Sehar Tariq
There is dancing on the streets of Pakistan. In markets, in malls and in restaurants, groups of young people are breaking out into dance. And it’s wonderfully choreographed and spectacularly synchronized. But what are we dancing for when there is so little to be happy about?
The dancing is part of Coca Cola’s new advertising campaign in Pakistan. The phenomenon is called a flash mob and has been used a marketing gimmick in Western countries but I believe is being done for the first time in Pakistan. The company has hired groups of young people both boys and girls (yes girls too!) to dance to the new coca cola jingle in crowded public places.
It begins with one person breaking out into dance and strategically positioned “onlookers†joining in. Towards the end there are about ten people dancing. The dancers seem to be in their twenties and urban middle class youth, probably belonging to the more privileged segments of society given their trendy clothing.
The dance is fun and I cannot help but tap my foot to the upbeat music of the jingle. Also, I cannot help but be amazed at the courage of these young people dancing on the streets in such times. Yes, it’s a corporate gimmick and yes they must be paid for it but given the rising levels of intolerance in our society towards things like music and dance (especially where it involves a performance by both men and women together) it’s still pretty brave.
The locations are carefully selected. So far it’s been performed at more upscale locations in Lahore and Karachi where the crowd is more likely to be accepting of the co-ed dancing. But a group of performers performed in Liberty market in Lahore where there was no crowd screening or control.
It takes courage to perform in public. It takes even more courage when there are small but violent segments of society that are opposed to such artistic expression and have exercised violent means to put an end to such performances in the past.
What is heartening is that so far there have been no reports of any kind of violence or aggression against the dancers. Lots of videos up on you tube show, surprised Pakistanis looking at the dancers with amazement and then some even joining in with clapping or nodding or tacit smiles and in the rare case by joining in the dance!
Indeed there will be segments of our society who will claim that this must be stopped as it’s against our culture and this is an exercise in corrupting the morals of our society. There will be those who claim that this is foreign propaganda. But I believe it is an expression of our cultural evolution. The popularity of music and dance from around the world is evident in Pakistan. And while we might deny it, music and dance remain deeply entrenched in our historical and cultural legacy as well as in our displays of happiness at festivals even today.
As I see these talented young Pakistanis dance with such skill and gusto and enthusiasm, I cannot help but feel a sense of pride. The numerous complements of non-Pakistani friends on the sheer creative genius of Pakistanis and their dancing abilities also did wonders for my Pakistani ego. After all, whoever these young Pakistanis are, they do a pretty good job and would put even top Bollywood dancers to shame. And the effortless and carefree joy with which they dance makes me nostalgic for gentler and happier times in Pakistan. But as I watch these young people break out into dance I cannot help but smile as I look to those around them.
There is something strangely heartening in watching people letting go of their fear of expressing joy in public and joining in the fun. It reminds me that our spirits have not been entirely crushed by the recent years of terror and violence. It makes me proud that we still have the courage to view with tolerance a form of expression that we might not approve of. It gives me proof that we are more tolerant than the world makes us out to be. It gives me hope for a better future.
This is utter fear mongering. So a person who dances will go to hell according to you. You are saying that there is no time to decide because there are explosions around the corner so hurry up and believe what ever Saad says.
And typing in all caps doesn’t change the fact that if you ask buzurgji in masjid-1 and sufi-sahib in mosque-2, then they will have different interpretations of Islam. If you go talk to a sufi, or a wahabi, or a shia, or a sunni, you will have what some people consider to be different interpretations or ‘versions’ of a religion. One muslim will say that dancing is no problem and another will say that you are going to hell for it. What are these if not versions or different interpretations?
If you ask the dancers in that video if they are morally wrong and hell bound because of dancing then they will say that their interpretation of morals differs from yours.
Much ado about nothing all over again. Who have these people hurt? The only people who hurt others are the ones who try to enforce their own personal interpretations of morals on each other.
Jk> whoever you are and whatever you believe in, i dont know how old you are and where did you have your schooling from? it might not be completely your fault. it might not be anyones fault. we dont teach kids in our schools anymore. we tell them to follow whatevers been done and said in london, california, new york and etc. we are taken to disney land instead to see KAABBA. we dont get told when we are growing old that we need to follow set of rules. rules which have been set for us hundreds of years ago. path which we still can adapt in order to go up there empty handed just like anyone else but with a notebook full of goodness to seek HIS mercy.
here is a little story . something which happened two hours ago of the time i write this,
I, at 10 pm got my petrol from the filling station where there was a blast at 10:10 pm today. What if I was there when it actually happened? I wouldn’t be sitting here and writing this , instead i would have been dead with no chance to ask for HIS forgiveness or if i was lucky , would be in a hospital with missing pieces.
Now , we have been told , that if we think we have plenty of time in this world to follow ‘ ITS OK’ , ‘ITS JUST DANCE YOU KNOW!’ kind of behaviour, we are mistaken. you are mistaken, i am mistaken. because i dont have enough time to make mistakes and then make another one and think that i will be all good by the time i am 60. what if there is otherwise?
THERE ARE NO VERSIONS OF ISLAM.
May Allah forgive us, and guide us to the right path.
@ATP Administrator : Your comments remind me of a story regarding a king who was trying to explain to his loyal subjects that information can only be explained to a person who has the capacity to understand it. To explain this he gave his servant a priceless ruby and asked him to get it evaluated from a butcher and then a jeweller. On return the servant explained to his king that the butcher thought that the ruby was a shiny stone and valued it at a few pieces of gold, whereas the jeweller recognised the value of the ruby and valued it as priceless.
Similary religion can only be explained and taught to those who are willing and have the mental capacity to truly understand it. If a person is not willing to change his own ignorant views then nothing can be done of it.
“Of all the frictional resistance, the one that most retards human movement is ignorance” – Nikola Tesla
@jk Sarcasm wont take you anywhere my friend ….
I am just asking a simple question? no need to be pissed off…
if you have any argument then put it forward….
Jawad > And obviously, whatever interpretation that you have been blessed with is the correct one.