Dear... Ali Sethi, Pakistan
Salam.
This is an anonymous letter for you from a Kashmiri fan.
I am a 26-year-old woman, who lately got 2g speed internet after the Indian government lifted a 7 month ban on it and who can now see and listen to you on internet. Well I am not going to talk about politics here, but love.
As we know, the world is right now suffering from Coronavirus disease, and everyone is inside their homes, trying to fight the battle with the disease and themselves.
Just like millions, I am also staying indoors these days, spending my days reading, writing and helping my mother at home.
Besides that I do one thing; wait for your live Instagram session, where you talk to different Indian artists and other artists; you talk with them about poetry and memories.
For obvious reasons, like lack of internet speed, I don't watch it wholly but I check YouTube, where I have subscribed your channel. You usually share two to three minute video on there.
I try to understand the connection, your love for people and how poetry is connecting two countries besides all the hate media has created and besides all the differences between the two governments.
Artists are beautiful. They don't care about where people are from. They don't care about the ethnicity or religion. All they care about is "connection", "one language in which both people understand each other.” They care about memories and the things which keep them hooked.
They find the meaning in everything like clouds, flower, or in case of thunder or fire.
It makes me cherish some moments amid this lockdown which we are going from more than 8 months now. It connects me with you and your poems and songs.
I keep listening to your song, ‘Gulon Main Rang’ which was initially sung by Mehdi Hassan. How melancholic! How peaceful!
I also remember how, while recording, you wore a kashmiri shawl, to show love and care for people in Kashmir during that time when most of the people in the world were ignoring us.
Thanks for all the honesty and simplicity you put in your songs. I'd love to meet you one day and tell you who this secret admirer is, one among thousand of your secret admirers.
Lots of love