Pakistani Singers’ Heartfelt Renditions in Solidarity With India in the Grip of Pandemic Win Hearts
- #Pakistan stands with India trends as spiraling COVID infections threaten to overwhelm the world's second most populous country.
As India battles to contain one of the world’s worst coronavirus outbreaks, with a record 400,000 new infections reported, and with hospitals running out of precious oxygen and medical supplies, a young Pakistani singer from Lahore has composed a song to show solidarity with India during what is perhaps one of a most tragic periods in its history. Moved by the plight and sufferings of the people in the neighboring country, singer-songwriter Imran Hashmi, 26, wrote, composed and performed the heart-rending ballad “Hum Tere Saath Hain.” “While many artists use music to promote peace, love, Hashmi’s song talks about harmony and brotherhood,” says Khaleej Times. The song, being played on Hashmi’s official YouTube channel, has received a tremendous response from all around the world.
“I was shaken to the core as I watched on television the worsening situation in India and the destruction coronavirus was leaving in its path,” Hashmi told Khaleej Times from his hometown in Lahore. “It’s Ramadan, a time for compassion and I wanted to show our neighbors that we stand with them in their hour of need. I immediately started working on the song and penned the lyrics, which is about solidarity and hope.” He added: “We all are Indus people (Indus Valley civilization), people of the same blood, same genome. If one of us gets hurt, all of us feel the same pain. This song is my humble tribute to show our neighbors that we are there for them, that we care, that we will never leave them during hard times.”
Hashmi told Khaleej Times he has always dreamt of becoming an ambassador of peace between Pakistan and India and he has now taken a step towards that with his music. “I might be a random boy from Lahore, but I believe through my music I can spread the message of peace across the border and I’m also expecting them to reciprocate in the same way. I feel humbled to know my message of love and peace in my song is now being spread across the world and I am also glad to know that Pakistan is being seen as a peace-loving nation,” Hashmi said.
Similarly, another bright spot on social media platforms being otherwise flooded with SOS calls, grim news and horrific pictures is a moving video from across the border that is winning the internet and providing a much-needed healing touch.
Pakistani musicians Zeeshan Ali and Nauman Ali have got together with a few of their friends for a heartfelt rendition of A. R. Rahman’s “Arziyan.” They are seen performing the song while playing a guitar, a harmonium and a tumbadora.
With a message “hosla na haro, yeh waqt bhi tal jaega; raat jitni ghani ho, phir sawera aega,” the video is widely being shared across social media platforms in both India and Pakistan. Sharing the clip online promoting “love” and “peace,” Nauman Ali wrote: “Art and humanism has no borders. Respect and gratitude is always here in our hearts, love and affinity.”
“Arziyan” is one of the most popular tracks from Rakesh Omprakash Mehra’s film “Delhi-6.” Composed by AR Rahman, the song has vocals by Javed Ali and Kailash Kher. Prasoon Joshi has penned the lyrics.
Both Imran Hashmi and Zeeshan Ali and Nauman ALi have received a ton of love-filled comments.
Social media user Naseeb Khan tweeted in response to Hashmi’s soulful rendition.
A netizen posted: “Pakistan stands with India” summing up the prevalent emotion. “Awesome,” wrote another Facebook user. “Amazing,” shared another. A few also posted heart emojis to express their reactions.
Singer Atif Aslam also joined the bandwagon.
Ammar Ali Jan wrote, “Beautiful gesture of solidarity by members of @PSCollective_for friends in India.”
Shaniera Akram tweeted, “So much love & empathy pouring into India from Pakistan.”
Last week, the subject of solidarity between India and Pakistan, despite their long-time hostility, was seen trending on social media as Pakistan provides relief support to India that is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. Many Pakistanis have taken to Twitter to express their solidarity and support to Indians battling with Covid-19 as cases. As #PakistanStandsWithIndia trended on various social media sites, many tagged government authorities in the neighboring country to help India in its difficult times — be it by supplying oxygen or by sending ambulances and volunteers.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed “solidarity with the people of India.”
Former Pakistani cricket star Shoaib Akhtar said his prayers were with the Indian people.
As scribe Waseem Abbasi aptly pointed out in a tweet, “Heartening to note that #PakistanstandswithIndia is top Twitter trend here.”
Finally, the mood at the moment can be summed up through netizen Mir Mohammed Alikhan’s tweet.