Today is a good day to talk about ‘Pakistaniat.’
The name of this blog is ‘All Things Pakistan’ or ATP. But the title in the URL is ‘Pakistaniat’ which would loosely translate as ‘Pakistani-ness.’ The blog is named thus because it was borne out of a conversation with a friend on what makes a Pakistani a Pakistani. The purpose of this blog is to continue and broaden that conversation, to make it ongoing, and to involve more people in it.
Of course, there are many way to talk about Pakistaniat. In fact, that is all we do on ATP, all the time, and in all sorts of ways. One way to do so is through poetry. We thought maybe we should ask you to share with us a favorite verse, a sheyr, a nazm, a line from a song, anything that conveys some sense of something you would consider Pakistaniat… poetry that tugs at you on this Independence Day… the canvas is wide, choose whatever you may.
To set the ball rolling, let me offer some of my favorites.
Let me start with one of my favorite national song (see here for my all time favorite national song). It used to be played a lot around 1970 (I think the poet is Asad Muhammad Khan and was sung by Shahnaz Begum). I always thought that the essential idea behind it was quite unlike most national songs:
mauj baRhay kay aanDhi aa-aye, diya jala-aye rakhna hai
ghar ki khatir sau dukh jhailaiN, ghar tou aakir appna hai
On a more profound note, heere is a Dua (prayer) from Faiz. I absolutely love the line about “himmat-e-qufr millay, juraat-e-tehqeeq milay” (read the line before this one for context). Ameen.
I found this English translation here but not sure by whom. My hunch is that it is not from Agha Shahid Ali (The Rebel’s Shilloute), but I may be wrong:
Come, let us join our hands in prayer.
We, who can not remember the exact ritual
We, who, except the passion and fire of Love,
do not recall any god, remember no idol.Let us beseech, that may the Divine Sketcher
mix a sweet future in the present’s poison
For those who can’t bear the burden of time,
the rolling of days on their souls, may He lightenThose, whose eyes don’t have in their fate, the rosy cheek of dawn
may He set for them some flame alight.
For those, whose steps know no path
may He show their eyes some way in the night.May those whose faith is following falsehood and pomp
have the courage to deny, the boldness to discover.
May those whose heads wait for the oppressors sword
have the ability to push off the hand of the executioner.This secret of Love, which has put the soul on fire,
may we express it today and the burning be gone.
This word of Truth that pricks in the core of the heart,
may we say it today and the itching be gone.
I apologize for posting this yet again, but this seems to be an appropriate place to revisit my video rendition of Faiz’s hum daikhain gay. I have discussed this poem’s importance to ATP’s ethos here and the original and Maniza Naqvi’s translation are available here.
Click on the arrow at the center of the image below
Main picture credit: Cricket spectator in Lahore (from Daily Times).
Adil,
I agree with you, it is a touching poem and written in very simple language. It was written in 1981, a dark period in the history of Pakistan.
Anyway, I don’t want your readers to feel despondent and therefore would like to share with them a relatively optimistic couplet, again, from Faiz:
Halqa kiyey baithay raho is shama’ ko yaaro
Kuch roshni baqi tau hai, har chand keh kam hai
Keep sitting around this lamp
It still shines, even though barely.
Which way Pakistan should go?The debate is,as always fruitless and endless with no conclusion ever drawn.
Proponents of “modern,liberal Pakistan” should watch this. I stumbled across this clip shot of a ‘party’in Lahore recently where men and women mix over flowing boooze and what not.
Such parties are quite common in upper class Lahore,Karachi and Islamabad and this one is just one of the many.
(Viewer discretion is required)
ATP: Link removed. The clip is NOT what this message suggests. It is a link to a commercially produced soft porn movie.
Our national anthem which was written by Hafeez Jalandhuri and music was composed by Ahmad Ghulam Ali Chaghla. I love its music and one can hear it:
http://www.pakmission.ca/natioanlanthem.htm
Our National Anthem:
Pak sar zamin shad bad
Kisware haseen shad bad
Tu nishane azmealishan
arze Pakistan
Markaz e yaqin shadbad.
Pak sarzamin ka nizam,
quwat e akhuwat e awam
Qaum, mulk, sultanat
Painda tabinda bad,
shad bad manzal e murad.
Parcham e sitara o hilal
Rahbar e tarraqi o kamal
Tarjuman e mazi shan e hal
jane istaqbal
Sayyai, Khudae zul jalal.
English Translation:
Blessed be sacred land,
Happy be bounteous relam,
Symbol of high resolve,
Land of Pakistan.
Blessed be thou citadel of faith.
The Order of this Scared Land
Is the might of the brotherhood of the people.
May the nation, the country, and the State
Shine in glory everlasting.
Blessed be the goal of our ambition.
