Working Toward Progress

The youth is so important in shaping the world. We can determine what the future is going to be like. This power that only the youth holds is especially vital in places like Pakistan, where the present is beyond terrible due to corrupt and ineffective leadership on both the small scale and the large scale. We need to realize, though, that unless change is brought to the current conditions of areas such as education, the youth will not be able to utilize their influence in future society and consequently, nothing will ever change. Pakistan needs change. I wanted to share two music videos, one in this post and one in the next one, that are meant to look at this topic of youth and hopefully provide a glimpse into the music styles of Pakistan as well. 

This first song is called Umeed-e-Sahar and it is by the Laal band. The lyrics of the song were actually written by a Pakistani poet named Faiz Ahmed Faiz whose work, at the time, was very controversial due to his support of communism. In the video, the main struggle is between a young man, whose mother is dying in an ambulance, and the police, who has blocked off traffic for the passing of some rich person, presumably a politician. And, yes, this does happen in Pakistan. Please take away some sort of a message from this video, whatever it may be, to apply to yourself in your thoughts and/or actions.

Lyrics:
Jigar dareeda hoon. Chaak-e-jigar ki baat suno.
Umeed-e-sahar ki baat suno.

Alam raseeda hoon. Daman-e-tar ki baat suno.
Umeed-e-sahar ki baat suno.

Zubaan bureeda hoon. Zakhm-e-guloo sey harf karo.

Umeed-e-sahar ki baat suno.

Shikasta pa hoon. Malaal-e-safar ki baat suno.
Umeed-e-sahar ki baat suno.

Musafir-e-rah-e-sehra-e-zulmat-e-shab se,

Ab iltafat-e-nigar-e-sahar ki baat suno.

Umeed-e-sahar ki baat.

English Translation:

My heart is torn. Hear the wounds of my heart.
Listen to the hope of a new dawn.

I'm stricken with grief. Listen to my being soaked with tears.
Listen to the hope of a new dawn.

My tongue is dry and unable to talk. Talk to my gaping wounds.
Listen to the hope of a new dawn.

My feet are tired. Listen to the sorrows of my journey.
Listen to the hope of a new dawn.

From the one who travels in the dark desert of tyranny,
Hear him speak of the beauty of dawn.

Hope of a new dawn.

Salam [Peace].