Page 21 - Unleashed BMM 2019-2020

“If there is a heaven on earth,

it's here, it's here, it's here.”

For generations, music has been the greatest weapon to describe a situation or bring a change in
the world. There are still some artists who write songs based on the misery of the people and the
recent situations to show the world what other are going through. Mohammad Muneem is one
such musician who has managed to portray Kashmir in better light from what we know. He focuses
on the nitty gritties of Kashmir while the media paints a different picture. It has so many beautiful
things that need to be in the limelight and not just as the land of violence. Muneem has a band
named Alif, that work together to create soulful music and releases it on all the various platforms.

Q. Tell me something about you and your Q. If someone who is not aware about how Q. What was the idea behind forming the
family? Kashmir is and asks you about it, how are band Alif?
A. I was born and brought up in Kashmir, my you going to describe Kashmir to them? A. Alif, itself means unseen tassawuff mystic
father is a retired executive engineer and my A. Kashmir has always been portrayed as the being united being one. Indeed everything is one
mother is a professor of education. They both state of violence and that only murders, conflicts that is Alif. The name of the band sends out the
are based in Kashmir. etc. that takes place. If someone who isn’t aware message that no matter what, everyone should
about Kashmir asks me this question, I would be united and everything around us is one. If we
Q. Given that your parents are from different say that it is a magic where everyone wants to come together or unite to bring a change, we
fields, what motivated you to leave engineer- live in. The beauty and the essence is what will be able to achieve the goal.
ing and pursue music? makes my Kashmir so extraordinary.
A. During my engineering, I was not so sure if Q. You usually use the phrase, "Bobai
this is the right field for me. I felt while working Q. Were there any life changing moments Bobai", correct me if I am wrong during
as an engineer that it wasn’t my cup of tea. that you can tell me about? events. What does that phrase mean and
However, while I was pursuing MBA, I was A. Yes, I remember talking about this at Cuckoo what is your motive behind using it?
pretty sure about it and so I started writing Club, Bandra. This was back in 2004 and I was A. This phrase is a part of a song called like a
poems and performed them wherever I could. It out when I saw three strange men with a sickle, Sufi and it actually is “bobai bobai suin kya
was a long journey but I knew where my passion sword and an iron rod. They approached me, ranut peer sari samkhin aai.” It literally means
found home. asked me many questions regarding my identity, o grand ma what have you cooked for dinner,
my religion and my whereabouts. I was being the pirs and fakirs have come to meet us. And
Q. Talking about your father, the recent song threatened in my own city, my own state. After she secretly answers freshly puckled saag from
which you have released “Main aur Tu”, wh- few minutes, they tried attacking me and the the same soil that you shall be buried in, after
focuses on your struggle and a father-son sickle managed to hurt my neck. It was a quick they dine with us. This is actually a very sad
bond. What would you say about your bond moment and the second attack came, but luckily saying but when I ask the people to follow me
with your father? the person with the sword missed me and only and say the phrase, they say it with so much joy
A. My parents prioritised my safety, education managed to tear my collar apart. I ran away and without realising the meaning.
side. But when my father realised that I am not when I reached a particular place where a person Q. Does your songs impact anyone?
which did not give me much time for my artistic
pointed out that I was bleeding. I touched the
made for the mainstream jobs, he supported me
back of my neck and realised that yes I was
A. I don’t know about any particular person but
in ways even the world could not see. Talking
alive. Later on, I realised that I ran into a temple
about the music video, the incident in the climax and those three men were staring at me from the poetry and music is well received by people
around me. That is a very warm and humble
is real and all of the location used are same as
afar while holding the sickle, sword and the iron
feeling.
they were when the actual incident took place.
rod. Even the hospital refused to treat me. It was
Q. You write most of your songs in more than all about the Hindu and Muslim conflict and
given I was of an Islamic origin, I was not
one language. Can you elaborate the origin spared at my birth place. This was one of the
of these languages in your life and why do moment when I started praising my life and I
you use them? learnt the meaning of it.
A. I sing in the languages in which I think. Apart
from that, I write in Urdu and Kashmiri as well. Q. What role does Kashmir play in your life
Urdu has been spoken in my family from my and in your music?
early age and as I was growing up. But when I A. I am originally from Kashmir and whatever
grew up, I fell in love with Kashmiri language I write or sing, it is all be-cause of Kashmir and
and had to pick it up. This language gives me a the things that this place has taught me growing
sense of belongingness to my roots. up.

21 | UNLEASHED | 2019