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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

If not a joint cricket team, at least

we can make music together

he Mekaal Hasan Band,

which performed before
a huge crowd in Vadodra,
India recently, hopes to
soon release its third album the first
with the new Indo-Pak line-up. Founder
and producer Mekaal Hasan spoke to
Soumitra Das of the Times News
Network.

Pakistani guitarist
Mekaal Hasan and
flutist Muhammad
Ahsan Papu, and
Indian musicians
Gino Banks,
drummer, Sheldon
DSilva, bass, and
vocalist Sharmistha
Chatterjee are now
part of the first
ever Indo-Pak band

On the controversies and

protests regarding the performances
of Pakistani artists in India and vice
versa:
It is unfortunate because the
two countries have more similarities than differences! I would say that the
differences are mostly political. Both the
countries have some amazing artists and
working together can be great for all of us.
We have been touring India for 10 years
and I have made some great friends here.
Since our kind of compositions involves
Hindustani classical music too, I always
thought India is the place to be for collaborating with the best musicians from my
generation. Culturally, we are so similar we have the same ragas, same bandishes
and the same mindset towards composi-

tions. We need more acceptance.

About the rising popularity of Sufi
music:
I feel the lyrics are extremely relevant
to the prevailing social scenario. Besides,
it talks about selflessness, which resonates
with everyone.
On the journey so far:
When I started off as a musician, I used
to feel bad for the working musicians.
They work really hard on projects but the
singer walks away with all the credit! So
when I formed a band, I was very particular that I would feature working musicians
and give them their due. That way, it has
been a creatively satisfying journey.
We are not here just to satisfy commercial interests, but we want to create music
that will stand the test of time.
While we cannot guarantee popularity
for our music, you can be rest assured
about our integrity! I am happy with our
musical journey and having a female vocalist has been a great addition to the
group.
It brings a whole new perspective to
the entire creative process.

Mekaal Hasan Band: The new Indo-Pak line-up

Amazing audiences
oted Pakistani flute player Muhammad Ahsan Pappu, who has travelled extensively in India and
Pakistan with the Mekaal Hasan band, says that touring India is always fun because of the amazing audiences the band gets all over the country.
Pappu, who was in Vadodara along with the band for a performance, says, The kind of audiences
we get in India is simply amazing. They really appreciate good music and understand the nuances well.
Talking about the success of their band, which is mostly into Sufi rock Pappu says, While we are
mostly into Sufi rock music, we also try and present Hindustani classical music in new forms keeping
its purity intact. Besides, nothing describes the condition of todays society better than Sufi poetry.
When Sufi poetry combines with Hindustani classical music and proper arrangements, it is an unbeatable combination.

B R I E F S
Wanted: A problem-solving approach
man ki Asha is a wonderful initiative that is
doing a great service, said Jalil Abbas Jilani,
Pakistans ambassador to the United States.
He hoped that the India Pakistan peace effort
of the Jang Group and the Times of India would take
up the issue of visas that causes so much hardship
particularly to divided families.
Mr Jilani was at Harvard University on Monday,
where he gave a talk on Pakistan-India Relations, the
way ahead. This was the inaugural event for the Harvard Kennedy Schools annual South Asia Week. The
event was co-sponsored by the Future of Diplomacy Project and the South Asia Institute.
In his measured and insightful talk, Mr Jilani gave a brief overview of the main problems that primarily
cause tensions between the two countries, the positive changes that have taken place and concrete steps that
have been taken to improve relations, and suggested possible ways forward.
A career diplomat who served in India as charge daffaires (from where he was expelled in 2003 during a
time of high tensions), Mr Jilani talked about the increasing awareness on both sides about the lack of a military solution to the problem.
There is also a realisation that no country can achieve its economic goals while in a state of tension with
its neighbours, he said. Thirdly, there is a realisation of the need to manage pressing issues like poverty, climate change, food security etc.
On the positive side, there has been good progress on confidence building measures like the Jammu and
Kashmir bus service, cross-border trade, and meeting points for divided Kashmiri families.
Student exchanges are taking place but on a limited level, and should be increased.
Mr Jilani was hopeful that issues like the resumption of the composite dialogue (suspended since Jan
2013) and Pakistans granting of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India would start to progress once
Indias elections are over.
Trade between the two countries although currently far from the ideal level, has been steadily improving.
From 2003 when it was around USD 300 million, it is now USD 3 billion. If the barriers are lifted, it could rise
to over 10 billion over the next few years.
The visa regime between the two countries needs to be liberalised, in particular to allow divided families
to meet. Unfortunately, India has introduced stringent rules that make it difficult for the poor in remote areas
in Pakistan to apply for visas, as the form as to be submitted online. And Pakistani expatriates are required to
renounce their Pakistani nationality in order to apply for an Indian visa on their foreign passports. Some people want Pakistan to reciprocate with similar rules for Indian visa applicants, he said, that he argues against.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is all for establishing a visa-free regime between India and Pakistan, and we
hope we can move towards this goal over time.
It is time for India and Pakistan to aspire to what Mr Jilani terms a problem-solving approach. The need
of the hour is to engage meaningfully and work towards removing the causes of tension between the two countries, for the sake of the people.

