Let’s love Pakistan: A new resolution (V)

Sufi and classical music was made fashionable by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan when he introduced it to the west. PHOTO: AFP 

Here are the next 15 reasons that compel me to love Pakistan…
36. Faisal Masjid: The national mosque of Pakistan isn’t just a landmark my generation and I grew up admiring for its majestic splendour; it’s also significant to Pakistan’s identity as the largest mosque in South Asia and the fourth largest mosque in the world.

37. The intelligentsia that were our poets: Right from Allama Iqbal to Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Ahmed Faraz and Parveen Shakir, Pakistan has been truly blessed when it comes to poets and philosophers that have literally inspired the nation in times of need. The aforementioned are just a few from a gamut of literary geniuses.

38. Uncle Sargam: He and Masi Museebtay may not tickle the fancy of a 21^st century Pakistani child. However, for those of us born in the latter part of the last century, Uncle Sargam was quite the star with his clever innuendos and smart quips that warranted a few hearty laughs for fans of the hit PTV show “Kaliyan”! It’s a pity the show’s sequel “Siyasi Kaliyan” on Dawn News didn’t do too well, but thank you, Mr Farooq Qaiser, for giving us one of the most original and lovable Pakistani characters, ever.

39. The Indus Valley civilisation: This 5000-year-old civilisation which was once spread over what is now Pakistan, is widely noted for its cities built of brick, roadside drainage system and multi-stories houses, making it one of the oldest Bronze Age societies known to man. The two major urban IVS centers excavated till now include Harappa and Mohenjo Daro, which, mind you, has been identified as one of the most significant UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world.

40. The Meeras, Reemas, Sahirs, Aamir Liaquats and Veenas: No matter how hard you squint your eyes and shake your head in denial, they’re the only “filmy” superstars we’ve got. Might as well start owning them and enjoy their endless shenanigans for their entertainment value, eh?

41. Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Beside the fact that he trained and taught his skill to Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Nusrat Fateh was the man who made Qawwali and Sufi music fashionable by introducing it to the West, and, ultimately the younger lot at home. With the staggering six-octave vocal range, ‘Shehenshah-e-Qawwali’ recorded 125 albums during his 25-year career. He collaborated with several international music giants to sing for soundtracks of dozens of Hollywood & Bollywood movies, and his vocals still continue to pop up every now and then to surprise and remind us of what a brilliant musician he was… and that he was ours!

42. All the other musicians: How can one forget the immeasurable contributions to Pakistani music of Reshma, Abida Parveen, Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi, the Sabris and Ali Khans and Farida Khanum. Moreover we’ve birthed stars like Iqbal Bano, Roshan Ara Begum, Munni Begum, Allan Fakir, Naseebo Laal, Alam and Arif Lohar, Aziz Mian, Ahmed Rushdie, Naheed Akhtar and Mussarrat Nazir. And who can forget the pop singers and bands right from Nazia and Zohaib Hasan, Alamgir to Vital Signs, Junoon, Strings as well as the new lot for, well, rockin’ it!

43. Sialkoti craftsmanship and sports equipment: Every few years, on the occasion of the Olympics and Fifa World Cup, we’re reminded of the underappreciated artisans grinding away in sport equipment factories in the soccer production capital of the world that is Sialkot. Here’s our chance to do more than just smile and feel proud for all of five seconds: Thank You for producing something that has the best quality in the whole world and has our name on it!

44. Nishan-e-Haiders, Hilal-i-Jurats, Sitara-e-Jurats, Tamgha-i-Jurats as well as all the undecorated Pakistani shaheeds – One word: Respect.

45. Live cooking shows: Although it’s a pity none of our chefs are as pleasing to look at as Nigella Lawson (we can hope, can’t we?), you’ve got to admit, these one-of-a-kind cooking shows have surely taught the ladies all over Pakistan a thing or two about Zauq, Zaiqa and Masala…

46. Maalish walas (local masseuses): Really, where else in the world will you be able to really appreciate life’s small pleasures like enjoying a roadside shawarma, while getting a 100-rupee back rub?