Pakistani rock star striking a new chord

[zerocool]

By: Tabassum Ali and Zahra Rafique

Salman Ahmad, a charismatic guitarist from famous musical band Junoon, brings a new message of peace and respect as moderates and extremists are vying for influence and power in his home country. His message is beginning to expand beyond Pakistan.

Teaching a class, "Islam Music and Culture of South Asia" at Queens College in New York as a resident professor, Ahmad embattles to change western views on Islam.

"Queens College... has such a uniquely diverse student population that my class is like a mini United Nations," said Ahmad in an exclusive interview with The Ticker. "I've enjoyed the atmosphere at Queens College's music dept a lot and loved the interaction with students and faculty" he further added.

His lectures are part of "The Middle East and America: Clash of Civilizations or Meeting of the Minds," Queens College History Professor Mark Rosenblum's nationally acclaimed project to promote understanding and informed discussion about the Middle East conflict on campus, in high schools, and in the larger community. This project is an initiative of the Michael Harrington Center at Queens College and the Taft Institute.

Padmini Naidu, 22, senior at Queens College says, "[Mr. Ahmad's teaching] overall is that music regardless of where it comes from, is unifying". Naidu, calls himself a spiritual person with background of Hindu philosophies, He goes on saying further, "Through music, people can see how similar they truly are instead of trying being as secular and dividing themselves and using culture and religion as the dividers"

Survey conducted by The Ticker, Baruch College News Media Publication, indicated a strong sentiment in favor of religious freedom among students. Over 80 percent of the participants agreed that countries are better if each religious group can trust its members to obey the dictates of their own religious faith without assistance from legal structure of their country. Various Students and faculty members at Queens College participated in a survey.

"It is a great idea to do this. I think it is wonderful what he is doing because music is so soothing and has a powerful approach to sending messages to people" said Taimur Sayed, a senior student at Queens College with more moderate approach.

Still enjoying the success of Junoon, most famous rock group in south Asia, Ahmad has been involved in two BBC documentaries, "Rock star and the Mullah" and "Muslims in America, It's my country too".

"I also feel that there is too much negative reporting on Islam in the media. Positive Muslim role models and their stories are under represented in the media which creates unbalanced, distorted perceptions of Muslims in the world" said Ahmad.

Ahmad appears to be challenging fundamentalists in a documentary, Rock star and the mullah, where he asks students at a Pakistani madrassa, or religious school "Who are the Mullahs who say that [music is forbidden]?"

Ahmad asks the students of this fundamentalist Islamic school to tell him why they believe that music is haram, or forbidden, in the teachings of Islam. As he presses them and they respond, the young Muslim students are torn between their fascination with this cultural icon, who represents rock and roll and twenty-first-century values, and their adherence to a form of increasingly extremist Islam taught by their local mullahs. Eventually, Ahmad reaches for his guitar, and as the students sit around him, their expressions a mixture of shock and intrigue, he defies the ban on music and sings-a verse from the Qur'an. The teacher of this small group studies his famous visitor. "You can decide whether you want to go to heaven or hell," he finally declares.

"I wanted to highlight the inner debate that's happening between modern and traditional Pakistani society. Music's role in Pakistani culture and Islam was a perfect way to illuminate the diversity of opinion that exists there" Ahmad goes on saying further.

"The documentary follows me on a journey through Pakistan in which I show the dialogue of Pakistani citizens regarding music, Islam and modernity (people on a bus, shop keepers, musicians, TV presenters, students,politicians,the president of Pakistan and the Mullahs) After going to Lahore,Karachi,Islamabad and other cities I went to Peshawar because there the local govt. had banned all types of music (even traditional folk music) and I spoke with politicians and the general population as well as a radical Mullah known as Mullah Electricity, who tries to convince me to give up music but doesn't see the contradiction in his own argument when he starts singing devotional Islamic songs to me on camera, perfectly in key!" He further added.

