LAHORE CULTURAL DIARY: International music day passed almost unsung

Three exhibitions; two music concerts; a couple of workshops in puppet making and "How to advise entrepreneurs about strategy" were the major cultural highlights of the week under review. The International Music Day, which was celebrated the world over on June 21, passed almost unnoticed in Lahore.
A number of music promoting groups exist in Lahore with their avowed goal of promoting music and championing the cause of musicians, but none cared to organise an event to celebrate the International Music Day on June 21, which went unsung.
The Performing Art Academy of Lahore Arts Council, the Musicology Department of National College of Arts, the All Pakistan Music Conference, the Lahore Chitrkar and the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop, all known for their abundant skill to organise music programs, were seemingly oblivious of the celebration of the event. Perhaps, none among the officials of these organizations even knew about the International Music Day that is celebrated on a world-wide basis.
Only the French Cultural Center, Lahore held a Pakistani rock show at the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club on June 22 in connection with the celebration of International Music Day. Five rock bands, mostly underground bands of Lahore, with TEE-M from Karachi demonstrated their melodic prowess on the occasion. A significant crowd of music lovers, mostly young couples, attended the concert.
The weeklong workshop on puppet making organised with the help of a non-governmental organisation ended on June 22 at the Museum of Puppetry, Lahore. It was designed and conducted by Mirella and Imran Peerzada of the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop. At the termination of the workshop the participants, including children from the age groups of eight to eighteen, were asked to write plays and skits based on their experiences and the environment at the end of the workshop, which the organisers promised to stage at the Museum of Puppetry.
On June 18, Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool inaugurated the six-day long exhibition of art pieces at Lahore Arts Council. Prepared by 24 students from Design and Visual Arts Department of Lahore College for Women University, the articles on display included thematic portraits, calligraphic pieces, sculpture art and posters on awareness about human rights and Amnesty International.
During the period of exhibition, six short duration feature films on various social issues were also screened at Hall No 3 of LAC for the benefit and enjoyment of the visitors.
In his inaugural speech the Governor recalled rich cultural and artistic traditions of Pakistan and praised the artists for depicting these and basic human values in their creative outputs. He urged the younger generation of the country to join hands in promoting indigenous art forms.
In the same afternoon, a unique exhibition of experimental drawings also opened at the National College of Arts, which featured nine specimens of arts by eight students of the college. The exhibition was the outcome of a two-week long workshop on drawings conducted by a visiting French teacher, Stephanie Dachery.
The Government College University, Lahore organised a workshop on June 19 on "How to advise entrepreneurs about strategy", which was conducted by Professor Joseph Nellis of Cranfield University, UK.
On June 23 Begum Rubina Khalid Maqbool, wife of the Governor of Punjab, inaugurated an exhibition of women products at Women Business Incubation Center established by Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) in Lahore. After the formal inauguration of the exhibition the chief guest visited various stalls where ladies garments, dry flowers, bridal wears, handicrafts, jewellery, shoes and bed linens were displayed.
On June 20, a classical music concert by German musical group Arirang-Quintet was presented at the Alhamra Cultural Complex of the Lahore Arts Council. A large number of music buffs attended the concert, which was sponsored jointly by the German Cultural Center, Lahore and German Embassy in Islamabad with the facilitative assistance of the Lahore Arts Council.
Bad news for the artistes! Stage actress (dancer) Saima Khan was fired at and injured by unidentified armed men in the wee hours of June 20 near her residence. She was on her way home after performing at a local theatre when a group of masked men attacked her and disappeared in the cover of darkness.
Ajoka Theatre, Lahore's founder Madeeha Gohar has criticised Islamabad Club management for cancelling the booking of its auditorium booked in the name of Ajoka Theatre for a program schedule for August 1, after it learned that the controversial play Burqavaganza would be staged there.
It will be recalled that a ban on the play was imposed by the government after some women lawmakers of MMA in the National Assembly of Pakistan raised the issue on the floor of lower House of the Parliament. Believers in government's proclaimed policy of enlightened moderation have supported the contention of Ms Gohar in her efforts to stage plays based on liberal theme and those which are reflective of both the ugly and pleasant realities of life in Pakistan.