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Chitrali Cultural Show Limited -letter5

In addition to many other psychological problems we as Pakistanis including number of people in Chitral have some unacceptable attitudes which are not appreciated in civilized world. Like we always try to jump to conclusion of any discussion either because we don�t want to give full time to it or we don�t have the competence to conceptually understand the topic under discussion.

Another problem which is also not uncommon in our society is that we pass on news without inquiring it. We don�t bother to analyze some thing we listen from others, and without delay try our best to pass it on to others.

Second unacceptable attitude which is more common in our society unlike in other parts of the country where usually man is known by his / her profession and conducts, in Chitral a often man is know by his father. Specially by the profession of his father giving another title to his job like �Bacholan ductharo OR Khalawan Babwoo Zhawoo� "Reni marako brar", "Boot Zondako Newess", "Dhubeyoo brar ya Zhawoo" etc etc.

We need to eliminate such bad things which have become part of our nature and even our culture. As result of first problem mentioned above we have faced a big tragic event in past where numbers of innocent lives were lost and it will remain as stigma in our history.

Because of the second example many have left their jobs. We have many psychological problems in our beliefs as well like: if we listen that there has come a teacher from America or any other western country we blindly start admitting our kids in that school without thinking that the person could be just a tourist or may be doing Engineering or hair cutter job back in the country, for most of us it is enough that he/she speaks English fluently.

Like wise when we hear form some one that a Punjabi doctor has set up a clinic somewhere in Chitral, every one will rush to him as for us a doctor speaking Punjabi is enough to trust. An incident of this nature happened few years back in Drosh where people have become permanently disable as result of treatment by a Punjabi doctor, I remember every one running to Dosh for treatment of chronic medical problems.

Same is about cultural Issues, if some man like me but coming from France England or USA to tell us that Dhol Surnai Jerikane is only thing in Chitrali culture and you must keep it alive and promote it, we will blindly follow and keep doing it. We don�t even bother to think that the person who doesn�t even know in which direction river Chitral flows, how can be our best judge ?.

The same happened to my letter I wrote a few days back to Chitral News. My Qashqari brothers or sisters did not even read half of the letter and passed on miscalculated remarks. In the said letter I never wrote against Dhool surnai or Jeri Kane, neither I said Polo is not good for Chitral and Chitralies. On top of it people who I never know declared that I am settled in Canada. As a matter of fact neither I am here for decades nor I have decided to settle in Canada. I have spent 41 years in Chitral, and in Canada it is my second year and I will be back to Chitral next year. If my two years in Canada disqualify me to write any thing about Chitral and its culture, the same should apply to every one living out of Chitral either in Karachi, Lahore Islamabad or Gilgit as they are also not living inside Chitrali culture.

I was bewildered after reading the letter from Dr Khalil for his apathic attitude towards Chitrali music and polo. But Shams ul Haq Qamar and Iraj shams helped me out of this dilemma that was created by him. After reading the passages of the three writers I got myself standing between the two parties. The first two writers have harshly criticized Dr Khalil for his relentless criticism of Chitrali music and polo as nuisance. Dr Khalil has only focused on the non material aspects of Chitrali culture. My admiration goes to both the parties for highlighting our rich cultural values in one way or another. It should be acknowledged as a fact that Chitralis are known both for material and non material cultural values. It should be remembered that both these elements supplement and compliment each other. I am also in agreement with Shamsul Haq and Iraj on this issue.

In my humble opinion Dr Khalil has misunderstood the real essence of Chitrali culture ,may be because of living away from Chitral for a long period of time. However, he is justified in defining the wide spheres of Chitrali culture to a great extent in terms of non material aspects. First of all I would like to tell all my learned friends that culture is not merely the names of music, polo, dance, brotherhood, peace, cooperation etc. Instead the cultural activities of every society embrace ceremonies, festivals, dress, food, thoughts, habits and many more things, both materials and non materials.

It is unfortunate that Dr Khalil has completely ignored the role of musical concert and polo in promoting cultural values in Chitral. These events develop the elements of hospitability, respect, peace and brotherhood in the society about which Dr Khalil is much concerned. In such an event people from different aspects of life participate and meet each other forgetting their bitterness. They meet together, talk to each other and seat together thus helping to enhance the spirit of "let bygones be bygone". For the kind information of Dr Khalil I wish to give an example of such gathering, which entirely refutes his argument of naming such important events as ``aik sham xyz ke nam``and enjoy it.

Last month a cultural show was organized at Governor Cottage, Gramchashma, under the supervision of Pamir Cutural Forum Garamchashma. All the well known musical stars from Chitral did perform in it. Important guests from different political background and ideology participated in the programme. Through this show we were able to provide them a common platform of showing respect and understanding for each other. Moreover, rival musical groups also performed on the same stage together forgetting their past rivalries. Therefore, these events helped to promote the solid aspects of Chitrali culture on one hand and enhancing the non material faces of culture on the other hand.

