23rd March: Their love for Pakistan, re-awakened

Skit at PNCA depicts country’s many problems, patriotic songs bring message of hope.

ISLAMABAD:

The event at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) began with a charming puppet show. The dummies were dressed in regional dresses symbolising the four provinces and grabbed the children’s attention as they sang “tot batoot ne kheer pakai”, followed by a national song.

But the event had just begun and had much more to offer to the audience comprising parents, students and people from various walks of life.

The puppet show was followed by students of different schools giving solo performances of patriotic songs such as “iss parcham ke saaye tale” (we are one under this flag). The entire audience joined the singers in chorus, proving that Indian and Western pop music were not the only thing today’s generation’s mind.

Then a tableau presented by the students of Allama Iqbal Open University got a big round of applause from the audience. Within five to seven minutes, the performers enacted the current situation of Pakistan. It began by showing the scene of a happy Pakistan, with people dancing to a song, “hai jawan jeet hai tera nishan”, which quickly turned sour as a sudden bomb blast claimed the lives of many of the celebrators.

This was followed by a protest, in which people were seen shedding tears and begging for justice. They protested over the shortage of water, electricity and gas in the country and decried the apathy of unconcerned politicians, too busy making money. They asked for an end to all such cruelties and provide justice to the people.

The tableau then took on a more poignant tone, showing two commoners explaining the historical significance of Lahore to a foreigner, insisting that Pakistan is an independent and sovereign state. But the foreigner suddenly shoots one of them and conveniently leaves the scene.

The tableau ended with a song “jab hum ne khuda ka naam liya”, a living message of hope, unity and faith.

Rohan Abbas, famously known as Chote Ustad, then took the stage and uplifted the mood of the audience with some of his popular songs.

A marshal arts performance followed, adding a distinct flavour to the event, which concluded with a few chorus performances.

As they left the hall, the audience were heard humming national songs, with new commitments of doing something good for the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, Mach 24^th, 2011.