The Voice of Punjab

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A true supporter of democracy even as a youngster, he appeared for the recording of Khalil Qaiser’s film Mujahid much to the chagrin of the other musicians who were supporting Field Marshal Ayub Khan during the 1964 elections. He being the supporter of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah reached the recording room with the sticker of Lantern, which was the electoral symbol of Fatima Jinnah, on his shirt. His showmanship and confidence was at its best during this recording.

Talking about that day he says, “The other musicians, especially my co-singer Masood Rana teased me a lot over this. I became infuriated and while singing Jo Bhi Rastay Mai Aai Ga Kat Gai Ga (whoever will come in the way will be eliminated) I kept on imaging that I was fighting the dictator and would even mime slaughtering them with my hand! The song was a super hit. The producer and songwriter Hamayat Ali Shayer were amazed and kept on asking me from where I got the enthusiasm. But I never told them. This is the first time that I have revealed the secret.”

“The song was broadcast the highest number of time during the 1965 war. We used to perform for the troops live. There was no fear of death. We wanted to lay down our lives for the country. It is a fact that I was the last person to leave Khem Karan area. Those were the days when I really felt like a proud son of the soil,” recalls Shaukat Ali.

In person Shaukat Ali is so completely informal and normal. Financial hardships and his own artistic struggles notwithstanding, Shaukat has never lost sight of the priceless value of humility and hard work. Shaukat never thinks of himself as THE Shaukat Ali; he has always done his job to the best of his abilities and gives credit to the maestros who have guided and encouraged him.

“Once during a live performance I was not able to properly play the notes on the harmonium. After repeated mistakes, which were minor, the harmonium was taken away from me and the person started playing it with perfection. After the performance I turned around to see who was playing and was surprised because it was none other than Ghulam Ali! He was very helpful,” says the multitalented folk artist who has also written the lyrics to a number of his songs.

Shaukat Ali also sings ghazals (light classical form) with equal ease but graciously concedes that, “There is no one like Mehdi Hassan. Mehdi Sahib nai tay ghazal saday tu khoo lai! (Mehdi Sahib has taken away the art of singing ghazals from us!)”

About the seraphic maestro Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, he says he was very handsome. There was no superficiality in him. “I was honoured when he attended my wedding reception and sang all night. Ustad Amanat Ali Khan was a man of great stature. Dramatist Nawaz once wrote a national song and asked me to compose it which I did but due to other commitments I could not record it. He then went to Ustad Amanat Ali Khan who recorded the song with slight changes. It was an all time hit song. However, when he got to know that I had composed the song he insisted that I sing the song. On his insistence I used the composition for another of my song which I dedicated to him,” says Shaukat Ali.

Author of two books Hangoan Dai Alnay (2005) and Takoran (2007), Shaukat Ali is always attired in simple shalwar kameez. One day along with Munir Niazi he was invited to dinner by Deputy Secretary Information Javed Akhtar. But they were prevented from attending the dinner at the gymkhana due to dress code. “I called the supervisor and told him about Munir Sahib and requested him not to insult such a person like him but all in vain .That was the day I discovered myself and decided that I will act as I am: a son of the soil,” he says.

Of his three sons, Ali Imran Shaukat, Mohsin Abass Shaukat, and Ali Amir Shaukat, only Ali Imran is pursuing a career in

music seriously. The Assistant Director of Punjab Arts Council, Ali Imran loves to sing and is often compared to his illustrious father. He admits, however, that it is not an easy task to measure up and walk in his father’s shoes.

Despite his professional triumphs, Shaukat Ali is a very humble and down-to-earth man. He attributes his success to “hard work, dedication and determination to succeed. I struggled hard to get where I am – that’s why I am still here. My wealth is my fame and name. I want nothing more; Allah has given me more than what I ever wanted. I have three sons and two daughters; and I’m living a happy life.”

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Reviews:

I had to read about half the article to find out who you were writing about. You used "he" in opening sentences and repeated the word too many times.

–  Surendra Patap   11/14/08

Other essays/articles by Savaira Kawish:

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