Pa Pekhawar Key Parhar Ma Jorawa"Pashto Peace song gets tremendous response.

Pashto peace song gets tremendous response

Daud Khattak

PESHAWAR: So appalling is the impact of the ongoing violence, believed to be let loose by some foreign elements, in the unruly tribal region and settled areas of NWFP that it is now impinging on Pakhtuns’ poetry and music known for its colour, life and romanticism.

The shocking level of bloodletting triggered in NWFP is changing the trend in Pashto poetry from love, life and romance to heartrending tragedy, disaster and the doom and gloom hung over the entire region.

The famous Pashto song Bibi Sheerini (Oh sweet lady) no more carries the heartwarming sway for Pakhtuns who are now more fascinated by songs lamenting the havoc wreaked on the province by some elements, believed to be supported by foreign hands. .

Pa Pekhawar Key Parhar Ma Jorawa, La Da Kabul Parhar Jor Shawe Na De (don’t hurt Peshawar as the wound of Kabul is still bleeding) is one such song by young poet Subhan Abid carrying immense attraction for Pakhtuns.

Coming from Dargai town of Malakand Agency, Subhan Abid is working as driver in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the highly charged song about the raging flames of fire on Pakhtun land has been selected from his fresh collection of poetry Lewanai Mosam (boisterous weather).

Abid skillfully depicts the scenic beauty of Waziristan, Bajaur, Swat and Buner followed by a picture of the doom and gloom caused by the reckless wave of militancy and insurgency which is robbing Pakhtuns not only of their houses, villages, towns, cities, farms and businesses, but also striking at the roots of their centuries old culture and traditions.

The song sung by budding artist Hashmat Sahar instantly attracted Pakhtuns as it appeals to their hearts. Whether traveling in the public transport or driving in a car with a friend or relative, everyone seems an aficionado of the song because of its passionate appeal for the whole country of Pakistan in general, and Pakhtun in particular.

It is the comparison of the developing situation in NWFP to that of Kabul, capital of the neighbouring Afghanistan, 30 years back and the dilemma of the people that attracts majority of the people as it comes fit into their lives in the present circumstances.

At the same time, there is a passionate appeal to the terrorists, both internal and external, to stop converting Peshawar and the rest of NWFP into another Afghanistan. Dalta La Bal Da Weeno Jam Dakawe, Hagha Dak Jam De La Gootalay Na De (you’re filling another bowl of blood here, while the first one is still full).

This is for the second time in the previous nearly 60 years that Pakhtun land suffers from the worst kind of terrorism. The first was in the early 80s when the historical city of Peshawar witnessed an unprecedented wave of terrorism in the shape of bomb blasts that claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent people.

According to Pakhtun intellectuals, the bomb blasts in early eighties were the result of Pakistan’s support for the Afghan jihad.

At that time too, Pakhtuns lamented the terrorism on their land and the bloodshed of their brethren in their poetry and it was the progressive and romantic poet Rahmat Shah Sail who composed the illustrious Ma Darta Tol Omar Da Guloono Khar Wailey De, Kala Me Pirzo She Pa Bamoono Pekhawara (Oh my Peshawar, I always called you the city of flowers, how can I see you to be blown up with bombs).

Poet, journalist and blogger Shaheen Buneri terms this change in the direction of Pashto poetry as Pakhtuns’ love for their land. He said the prevailing situation in the tribal areas and the NWFP was incurring irreversible losses on the culture and tradition of Pakhtuns besides bitterly affecting every other sphere of their day to day life.

“As Pakhtun culture is an asset for the rest of the world, so the loss being inflicted is not only of Pakhtuns, but the whole of the world and we call it a universal loss in plain words,” believes Buneri.

Looking a few years back and there was not such trend like want for peace in poetry and songs. It was after 2006 when the militancy started spreading its tentacles into every nook and corner of Pakhtun land and the inhabitants realized the peril to their culture and traditions.

Zamung Pa Kalee Ke Shar Ma Jorawai (don’t create trouble in our village) is another poem sung by young artist Irfan Khan. The poem is selected from the fresh poetry collection of well-known poet Akbar Siyal’s Jangoona Ma Jorawai (don’t make wars).

Haroon Bacha song Zama Janan Janan Watana, Sta Da Wajood Oroona, Sta Pa Dushman Pore Sha (oh my beloved land, may God turn the flames burning your body on your enemies). Again the song carries immense appeal for Pakhtuns and shows their love for the land and want for peace.

Shaheen Buneri says half of the literature was already jihadi, while the rest half was now becoming a voice for peace and against violence.
He lamented that Pakhtun youth were no more seen singing Bibi Sheerini. Rather, their rich poetry and literature, which is full of colour, life, romance and love, is now becoming a cry for peace.
ENDS

Video Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEFEwWZ-yaw