PESHAWAR: Shanza Ali Khan, an Islamabad-based young Pashto singer, has recently launched maiden video of her career with a pledge to change all kinds of stereotypes in Pashto music tradition.

Born with a flair for music and painting, she did her masters in English linguistics and literature from University of Wah, Punjab. Inborn love for music and art drove her to satisfy her internal urge for become a singer and painter in future life.

A year ago, she formally engaged a music teacher in Peshawar Arshad Ali, a noted music director, to learn the intricacies of Pashto music. In a few months, she was able to release her first Pashto video, which proved an instant success.

The young singer wanted to learn playing harmonium to get a mastery over composition of tunes. “I am not a onetime singer but want to be a professional artist with a cause to change. My mother is my first fan, who after watching my video said, it made her revisit her old good days,” she said.

Shanza Ali Khan decides to make music her career for social cause

Ms Khan said that her head hanged down in shame to listen to Pashto songs sung by some tasteless singers not in synch with the Pakhtun norms and values. “Pakhtun chauvinism is another factor which irritates me because first we are Pakistanis so music, poetry and art are supposed to be inclusive and should create a pluralistic society with the spirit of humanism , peace and social cohesion,” she said. She added that she did not blame all Pashto singers and artists for the worst portrayal of Pakhtuns but a few.

Ms Khan said that Afgar Bukhari, a popular Pashto poet with a Sufi blend, was the bard who attracted her. She said that she was a great fan of Afghan, Persian and English music but would love to tasteful Pashto tracks immersed in Sufi touch.

“My music mentor Arshad Ali gave me a deep insight into the philosophy of music. I, therefore, have intended to utilise my both strengths for peace and positive image of our society,” she said. She added that she received great applause from even English speaking fans for her efforts for a good cause. Her video has been scripted with English lyrics too.

Ms Khan said that Hamza Baba, Ghani Khan and all those poets, who inspired an idea of change, were on her top list. “I am using acrylics and oil colour to paint feminism but music is my forte and want to dedicate my entire life to the art of singing for a great cause,” she added.

Although not born into a music family, Ms Khan got a free hand from her parents to go ahead with her cherished dreams to bring about a positive change in the society towards music and art. “I am born with the passion for music because since childhood I would take active part in music events. After my parents gave me a clean chit, I have pledged to make music my career for social cause. In painting, my main theme is women issues in a typical Pakhtun society,” she added.

According to Ms Khan, her maiden Pashto video titled ‘Bewafa’ had already broken record of all online Pashto music charts. She said that the so-called singers and artists were portraying Pakhtuns in a very bad light across the globe and it needed a motivated soul to change its course.

Arshad Ali told this scribe that the voice of Shanza Ali Khan was well balanced as it was gifted with tempo and rhythm. He said that a dedicated artist like her could bring about a change in stereotypes of Pashto music tradition.

About her future plans, Ms Khan said that she was working on another video to be released next week. She said that she would select best poetic pieces for her projects with focus on a message to remove stereotypes in music tradition.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2017