Daily Times

LAHORE: The 4th edition of Lahore Music Meet (LMM) brought an interactive session tilted: ‘Mosiqi Mulaqat’ (Music Friendship) for the old and young to share their love for music with each other on the one table the at Alhamra Art Gallery on Saturday.

People, especially the youngsters, at “Mosiqi Mulawat” actively participated with their gadgets including smartphone and tablets. They were grooving to each other’s favorite tunes and chit chatting through this music friendship activity. Meanwhile, senior citizens brought their radio recorders and cell phones.

This activity was arranged by LMM in collaboration with The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) for music lovers. All while sharing their favorite tracks with each other.

CAP General Manger Hiba Ali said: “Basically, we have held this activity called ‘Mosiqi Mulaqat’ for especially Lahore Music Meet 2018. In this activity, CAP is trying to encourage different generations to exchange music with each other and discover new music, rediscover forgotten songs and make friends.”

On the occasion, around two dozen photo prints of different music eras were showcased that were donated by different people. Recorded interviews of different senior citizens, including late personalities, were screened at the event that was recorded by CAP under its ‘Oral History Project’ (OHP).

One of them, a story of late Maryam Faruqi was also presented, who founded Happy Home School in 1949. Her devotion and dedication to teaching and her efforts towards the prosperity of education in Pakistan earned her the Pride of Performance Award from the Pakistani government in 2009.

According to her interview that was given to CAP, Maryam shared her life’s journey from her birth to getting the award along with ups and downs which she was faced during this period.

“We have set some strategy for participations and asked people for coming with their music devices with favorite tunes in it and a pair of headphones. They will plug headphones into each other’s players and share their favorite tunes. In seven minutes, they have to switch to the next person. People are present from 40-90s era, who come here with their favorite songs and playlist who are sharing music tunes with young generation and vice-versa,” Hiba said.

To a question, she said that in our old generation panel were Fayaz Ahmed Ashar (music collector), Jhangir Sheikh from Delhi Darwaza, Dr Javed Malik, Zahid Shamsi (poet) and Pasha and his younger sister. There were people from the younger generation. She said that the response of the visitors was very good and they had appreciated of their efforts for the project.

She said that CAP was dedicated to cultural and historic preservation. It is operating in two cities: Lahore and Karachi. She said that purpose of the CAP was to familiarise the younger generation and create awareness among them with their history, including heritage, culture, music and heroes of our country. She further said that CAP had focused its attention on the tradition of oral storytelling in Pakistan, emphasising the importance of such narratives in a dialogue on national identity.

CAP is focusing on three main agenda and goals. One of them is to preserve and provide access to the archive, to build and support educational programs and third one is to develop educational products based on the testimonies collected.

An architect – Sumaira Murtaza said: “I’ve learned a lot about of music that was our elder listen that time. She has appreciated CAP for taking this initiative to revival of our music and to meet with our elders in this friendly environment adding that she said I think it is very beautiful and in touches it our roots.”

Published in Daily Times, December 7^th 2017.