The other day I was watching a music contest programme “Chhote Ustaad – Do Desho ki Awaaz” on an Indian TV channel (also re-telecast from a Pakistani channel) in which kids from Pakistan and kids from India participate as pairs and present duets. In that programme, the Pakistani boy was very enthusiatic to meet the legendary songster Asha Bhoslay, as he declared himself to be a great fan of hers.
The programme showed that, both the Pakistani and Indian boys meet Ms. Bhosley to take blessings from her. As per the tradition, she put her hand on the Indian boy’s head to bless him, and pretended to do the same with Pakistani boy also. But she did it in such a way that, her hand did not touch the Pakistani boy (a despicable ‘muchlay’!).
After taking blessing, both the boys set besides the singer. Incidentally, the Pakistani boy set nearer to her. At this, visibly Asha Bhoslay looked to get perturbed, and she was discretely trying that her ‘saree’ should not touch the Pakistani boy. This was also clearly visible on screen.
This behaviour was not expected from a singer of Asha Bhoslay’s standing. But then, that’s it! Will open-hearted and open-minded Pakistanis take notice of these attitudes of the Indians, and will the establish their own place on the basis of self-respect?
-Syed Sayef Hussain
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