafqat Amanat Ali is one of the few sane voices left. In an open letter, recently published in The Indian Express, the singer pointed out the hypocrisy of disparaging and boycotting the exchange of art and artists on both sides of the border.

“Lines on an atlas can only demarcate political boundaries. Music, art, culture, language, costumes, food habits and mutual love of a people stemming from the same civilisation can neither be demarcated nor divided,” read the letter.

Shafqat, who found great success in India, questioned whether we are willing to give up legendary artists only because they were from across the border. “Can Pakistan give up Kabir, Ghalib, Momin, Daag, Firaq and Rabindranath Tagore, or Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj, Pt Omkarnath Thakur, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Gangubai Hangal and Ajoy Chakrabarty just because they lived across a line drawn on an atlas?”



Similarly, the letter said, “Can anyone in India say that he will give up on Baba Farid, Bulleh Shah, Shah Hussain, Waris Shah, Sultan Bahu or Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Ahmed Faraz and Intizar Hussain?”

According to Ali, artists such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Lata Mangeshkar, Amanat Ali Khan, Muhammad Rafi and Farida Khanum do not belong to a certain piece of land. They are loved and celebrated by everyone despite the lines on the world map. This is evidence that art bridges gaps. Ali poses the question, “Can we really divide our common heritage? Are Mohenjo-Daro, Taxila and Indus Valley civilisation divisible?”

Shafqat believes the two countries share a lot of common factors. “Artists travel across the border and perform and collaborate; Pakistani advertisements are shot by Indian ad agencies; film-makers and actors often travel to and forth for projects; all of that cannot be ignored. Artists from both countries can vouch for the love of the audiences on both sides.”

Stating that a great amount of effort goes into building these bridges, the Mitwa singer added, “One stray incident by someone, who is clearly the enemy of both countries, sets us back by years.” However, Shafqat believes we have all been privy to the mindless hatred because of social media. “The intensity of aggression among common people on such platforms is shocking.” He calls them out for being the ones who threaten freedom of expression of those who make an attempt at maintaining sanity in an already troubled situation.

Finally, Ali suggests political differences should be resolved at the political level. We must not close all the doors and keep the bridge open for discussions and solutions. He ends with a verse, appealing to all in the subcontinent to reject war and destruction. “Ek shajar aisa mohabbat ka lagaya jaye, Jiska humsaye ke aangan mein bhi saya jaye.  (Plant such a tree of love in your courtyard, which lends its shade to your neighbour’s courtyard)

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2016.

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