20

INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Arts across borders:

a series of conversations

Beyond the conditioning

By Danielle Gehrmann he email was brief and to the point: Dear Danielle, If Pak stops sending murderers to India things will improve. Thanks, Raj* I was pleased to receive this comment, because it showed the writer had read the piece and thought about it. Unfortunately, he hadnt understood my main premise: that citizens cant be held responsible for the policies of politicians and the misdemeanours of a few. I wonder if hes heard of the Amistad, a project that aims to establish constructive communications between the people of Cuba and the United States. The politics of both countries continue on a divisive course; however, there has been some relaxing of visa restrictions between the two countries in recent months, paving the way for people to see relatives after years apart (see http://tinyurl.com/37exgqe). The blame game is clearly counterproductive and juvenile. I believe that a shift from the high-handed and seemingly futile political maneuvers to-

Music and silence

Since Aman Ki Asha started, Ive been having conversations with friends on either side of the border. This is the second of a series related to cross cultural exchange in the subcontinent
By Zarminae Ansari

ustam Fateh Ali Khan: Son of Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, and from the seventh generation of the Patiala gharaana, Rustam has mostly concentrated on performing classical music, and the kaafis that his father used to sing a long time ago. In a conversation about politics, economics and music, Rustam spoke fondly about the reception he receives in India - and because he is known for his classical performances, he is equally popular and well-received in South India as he is in the Hindispeaking North. "People in both countries want peace. A time comes when the fires that are burning have to burn out. Suraj aur uss se zyadah Allah ki garmi reh sakti hai, lekin yeh aag tau jalti nahin reh sakti (Only the sun, and God's fire can stay longer than this fire, which has to burn out one day). It is a global village today due to the forms of communication, and these distances have become meaningless. There were wars in the history of Europe, yet today there is the EU and people and goods can move around freely and without visas, working, buying property. Now it is Asia's turn. The common man in either country is too busy trying to make ends meet to want a war. The governments of India and Pakistan would do better if they spent a fraction of their defense budgets on development and education projects to eradicate illiteracy and poverty. In India I see thousands of people sleeping on the footpaths. I can never forget the look on the face of a cycle rickshaw driver in Delhi who charged me Rs. 40 in 1994 and I gave him Rs. 100, because I was not used to a human being pulling a tonga like the horses in Lahore. He asked me if I was from Pakistan, and I asked him how he knew. He said the last person who gave him that tip was also from across the border.

Meanwhile, we have our own problems. There is no water in the rivers and no electricity. The law and order situation means that your life and property are at risk all the time. Our governments should work on solving these issues. This region would be an economic powerhouse if we could freely trade goods that are desired across the border and are different from what is available there, in terms of kind and quality. Pakistan will have a huge market for its goods. Rustam feels that music also falls in the same cateHe gory. points out that ghazals and songs in Urdu and Punjabi, barely have a market in two provinces -- Punjab and Sindh (mostly Karachi) while for these two languages, much of North India becomes a market -- and a very large one! As far as Pakistani classical music is concerned, in his experience all of India, north and south are good markets. People in India appreciate generally appreciate our music as much, and sometimes even more so than in Pakistan because of a greater exposure to the arts and patronage by the government. In fact, Rustam recommends that our government could learn a thing or two about patronage and promotion of the arts from the ICCR (Indian Council of Cultural Relations) which sends Indian classical and folk artists to international festivals all over the world. There are 500-550 such festivals each year. Pakistan barely participates in 30 or 40 and when they do -- rather than sending a qawwali group, a folk artist, and a classical singer to intrigue and engage the foreign market -- perhaps induce them

to visit our country; they send pop artists who are unknown outside Pakistan (sometimes not even within Pakistan, but thats another story!). These artists do not represent our traditional music which would be unique at such festivals, but a generic sounding watered-down and quite forgettable pop sound. The cultural ministry and

nies tell us to invest not only the production of our albums, the creation of music videos, but tell us to invest in the cost of the album release. They do not market music properly, or make sure that videos have a proper run on music channels. As a result more and more of us are releasing albums in India, he explains. Like his cousin Shafqat Amanat Ali, Rustam, too is re-

leasing an album in India this year Meri Dharkan. The album is fusion style and lighter than the strong classical performances he is popular in India for. It was just released in Mumbai, India on May 15th, along with PNCA should learn lessons about his video of the song Chalo yeh the promotion of arts and culture sochein hum aaj mil ke. from across the border. Music distribution is another hai Baldeep Singh: Bhai area where cross border cooperBaldeep Singh (BBS ) is ation benefits both Pakistani from the 13th generation artists who are more frequently of the Gurbani Kirtan choosing to release albums in maryada tradition. His reperthe well-established and profes- toire includes masterpieces sional industry in India, and that were first composed by the music companies that are cash- Sikh Gurus and the Bhagats ing in on the popularity of Pak- themselves. BBS is also the istani musicians in India. prime exponent (khalifa) of Its definitely another area this oldest gharana of classical where we can learn from our percussions, pakhawaj/mrineighbors. Here, music compa- dang playing, of Punjab

