Political Peace between Pakistan and India

Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of Art and Living Came to Pakistan on his three day visit to promote peace and goodwill and also to promote his foundation that deals with stress reducing techniques, reducing individual violence and societal problems etc.

We as Pakistanis appreciate his idea and efforts that he came to Pakistan to spread a good message about peace and harmony but I feel it was more of his advertising campaign for his foundation.  The art and living foundation was formed in 1989 in Germany and America with headquarters in Bangalore, India. It is one of the largest volunteer sources in the world.

It  is true that it is important to spread love between the both countries but it will all be futile unless important issues that are spoiling the relationship are not dealt with.

1)      Kashmir issue

2)      India’s interference in Afghanistan

3)      India’s violation regarding water accords for instance Baghliar-1 dam has disrupted the flow of Chenab River in Pakistan and also stopping the flow of water. Clearly violating international laws.

4)      Constant accusation by India regarding the Mumbai Attacks in 2008

5)      On the other hand Pakistan blames India for funding the terrorists in the country and backing up separatists in Baluchistan

Unless the leaders of the both countries do not plan out a proper strategy this aman ki aasha, making singers and spiritual leaders go from one country to another will not help. Pakistan is free country and you cannot blame it to be discrinmative towards Hindus. We are taught to safeguard the right of minorities but this issue is not religious. Its political and out to be solved politically.

It is very important that south Asia should have the same peace and goodwill like they have it in the west. Global harmony can only be attained that way.  Unless the core issues are not treated, such peace steps that talk about cultural mergers, media collaborations can not work.

Theater Love

In Pakistan, Youth is very enthusiastic. Everyone is testing their creative skills to the maximum. There has been an increasing trend of watching theatre in Lahore especially. When I talk about theatre, I talk about good quality ones and not the usual ones that commonly popular among some class of people.

 There has been a  mushroom growth of production companies that are run by youth which caters to the demands of enthusiastic theatre lovers.

I have done Two plays with the  Student Blog Productions. First one was a musical play,” Into the woods “and the other one was, “The Three Musketeers”.  I thought it would be like one of the usual plays where they hand you an easy script and you got to learn it and then act it out, wear amazing costumes and rock the stage.  However, it wasn’t the case. It demanded full time devotion and constant tuning of our acting skills. I am thankful to Mr Hassaan Khalid who was an awesome producer and made me work with a great team. We would occasionally order pizza when he would be in a generous mood but it was usually the Daal chawal or some desi food that was given to us. But its not the food that counts, it the fun, experience and the amazing contacts I formed during my Alevels.

My second experience was with Talal ali jan and Theatre hub. It was a completely different experience. Talal is a young luminite who is trying to make it big in this world. He has done a lot of successful plays most remembered are Jaal , Khatra-e Jaan etc.  I was working with him in Nizam sakka and I still remember how tensed I was while giving the auditions but he selected me and then it was just a roller coaster ride. Since the team was mostly teenagers and young adults, it wasn’t difficult to get used to that warm environment. Like great team, before our play we went to watch plays by other production companies. All of them sucked, however Avanti was great.  Working with him, I learned how to walk on stage, how to act and I saw how a great play was made. The technicalities, sound, set design, costumes, handling the late comers, boring actors and finding new ones when old ones left. Hell of a ride it was.

I got a birthday surprise there. They said they had brought no cake for me but they DID. Aww!

I made a lot of friends there. Media is in my blood. I want to be a news anchor so bad. But while working there I met people who were aspiring actors, models and amazing people. I met the actress of Bol –  a Pakistani movie. She is a wonderful friend and things are just amazing.

I might not be working on any play again. But I might. You never know.
 Let’s see where my Media Love Takes me.

Cultural Blues

While searching for my discussion topic which talked about the cultural invasion of Pakistan by India, I was not very impressed by the material present on the internet.  There was one perspective that talked about increasing globalization and there was another point of view stating that yes we are invaded by the Indian media from every corner etc.

I appreciate good music, fashion trends and fine entertainment even if its coming from across the borders and so do a lot of people who know how to distinguish between what is wrong and right.

We ridicule our Lollywood actresses be it Veena malik , Meera or singers who have gone across borders to earn a livelihood and get some  recognition of their own.  Unless Pakistan does not officialy send these people , they are not representing our country.  They have their identity of their own. But we as a nation believe that if our star achieves something amazing  we like to take all the credit and when he does something not acceptable to us we refuse to even acknowledge the fact that they  were once part of us. Not forgetting random people asking Pakistani government to ban these people from coming to the country? Really? Why?  If you ask these people, they bring the religion in between.   Why doesn’t religion come between in discussion when there is talk about corrupt leaders or political instability, or when there are acid attacks on our women? Why does religion only come in the discussion when the entertainment industry is discussed?

Pakistani youth is strong and we have a Voice. We are educated and We know what we want in our lives. No nation is invading any other country.  Media is a free.  Pakistan drama industry is booming and so is the theatre. I know a lot of my friends who are part of the theatrical scene in Pakistan and some of them are aspiring directors.  Today a Pakistani believes that if its own product will be upto the standard there is no way any other country can culturally invade us. Thanks to Humsafar – a massive achievement which made every Pakistani believe that our stuff is all quality.