US national spoke person in a fight against HIV/AIDS, a goodwill ambassador for the UN, Ahmad was personally invited by former US president Clinton Global Initiative Panel in New York, featuring well known and prominent guests such as Bill Gates, President Musharraf and Queen Rania etc.

"HIV/AIDS is a disease which still has a lot of stigma and discrimination attached to it, especially in South Asia. My role is to help shine a light on the heroic role being played by men and women who live with HIV/AIDS and to promote greater awareness about HIV/AIDS amongst young people" said Ahmad.

"I spoke on a panel to discuss the role that Pop culture (music, films and television) can play in bridging the cultural divide between the Muslim world and America" said Ahmad. "I also feel that there is too much negative reporting on Islam in the media. Positive Muslim role models and their stories are under represented in the media which creates unbalanced, distorted perceptions of Muslims in the world" He further added.

Ahmad, along with his wife Samina, also joins Bono Apparel Project to promote HIV awareness by designing a new T-Shit named GHOOM TANA. Cost of the T-shirt is $20. Women in Africa make these T-shirts from 100% cotton.

"T-shirt is produced by Bono's apparel company Edun Live which employs poor HIV plus women in Africa who help make the t-shirts from 100% cotton. People who buy the T-shirt can promote Peace and cultural dialogue and also provide a living to women in Africa" said Ahmad is response to a question.


Mr. Ahmad also intends to visit colleges in South Asia later in the year to "discuss HIV/AIDS and its prevention with students in a project named ALVIDA TOUR (Farewell to Aids). "I feel music videos, TV and films can help humanize the face of HIV/AIDS" he added.

In his message to all students here in US and Abroad Ahmad takes a moment and reminds us our social responsibility referring to Virginia Tech Shooting "One of the lessons to learn from this terrible tragedy is that each individual has a responsibility to the peace and security of his/her community" .

"Whenever anyone feels left out or marginalized, they pose a danger to themselves as well as others. That's why it's important to be compassionate to your fellow students and colleagues and to show positive interest in each others lives".
"Can a Pakistani Rock star strike a new chord in the hearts of Islamic Fundamentalists?" And in a time when somewhere in the mountains of North Pakistan a local folk hero named Osama bin Laden is hard at work selling young people a violent version of reactionary Islam, it is heartening to know that another kind of hero is eliciting a different kind of passion in that same generation. They are the ones who will ultimately shape Pakistan's future, and perhaps the rest of the worlds as well, Carter Phipps, senior editor of What Is Enlightenment Magazine wrote.


Source: http://www.theticker.org/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&uStory_id=687d5758-9f12-45bb-a210-4aa5f1d10e5a
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Hai Jazba Junoon to himmat na haar~~Justajoo jo karay woh chooaey aasmaan~~Mehnat apni ho gee pehchaan kabhi na bholo~~Sab ki nazron main Pakistan

[iaik]

KCOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[khosh fami ka shikar]

amazing
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Good governance and the rule of law are of fundamental importance for Pakistan to develop as a nation and become part of the developed world.

[chaein]

Basically gone through this new chord section n come to know its new chords but intermingling, all things are not the essence of all time. Think what is written in whole with their logical meanings n then u probably have

[shabbykhan]

[AlexZello]

What do you think of Obadiah Shoher's views on the Middle East conflict? One can argue, of course, that Shoher is ultra-right, but his followers are far from being a marginal group. Also, he rejects Jewish moralistic reasoning - that's alone is highly unusual for the Israeli right. And he is very influential here in Israel. So what do you think? uh, here's the site in question: Middle East conflict

[Spock]

[3yz]

sweet....
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<!>Noori<!> ~untruly urs~

[john82]

I've never heard of this guy obadia shoher before, but after a couple of minutes on his website i came to the conclusion that he is an extremist and worth even listening to. i try to stay away from guys like this.
Johnny Jemsite Guitars101