A Qawwali of 64 years

Qawwali, some say, is more than 700 years old, yet a devotional art that old which typically requires a longer period of time and larger amount of concentration as compared to similar options is still loved by an equally devotional audience.

A. H Kardar led Pakistan in their first Test Cricket Match 64 years ago, Test Cricket, an utmost patience testing sport usually played across 5 days; sometimes with no result, yet a game of 30 hours with no assurance of a result is loved by billions across the world.

It is all about devotion.

Qawwali starts with an instrumental prelude, announcing the main tune and its variants followed by Lead to start with alap, a tonal melody,  an enriched and deep snippet of poetry to announce his mastery in the art, engaging his audience and drawing out the blueprint of the ride he is going to take his listeners to.

Fazal Mehmood took 12 for 94 at Lucknow to win a test for Pakistan, Their 4th Match since birth, their 1st victory, the tone was set, and it is going to be fast bowlers for Pakistan to leave the world in their awe. Fazal announced the art of Pakistan.

It is all about announcement.

Qawwal, begins to sing prologue. Listeners start to hold breath. It is like music, yet it is so different. Qawwal successfully creates an aura, in which his listeners find the true sense of devotion. An ultimate bond which is entirely under control of the Qawwal himself.

Pakistan immediately started winning matches away from home and series at home, Fazal swung England at the Oval and undid Australia in Karachi. Zulfiqar and Khan Mohammad scripted New Zealand's trouncing. Fazal, again, announced a new star on the horizon by depleting through West Indies and not just any star, a star with an aura.

It is all about creating the aura.

Qawwal enters the main song, picks up the singing pace with his party starts tabla, dohlak and clapping. Main verses are traditional and never improvised. However, tunes are often devised, but staying in the anatomy of main melody. The melody of announcement. Main song tests the maximum length of listeners comprehension power, it is compelling, intense, divine and yet entertaining. Qawwal is triumphant over his listeners.

Pakistan started winning overseas. Mohammad brothers and Intikhab Alam formulated debasement of New Zealand. Pakistan cricket started to attract fans from all over the world. Pakistan team started to get titles like miraculous, charming, intense, entertaining yet a triumphing side.

It is all about starting to triumph.

When the main song reaches climax, Qawwal begins his best act. The ultimate maneuverability of saargam. Qawwal presents a raag and then goes beyond and back. This is when listeners go into the state of HAAL, the pinnacle of selflessness. The audience is in the state of ecstasy.

Era of Imran Khan began, charm and charisma of Pakistan cricket reached its climax. Wickets soared and victories came flooding in. He with Abdul Qadir went on to usher the HAAL in cricket. Exuberant Immi and necromancer Qadir brought euphoria over Pakistan cricket fans. Even the mightiest West Indies were looked right into the eye bowl for the first time.

It is all about the HAAL.

During the main song Qawwal brings up an alap, usually a couplet which is totally different and entirely relevant. Listeners left gasping on the innovation. Nusrat said he never planned these alaps, they just came by when he was so deep into the lyrics that his mind started knitting things of its own.

Sarfraz Nawaz brought reverse swing into the cricket before Saqlain brought the doosra in the reckoning. Both of these arts are totally different from the tradition and are entirely relevant. They never said it was due to some scientific research. It was their mind knitting things of their own. It was an innovation. It was imagination.

It is all about innovation.

Qawwali, sometimes have two lead singers. A double act Qawwali is often more mesmerizing. Sabri Brothers is prime example. One lead singer takes the listeners to one end of rhapsody for the other lead singer to take them to the other end. They sing in sync and sometimes in tandem. Two is always better than one for the listeners.

Wasim and Waqar took cricket fans somewhere they never had been. They bowled frantically and dangerously and yet they are loved by the people whom they caused most destruction against. They took wickets in tandem and in sync sometimes. They were best when they were together.

It is all about a duet.

Just before the end of the Qawwali, The Qawwal usually slows it down, grinding the last bit of appreciation from his audience, continues effort of 30 odd minutes needs resilience and grit and just when the audience thinks that this may be the end of his performance, he takes a breath and warbles the last bit so softly and subtly that it feels like silence. Deep down, he knows his grit has won everyone's heart.

Misbah took charge of the Pakistan team in shambles and 6 years on, held the test championship mace. It was not about announcement, aura, triumph, HAAL, innovation or a duet. It was just old fashioned grit and resilience. Softly and silently he made sure he is winning. Deep down, he knows he has won everyone's heart.

It is all about grit and resilience.

A Qawwali spread over 64 years reached its end. At a landmark 400th test for Pakistan. What can surely be said is there is another one starting, just about now, in the dessert and the audience is all set to go on a ride the Qawwal is going to take them on.