Abdul Hadi Mayar
RADIO Pakistan’s voice is no more confined to Medium Wave, Shortwave and FM. Listeners across the world now listen to its programmes and news bulletins through its mobile Application, the website and live streaming. Apart from sound waves, it has also firmly carved out its footprint on Digital Media. These are the excerpts from a lengthy narration published by Radio Pakistan’s newly launched History Channel on social media. Written by its Director General, Saeed Ahmad Sheikh, the article encompasses the entire history and services of Radio Pakistan in the realm of media communications.
This is not the only article written by Saeed Sheikh and published on the platform of History Channel. Scores of lengthy articles of the kind are displayed on the wall of the channel covering history, culture, poetry, literature, politics and other aspects of Pakistan’s national life. The Facebook page of the channel has already enlisted 178k followers. The rich, authentic and original content published by the channel is not only Liked and Shared by a host of followers and Comments on many of its articles show they are leaving deep impact on the minds of readers, highly enriching their knowledge of the history and culture of Pakistan and the Muslim world.
“Radio Pakistan has proved its metal in every age. When the evolution of media communication crossed the Electronic Age into Digital times, it appeared as if history has sealed the fate of radio broadcasting. But Radio Pakistan refused to give in. Besides its traditional voyage on the shoulders of airwaves, it not only tested its skills in digital communications but successfully established its worth in that field too, emerging as a viable public broadcasting organization,” read one comment on an article published on the channel. Another comment read: “Saeed Sheikh has set a new tradition in the functioning of Radio Pakistan. Being the administrative head of the organization, he is not required to contribute to PBC’s professional and creative activities, but he has changed this tradition altogether.”
Any person having a critical eye on the role and history of media organizations in Pakistan can understand that there is no exaggeration in the above applauses. After all, is Radio Pakistan under any obligation to cover the diverse topics, which have been published by the channel? “The Empress Bridge,” “The Story of a Sultan,” “Akbar’s Nine Jewells,” “Sher Shah Suri” “Badru Multani,” “The Story of a Blind and Remorseful Mughal Prince,” and what not?
“It was the gunpowder, which Sher Khan converted into his real military might, first conquering Bihar and then bringing Bengal, Kannauj, and Agra into his sway, finally capturing Delhi in 1540,” one of the articles about the war skills of the 16th century Indian Muslim ruler, Sher Shah Suri reads. The “Story of a Sultan” narrates the merits and achievements of Sultan Ghayasuddin Balban. Similarly, the “Story of a Blind and Remorseful Mughal Prince” is the story of Mirza Kamran, the brother of King Humayun and son of Emperor Babur, who had staged rebellion against Humayun and was subsequently blinded by the latter as a punishment. “Zafar Khan” is being remembered as a warlord of Sultan Allauddin Khilji, shrouded in the dust of history, who had inflicted such crushing blows on Mongols that only the mention of Zafar Khan’s name would send shivers down the spine of the Mongol warriors.
The History Channel not only covers the lives of kings and warriors; a good portion of the articles published on its wall also brings many valuable artists and singers from the dust of obscurity into limelight. About “Umda Bibi and Nawab Enayat Kotia,” an article says: “Both were Punjab’s folk singers of the same era. At the dint of their long and high pitch, they were both widely acclaimed. Before the age of loudspeaker, they sung in fairs, festivals, and open spaces, attracting music lovers with their high-pith folk songs.”
In “Ramasy,” the channel not only decodes the secret language spoken by Banarsy Thug among themselves – the dreaded thieves of the British era India, but it also familiarizes the modern generation with these infamous highway robbers who robbed caravans and killed traders, concluding that how they were first rained in and then eliminated by the British Raj.
Bringing out pearls from Radio Pakistan’s audio library, “Awaz Khazana,” the channel has published informative articles on the lives and art of eminent poets and writers, like Ahmad Faraz, Jaun Elia, Tasleem Fazli, Baba-i-Urdu Maulana Abdul Haq, Dr. Azam Krevi, Qudratullah Shahab, Khadeeja Mastoor, and Saghar Siddique and singers, like Nayyara Noor, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, and Badru Multani.
With his literary and creative genius, Saeed Ahmad Sheikh is not only poised to revive the past glory of Radio Pakistan, but he is also making constant endeavors to overcome the financial and other issues of the organization. In recent times, he has resolved many problems of the serving employees and the retired pensions are also confident that he would soon solve the issues of their Commutation, the annual increase in pension, arrears and medical facility, which the pensioners critically need in their fragile old age.
—The writer is former Director of News, Radio Pakistan, based in Islamabad.
