Adil Najam
A reader sent me a link to this video: A rap song on Pakistan, in French.
I should confess that I do not understand French and I am not really big on rap – except the kind from Yaqub Atif Bulbula.
But the song is catchy and the home-made video endearing in its own way. Just from the key words I can understand, it seems like a group of young second-generation French-Pakistanis expressing their ‘Pakistaniat.’ And that is a feeling one sees often in second generation diaspora. So, I thought I would share this as a weekend post; hopefully there is nothing in the lyrics that I would regret, and if there is please let me know.
Now that I have a better sense of at least what some of the lyrics say than I did earlier, maybe I should add the comment I would have added to the post.
The idea of hearing Pakistan Zindabad in French still makes me chuckle and is cute. However, the notion that they seem to be ‘celebrating’ August 14 by ‘dissing’ July 14′ (France’s national day) is disturbing. It is, I think, a manifestation of a larger notion of considering identities to be a zero-sum game: as if the more you are of one thing the less you have to be of something else. We see this all over the world, in Pakistan itself on balancing (or not) national, regional, religious and other identities, and certainly it is of major concern for diasporas, especially second-generation diasporas. Of course, the sense of disenfranchisement from one ‘home’ and accentuate the supposed passion for another form of identity; but usually in only a superficial sort of way. That disenfranchisement and the belief of zero-sum identity is, I think, a much larger problem, including in Pakistan itself, and can become one of the causes of intolerance and self-righteous anger amongst many, along entire spectrums of opinion on just about anything.
Our youth need direction, a typical show of the ill-directed young boy. Our nation need direction, when our people will get up against this sham democratic system?
http://ihaveadream-pakistan.blogspot.com/p/first-1 0-days.html
IMRAN WANTS UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY TO BANGLADESH
http://mindovermatter321.blogspot.com/
People living in Pakistan always think that everything is bad and going down in the country, while a lot of people living outside Pakistan see the glass half full (instead of half empty).
Economic downturn is a GLOBAL issue NOT just PK. PK has A LOT of GREAT things and its getting better while poverty and joblessness is growing in the West.
Kool song but cheesy video, whatsup with those cheesy shots in between, lol. Good effort over all, improve on video, use HD cams at least, they r very cheap nowadays.
This is an amazing effort! I don’t understand French, but I can sense the passion and love for their country in this song. Please keep it up!
@ShahidnUSA, and @ms, why you hating? I have seen way too many second generation diaspora who completely disassociate themselves with Pakistan, or are ashamed of their association with Pakistan. These kids are proud second generation Pakistanis in France. I respect that, and I wish them all the success! If you can’t say anything encouraging, then perhaps resist the urge to post discouraging comments?