Gulzars new Indo-Pak peace film

This is a beautiful film which I felt could
help promote the peace initiative I was
associated with, Aman ki Asha
fter a gap of 13 years, veteran poet Gulzars name
will be appearing on the
credits of a film as more
than a writer and lyricist
he is also the official
presenter for the film,
Kya Dilli Kya Lahore,
due to be released
on May 2, 2014.
In 1948, a
cross-fire erupts
at an isolated
stretch of
I n d o - Pa k
border, leaving only two soldiers
alive. One is an Indian soldier of
Pakistani origin while the other
happens to be a Pakistani soldier
of Indian origin. An ironic story of
pride and survival begins when
in an attempt to evade danger, they
bump into each other. And amidst
continuous exchange of bullets, altercations and murkier situations,
it evolves into a journey of human

Pakistan Expo in Mumbai

he Made in Pakistan Expo in Mumbai last week,
MIPEM 2014, was a resounding success by all accounts. Participated in by a hundred Pakistani including leading brands in textile fabric, fashion garments, lawn
print suits (stitched and unstitched), designer footwear,
onyx, spices and herbal teas, the exhibition attracted large
crowds, especially women.
Pakistans new High Commissioner in India, Abdul Basit
Khan inaugurated the four day-long Expo on Friday, April 3,
along with the Kamal Morarka, Chairman, World Trade Centre, Mumbai.
The world is changing very fast. The problems between
India and Pakistan are dragging us down. We should get out
[of] this negative narrative and move ahead in trade relations. I hope this show becomes a permanent feature, said
Mr Khan.
Rukhsana Shah, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Pakistan,
said that Pakistan wants to have direct trade relations with
Filmstar Poonam Dhillon at the Expo India which will benefit both counties.
The exhibition, held at the World Trade Centre, Mumbai, was organised by the Pakistan Readymade
Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA) in collaboration with EVECON under the aegis
of the Ministry of Commerce & Textiles of Pakistan and the All India Association of Industries.

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

Ahsan Papu

Gulzar: the familial feeling hasnt changed

connection with an unforeseeable
end.
The film is Vijay Raazs directorial debut, in which he also plays
the leading role of a Pakistani soldier sent to retrieve a secret file
from an Indian chowky on the border. The other main character is a
cook of the Indian army, a role enacted by Manu Rishi, who is the
only one left behind at the
chowky.
Revolving around these two
characters, the story takes place in
the course of a day during which
the initial hostility between them

peters into an emotional bond fostered by their language, culture

and music.
When Aseem Arora came up
with the story, the films young
team, including producer Karan
Arora, decided that they needed a
mentor and turned to Gulzar. It
was the films composer Sandesh
Shandilya who introduced them to
the veteran wordsmith. Gulzar
loved the concept, reports Roshmila Bhattacharya in the Mumbai
Mirror (April 14).
When they returned with the
screenplay, I asked them to show
me the finished film, says the 79year-old poet-writer-lyricist whos
just been honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
He was so impressed with the
first edit that he agreed to come on Still from the film: Humanity has no borders
board as the face of the film.
Theres no commercial inan eight-year old, to find that the
sisters and even his uncle.
volvement, says Gulzar. Vijay has
familiar alleys hadnt changed.
When people ask you about
made a beautiful film which I felt
Those he had left behind not only
your family members, how can you
could help promote the peace inirecognised him, but even enquired
feel divided? he asks. Your
tiative I was associated with, Aman
after his elder brother,
daughter gets married and
ki Asha. If I can lend my name
takes on a new surname but do
to promoting peace beyou stop loving her or her hustween the two countries,
band and children? Hindustan
I have no objections.
and Pakistan may be two
What I loved about it
countries today, but the familis the fact that it is an
ial feeling hasnt changed.
anti-war film and talks
These emotions are behind
about peace but in a very
the lines he has penned for
light-hearted manner. It
the film:
doesnt have bloodshed
and is not political in naKissey lambe ne lature at all, yet makes such a
keeran de
beautiful point of peace beGoli naal gal karde
tween two neighbouring
Bol chubhde ne veeran
countries.
de
The films mahurat took
Kahani maadi hai laplace on the Wagah Border,
keeran di
a place familiar to Gulzar.
Mitti vich lahu ralleya
Hes made several trips there
Jaan jaandi hai faon August 14, with his friend,
keeran di
the veteran journalist Kuldeep
Nayyar, to light a candle for
There is a long story beIndia-Pakistan peace.
hind these lines of partition
The film is part of this
They talk with bullets
mission, he asserts, adding
now
that when he sees Wasim
Even our brothers
Akram with Sunil Gavaskar in
voice hurts us now
the commentary box during a
The story of these
cricket match, it makes him exlines is not a good one
tremely emotional.
There is blood on the
A year-and-a-half ago, Gulzar
soil now
returned to Pakistan 70 years
In between all this, huster
after hed left his home there as Kya Dilli Kya Lahore po
mans are suffering
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.