APMC celebrates 50 years

The organisation is celebrating its golden jubilee in Lahore this month.

LAHORE: The All Pakistan Music Conference (APMC) has worked for 50 years to produce music and provide hundreds of singers with a platform to showcase their talent. Additionally, APMC has tried to inculcate values that one should adhere to while enjoying a performance and is now celebrating its golden jubilee in Lahore while keeping those principles intact.

The first APMC was held in 1960 and its brochure boasts names recognised worldwide for their skills and expertise. Presidents of various sessions include Syed Imtiaz Ali Taj, Lt General Bakhtiar Rana, Dr Andrew V Corry (former US consul general), Abdul Rehman Chughtai, M Khurshid (former chief secretary), B A Kureshi (former commissioner) and Roshan Ara Begum.

Similarly, members of the reception committee included Faiz Ahmad Fiaz, Amanullah Khan Niazi, Begum Tassadaq Hussain, Mian Mohammad Shafi, Begum Mian Bashir Ahmad and Mohammad Aku Zaidi. The convener of the first conference was the founder of APMC, Hayat Ahmad Khan.

APMC’s General Secretary is Dr Ghazala Irfan, Hayat Ahmad Khan’s daughter. She says that at the time of Partition the standards for classical music were very high. “We have succeeded in achieving our goals as a volunteer organisation but one or two organisations cannot do what state patronage can,” she explains. “Art and culture can never be stagnant. But the tradition of baithaks isn’t as it once used to be. We don’t teach classical music, we only provide a platform to those who have learnt it.”

“Now western music is creeping into indigenous music. This trend is not limited to Pakistan alone, it is a worldwide phenomenon. Rhythm is becoming more important than sur. But those singers who earned fame with western music are now learning classical music because it is important to at least know the basics,” she says.

The level of expertise and importance given to music by past classical singers was in a different league. “After Partition Roshan Ara Begum came to Pakistan. A letter from India was once received by Radio Pakistan, which stated, ‘Take Kashmir but return Roshan Ara to us.’”

The APMC has maintained certain values such as starting events on time. “Music lovers and listeners are important for us. Had we been running after chief guests, we wouldn’t have succeeded in upholding our tradition of starting on time,” Irfan said. “These is our second golden jubilee celebrations and we are happy to have been able to serve music,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2010.