PESHAWAR: A young man from Mohmand tribal district has recently completed graduation in musicology from National College of Arts Lahore and has asked the provincial culture department to take concrete measures for preservation and promotion of all forms of arts including traditional music.

Ali Murad claimed that he became the first tribal youth in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to have done graduation in musicology from NCA to work for improvement of artistic expressions in folk music.

He said that he would motivate youngsters to study arts to promote peace narrative and boost soft image. He said that studying music was purposeful like other disciplines for the society.

In a chat with this scribe demanded of the provincial culture directorate to take steps for promoting all forms of fine arts including folk music and sponsor seminars and workshops to raise awareness on the significance of artistic expressions in the society.

“Since my early age I loved folk music and most often used to hold long sessions with popular folk singers and musicians. After getting a clandestine permission from my parents, I sought to NCA where I opted for studying musicology. I was able to study extensively the history of our classical music and its various stages of evolution along with our local genres of music,” said Mr Murad.

He said that it was an interesting experience as he studied both theoretical and practical aspects of subcontinent, Western and Pashto music flavours.

He said that he thought studying arts was essential in the militancy-plagued region. He asked government to take concrete measures to promote art and artists as KP had rich cultural diversity.

He said that from 1930 to early 70s was the golden period of Pashto folk music but its standards declined after the region became war theatre for the international players and also a mindset was encouraged to shape the outlook of people against music and artists.

Talking about future plans, Mr Murad said that he had applied for a UK scholarship for doing master thesis on ethno-music because he wanted to widen the scope of his knowledge so that he could teach its history, forms, evolution and significance in the society.

“I can play rabab, harmonium and percussion and also have a good taste for Pashto songs. My knowledge would benefit Pakhtun artists and would help us promote peace narrative that in fact we are music lovers and hate war and militancy on our land. Every form of art including music advocates humanism and pluralism and promotes refined feelings,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2020