This flag of the Cresent and the Star
Leads the way to progress and perfection,
Interpreter of our past,
glory of our present,
Inspiration of our future,
Symbol of Almighty’s protection
Aziz Saab, thank you for sharing that poem. I had not visiting that poem in a long time and I just went and re-read it. Poignant as ever. So many thought provoking lines there…
Kuch maanjhi thay anjaan bohut…..
Nadya tau wohi hai, naao wohi
Ab tum hi kaho kiya karna hai…
MSk, could not agree more. As you see in the About ATP writeup, that’s is the whole idea. Pakistaniat in all its dimensions; All Things Pakistan. Thanks also for the list of ideas ATP should be working on.
Fawad, I will follow your lead and add two more gems that were meant for children but could be even more useful for adults. Being less studious than you, the imprints on my memory are more pedestrian… both are Ahmad Rushdie songs (I think!), both from the 1960s… but things I heard till the 1980s and have not since then (which is a pity). The first is a wonderful children song (Sohail Rana had something to do with it, I think): Aao bacho sair karaiN tum ko Pakistan ki…. The other is an old Radio Karachi song, music to the beat of horse hooves on a Tanga called Bandar Road say KimaRi, mairi challi re ghoRa gaRRi…
Sohaib, you are correct it is the same song I mentioned, from very early 1970s. You are also correct in suggesting that it is good enough to be repeated twice, and more.
First of all be feel proud that we belong to a land which is not like Lebonan which is being bombared by an enemy.Despite of all haterd and differences we do have a seprate land for us.
2nd,adil bhai your website has come out as an Informative resource to learn about many things about Pakistan.I congratulate for such effort.
Oop, sorry. Hehe. I didn’t read your whole post. It was already there, my bad. Oh well, it’s good enough to be repeated twice in any case.
I guess I should contribute something unique: How can we miss one of the most moving milli naghmay to grace our petty ears:
Ae puttar hattan te nahin wikde
Kee labdi phirein tu bazar kurey
I was watching this long telethon type thing on PTV just now, and they were playing milli naghmay. One I had not heard and hence stood out, also because it was so profound. I think it’s by some famous poet, though I forget the name. And excuse me for any mistakes while quoting the verse:
Mauj barhay, aandhi aye
Yeh deep jalaye rakhna hai
Ghar ki khatir sau dukh jhailay
Ghar to akhir apna hai
Thanks for the thoughtful and touching posts related to independence day in the last few days. I think Pakistaniat is a wonderful term and its use should be actively encouraged and propagated. Pakistaniat is inclusive of all ethnicities and religions and this worldview is a step toward formulating a healthy Pakistani identity that is not exclusively based in religion but embraces the country’s diversity and celebrates its rich and multi-faceted culture.
Given the continuing march toward political instability in Pakistan playing out yet again the parody verse from the 80’s remains sadly pertinent.
Na tera Pakistan hai na mera Pakistan hai
Yeh uska Pakistan hai jo sadr-e-Pakistan hai
As for inspiring poetry and verses I have many favorites, some of which have already been mentioned. In particular I am always delighted when the nation pays homage to Mehdi Hasan; one of the finest singers produced by the sub-continent in the 20th century.
On this occassion though I would like to mention Iqbal’s ennobling verses that used to be sung in the morning by every municipal school going child in Pakistan (the english medium elites have always been exempt from doing what the commoners are required to do). Whenever I read or hear this “dua” I am always deeply touched by its humanism and transported back to a couple of times when I watched schoolchildren singing this on TV in their sincere, lilting voices. I particularly remember a Mohammad Nisar Hussain-directed PTV long play in which actor Abid played an old school teacher in which this dua was part of the background in the entire play.
Lab Pe Aati Hai Dua Banke Tamanna Meri
Zindagi Shamma Ki Surat Ho KhudaYa Meri
Ho Mere Dum Se Yun Hi Mere Watan Ki Zeenat
Jis Tarah Phool Se Hoti Hai Chaman Ki Zeenat
Zindagi Ho Meri Parwaane Ki Surat Ya Rab
Ilm Ki Shamma Se Ho Mujhko Mohabbat Ya Rab
Ho Mera Kaam Gharibon Ki Himaayat Karna
Dard Mandon Se Zaeefon Se Mohabbat Karna
Mere Allaah Buraayee Se Bachchana Mujhko
Nek Jo Raah Ho Uss Raah Pe Chalaana Mujhko
In the simplest possible way, Iqbal has communicated to children the basics of an ethical life; avoidance of iniquity in one’s personal life and active concern for the weaker members of society like the poor and the elderly.
To Pakistanis of all castes, creeds and ethnicities; Yom-e-Azadi Mubarak and to Indian readers of this blog Happy Independence Day.