Unity. Faith. Discipline.

As we join together to celebrate the day when a nation was granted independence, I want to draw your attention to one of the greatest creations (since Junoon or the spirit accompanying our World Cup '92 victory) that our nation could have put on offer: Coke Studio

Perhaps one would consider it a tad short-sighted to promote music in an era during which our nation is being actively promoted as a failed state. But if you draw parallels between the state of the Pakistani music industry and the nation as a whole, you cwuld find reason behind my argument.

Both are engines run by amateurs at best, attempting to make their place in the world and yet not quite moving forward. Many come, many go – some may leave their mark, and even fewer are able to speed up the process of evolution.

And then you have Coke Studio. A concept built upon the very principles that our nation was created: Unity, Faith and Discipline. CS brings together artists from virtually any background of music conceivable: Sufi, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Qawwali, Classical and many, many more, who quite successfully combine their efforts to deliver an end-product of sheer excellence.  A range of instruments can be heard: the tabla, sitar, guitar, drums, piano, harmonium, each bringing its own flavour to the composition. Furthermore, every episode is based upon a specific theme that is consistently portrayed in each artist's interpretation of that concept. The bottom line is that Coke Studio has mass appeal.

The individuals involved in CS are well-disciplined artists who are united in their efforts to deliver class performances and above all, have strong faith in the message of music. Hats off to these geniuses, for in my honest opinion, they have revived the dying (or perhaps, already-dead) music industry in Pakistan, at a time when most had lost all hope in it. 

I pray a similar miracle unfolds itself for our nation – the evils of corruption, terror and insecurity have long hindered our progress and it is time we break free from the shackles that bind us down. These are the words I had heard as a child, and they still echo in my mind:

Barhna hai aagey har kadam
Jab tak hai dam mein dam
Hogi kabhi, himmat na kam

It is our responsibility to pass on this message to the next generation, and endow them with more than a land of beggars, broken promises and violence.

Jashn-e-Azaadi Mubarak.