Rustam Fateh Ali and his new album, just released in India: Free trade would make this region an economic powerhouse. Above: Bhai Baldeep Singh: I wish myself many happy returns to Lahore

known as Sultanpur Lodhi -Amritsari Baj. To revive almost all the instruments from the Gurus times, he personally handcrafted them under the guidance of master luthier Gyani Harbhajan Singh of village Dandian, Hoshiarpur. Bhai Baldeep Singh represents the State of Punjab in the General Council of the National Academy of Music and Theatre (Sangeet Natak Akademi), New Delhi and serves in its Executive Board. He is also member of the Advisory Committee for Music, Advisory Committee for Archives and Documentation and the Advisory Committee for Grants of the National Sangeet Natak Akademi. Recipient of many prestigious national awards, he is also the Founder and Managing Trustee of the Anad Foundation. Bhai Baldeep Singh is in the process of developing the Anad Conservatory: An Institute of Arts, Aesthetics, Cultural Traditions and Developmental Studies at Sultanpur Lodhi, Kapurthala (Punjab). My first ever interaction with a Pakistani was with my eventual dear friend, late Dr. Khalid Basra, at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London in the summer of 1995. But then I have had first impressions with so many Pakistanis and they are all special. One special one I know of is the noted architect and writer, Prof. Kamil Khan Mumtaz. I had met him first in April 2009 when I visited Lyallpur (Faisalabad) to attend the last prayers in honour of the legendary Ustad Mohammad Hafiz Khan Talwandiwale who had passed away in March that year. As the Founder Chairman of the Anad Foundation, it is a matter of honour to have Kamil Khan Mumtaz as one of the Sci-

entific Advisory Committee members, he says. This committee is chaired by Prof. Paolo Ceccarelli, Unesco Chair in Urban and Regional Planning for Sustainable Local Development with other top international conservators from India, China, Palestine, and Italy. They will oversee the conservation of the Qila Sarai, the venue for the Anad Conservatorys Faculty of Music and Arts, built by Sultan Khan Lodhi (12th century) and rebuilt by Emperor Shah Jahan (16th Century). His first impression of Pakistan and Pakistanis? Simple. The names of people and places where they live can be changed, but they are all the same no different. I have been blessed, if I may say, to have visited Lahore four times now I have always felt at home. I wish I could just live there I wasnt born there but perhaps I could die there! I asked BBS if it was different from what he had expected, and if so, what surprised him the most. I did not know what to expect really when I first went in 1997 with my wife, Maria Maurizia Costanzo (from Naples, Italy) and a then year old son, Luigi Hari Tehel Singh. The similarity was what stunned me. Being a Sardar helped as the locals could see that I was a visitor and what hospitality I received wah! The hugs, handshakes and relentless invitations to a chilled cold drink are all fondly etched in my heart. This April, my visit to LUMS was quite extraordinary. Being officially invited gave me chance to interact with the learned faculty members at this brilliant campus and meeting with the students was special. Singing some of the medieval Lahores classical repertoire in Lahore gave me quite a few emotional moments. Does he think initiatives like Aman ki Asha will have an impact? Absolutely! But such initiatives need to happen regularly. I just wish myself many happy returns to Lahore!

mosity ends. Generation after generation being played by a handful of leaders on both sides for their own political agendas. His point about what we are taught from a young age and the impact that has on shaping opinions into adulthood reminded me of a Bulgarian friend whom I travelled with in Turkey a few years back. When we met up in Istanbul, she confided in me her initial reluctance to visit Turkey. What had been drummed into her at school about Ottoman history and their iron-fist occupation of Bulgaria from the twelfth to the early twentieth centuries had led to her negative preconceptions of Turkish people. She even told me how acutely aware she was of having the chance to turn back before reaching the border. This was how strong those instincts were. She was to call me on arrival at the bus station in Istanbul and asked a fellow passenger if he could borrow his phone. The passenger, a Turkish gentleman, happily obliged. When a second (Turkish) person, an employee at the bus station, let her also use their phone, she was floored. Her perceptions about Turkish people were turning out to be ill-founded. They were ca-

I was really surprised to find out from an Indian friend that they are taught the exact opposite of what we are taught in primary school regarding the war of 1965