Keeping in view the significance of such events I would like to advice Dr Khalil not to minimize the benefits of these events, instead should focus on their tremendous positive aspects and it is the dire need of the time to promote these activities, if we want to protect and preserve our cultural values from the harsh assaults of globalization and Indianization, as Chitral has a unique Mixed Culture.

Muhammad Amin
Garamchashma
(03 Jul 08)

I am thrilled to read an invocative and thought provoking letter of Mr Khalil, regarding Chitrali culture. I also appreciate the point which was made by Irraj Shams saying that Music and Polo play vital role in boosting our culture. I just request my respected brother Khalil, who is sitting in Canada leaving his own country and culture behind, to think that we are resourceless people to show off our other part of culture like wedding, death, family setup etc.

I really admire the idea of boosting other part of our culture but I also salute the people who touch all parts of our culture by our unique Chitrali folk music and dance. Our folk music and dance reflect each and every dimension of our culture, for instance a folk music and dance Barwazi reflects the hunting culture of the area which can only be found in Khowar music and nowhere else in the world. The same way Nandoshi reflects the wedding ceremonies, love of parents and respect of others and many more. Now there is a very famous saying about polo � Polo is the King of games and game of kings�. To me, Chitral is only famous because of polo, the reason behind is that it is not like the polo which is played in many countries of the world rather, Chitrali polo is a war without weapons between ten people and moreover, it also shows that how brave and courageous people Chitralies are.

I do agree that Chitralies should write articles and arrange talk and presentation to help Chitrali culture to be developed but it is only possible when being a part of this society. Our brothers and sisters who live out of the country could finance or make some other arrangements like presentation and give talk to the mass of the foreign countries where they live and write a report to the newspaper that they have done this great job . I again extend my profound thanks to Dr Khalil for making us aware and in touch with our culture. I do hope the day will come when we read the news saying that Dr Khalil organized such a society or a club in Canada where Chitrali culture is introduced.

Shamsul Haq Qamar,

Chitrali Cultural Show Limited -letter2

An eye opener letter it was indeed. My sincere congrats go to Mr Khalil in Canada in this regard. But i would like to add something in between. Let us initiate anything which could lead the way to proper preservation of our culture apart from participating in Mehfil-e-Mosiqi or just discussing or criticizing living out of the system. Why don't each one of us feel the burden on our own shoulders and try to lift it in our own capacity.

Using and abusing culture and religion for personal interest has become part of our national mentality. This is not only practiced in Chitral, rather the whole country is badly involved in this malpractice. We don't even spare religion and verses of the Holy book for the said purpose. We easily change the meanings of Holy verses for comfort and to endorse our interests and to convince others without thinking about the long term consequences of such attitudes. If any cultural value, Hadith, or even verses of the holy book contradict our vested interests, we either just close our eyes or try to find another Ayah apparently projecting the job which we are doing or we plan to do.

We are doing the same in the name of Chitrali culture. We have confined Chitrali culture in Dhol, Surnai, Jeri Kane, Sittar and dancing in pant shirt. We all the people of Chitral need to critically think at this moment, when our weak cultural values look to be at high risk after opening of the Lawari tunnel. Does Chitrali culture mean few musical instruments or sources of entertainment only?. Are Chitralis famous for dancing in pant shirt for classical songs. Are we known only because we can play mountain polo?. Are these the only two or three things we need to preserve for future generation? Can one Chitrali cum Persian Ghazal per day protect our identity?.

I don�t think so, and many others will support me on this point. I think we have done enough for music and polo, we need to focus on more serious parts of our culture as Chitralies. We are not countrywide known singers or dancers; neither are we known because we are the best polo playing nation on earth.

Our reputation as Chitralies definitely includes both polo and our way of singing and dancing (which has almost disappeared). Music shows, polo and Kalash valley are very important for tourist attractions and boost local economy but at the same time there are more important things which in real sense have brought good name for people of Chitral and are integral part of our culture.

Chitralies are famous for their kind heartiness, polite nature, for peace loving, for brotherhood in real terms both in sad and happy moments. We are known to be the most successful community for taking collective actions to meet our needs in hush and hard times.

We are known for being respectful, and love to be respected. We are famous for our forgiving nature. We have some culture in our marriages, deaths, in family set ups, in our farming system, we have our values even in cutting wood in jungle and in grazing animals in high pastures. We need to protect our architecture, I am sorry if I am mixing up culture, and traditions, but to me all sound the same and collectively make culture. If we can not practice them in real life and can not even arrange stage shows to protect our real cultural values.

We can at least organise workshops, can write articles and books, we can make our own by-laws which is very common all over the world and look for other ways to protect our cultural values. Arranging music show every day in the name of cultural show gives the impression like we are born to dance and to say every day one half Chitrali Ghazal only.

It is noticed that cultural shows are arranged and you see nothing about culture in it, specially in music. The way these events are arranged and celebrated are not cultural shows at all, as there happens nothing regarding culture. We should re-name these shows as Chitrali music programme, concert Or �Aik sham XYZ key nam� etc and enjoy it. I am not against any thing happening in music, I am rather a fan of new singers and have a lot of collection of the songs of new singers, but that is not all about culture of Chitral.