Peace hankies and more: A page from my diary

By Zain Hasan May 13, 2010: Today I spent some hours with the students of a community school where I also had studied. - Akhtar Academy in Nazimabad. It was really fun to explain Aman ki Ashas peace project to the students there. They were so excited while writing and painting on handkerchiefs-abound with enthusiasm and the spirit of friendship. Do they look like us? What language do they speak? a student of class 2 asked me while painting a heart over his piece of cloth. That showed that the children were interested in knowing about Indian people and this initiative had really sparked love in them. Unfortunately, racism and hatred for each other have penetrated into the roots of our cultures so much so that the coming generations are experiencing a change of the negative type. However, through public awareness campaigns like aman ki asha we can encourage our children and youth to come forward for forging international friendship and creating permanent Do your fellows think in the same way or is it still craze of religious fundamentalism in your campus? he asked me while taking a sip of drink. Well it was really tough for me to answer such questions in an hour long conversation. I realised that people of India have a wrong image of Pakistani religious leaders because of those who had interpreted Islam in a destructive way. But on the other hand there is no doubt that we also consider them terrorists on equal scale. Being a Co-Administrator of facebook Aman ki Asha community I had talked with several people who think that this initiative is more bad than good for both the countries. It has become a norm that by passing comments full of hatred for the people living across the border proves you more patriotic and loyal. But as our aim is pure and our campaign is to create peace, I am confident that Aman ki Asha will brighten up all the hearts with love that have darkened with hatred. All those thousands of members of our facebook community are testimony to this fact that peace is our first priority, without which we can not move forward.

wards open and honest communication between citizens can lead to greater understanding. My faith was revived by another email, in which the reader lets call him Ash* felt compelled to share what he termed as his personal experience and understanding about what we as children have been taught. He wrote: What we have been exposed to as children reflects who we are as adults. I was born and raised mostly in Pakistan growing up on the constant negativity about the nation across the border. It was not til I went to study in the US that I realized that so many of us (Pakistanis and Indians) have been fed all this hatred against each other since childhood. Although there are some issues that spark instant reactions from both sides (Kashmir, or the wars and terrorism) but I have found that on a common ground (the US) we tend to leave our prejudices aside. He continues: I was really surprised to find out from an Indian friend of mine that they are taught the exact opposite of what we are taught in primary school regarding the war of 1965. We are taught that the Indian army was planning to attack and they had decided we attack tonight and we'll have breakfast in Lahore. They are taught that the Pakistani army had planned the attack and decided that we attack tonight and we'll have breakfast in Delhi. So much propaganda to justify who actually won the war. He feels it is such conditioning on both sides over the years that has brought us to where we are today: It would be a great advantage to both the countries and the whole region if this ani-

pable of kindness and compassion! As Ash puts it, conditioning does appear to play a major role in shaping an individuals opinion. That is why its important for people anywhere to question what they hear, by doing their own research and creating their own experiences, no matter how they go about that. The stories recounted above support the mantra of not believing everything one hears or reads without giving it a second thought. Broadly speaking, I see one of the functions of a diplomat is to iron out the mistakes that politicians make; then lets hope we, as individuals, can take on a more prominent diplomatic role; precisely a role that Ash has discovered outside Pakistan on neutral territory. Having forged such friendships outside India and Pakistan, indeed may demonstrate the positive potential meeting under those circumstances holds. Call me an idealist, but if governments and individuals gave less thought to competing than to engaging with each other, our world might become a more peaceful and harmonious place. *Names changed to protect privacy

This article is a follow up to You lived through the experience?, Aman ki Asha page, The News, Mar 31, 2010. The author has an Honours degree in Italian studies from the University of Sydney and works in the fields of translation, editing and teaching. daniellegehrmann@gmail.com

Akhtar Academy students and their peace messages on hankies. Photos by the writer

peace. All of these hankies, bearing messages by Pakistani children for their Indian counterparts, will be sent to India for an exhibition where these will soon be displayed to promote mutual love and harmony. Last month I also attended a workshop, Talking Peace or-

ganised by the Jang group in a local hotel and there I met several media personalities from across the border. The whole workshop was quite script based and formal but later I got an opportunity to have lunch with Mr. Diwarkar Saathana, National Political Editor of The Times of

India. In a very casual conversation I came to know that he was aware of Pakistans political climate and national culture.

We are so similar in culture, languages, music. Films are another great link between Pakistan and India. These bonds are the reason why the peoples of the two countries share such love and warmth. If it were not for these bonds, India would have merely been another country sharing its borders with Pakistan, but it is not. In India a Pakistani feels a particular closeness with the people.

Shamoon, actor

THE FIRST STEP LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

Feedback, contributions, photos, letters: Email: amankiasha@janggroup.com.pk Fax: +92-21-3241-8343 Post: aman ki asha c/o The News, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi

A peace initiative whose time has come... Destination Peace: A commitment by the Jang Group, Geo and The Times of India Group to create an enabling environment that brings the people of Pakistan and India closer together, contributing to genuine and durable peace with honour between our countries.