PUNJABI MUSIC VIDEOS AND DISCUSSIONS

www.ArshKhaira.com Arsh Khaira - Vocals/Banjo Brad Bowie - Rubab Ojas Joshi - Tabla Dr. Arsh Khaira is a scholar and musician from Sherwood Park, AB. He holds a PhD in Music from the University of Alberta, as well as a Masters in Biblical and Christian Studies (Concordia) and an MBA (U of A). He fluently speaks Dari, Urdu and Punjabi. This performance was for the Pakistani Students Association at the University of Alberta.

www.ArshKhaira.com Arsh Khaira - Vocals/Banjo Brad Bowie - Mandolin Ojas Joshi - Tabla Dr. Arsh Khaira is a scholar and musician from Sherwood Park, AB. He holds a PhD in Music from the University of Alberta, as well as a Masters in Biblical and Christian Studies (Concordia) and an MBA (U of A). He fluently speaks Dari, Urdu and Punjabi. This performance was for the Pakistani Students Association at the University of Alberta.

www.ArshKhaira.com Dr. Arsh Khaira is a scholar of Religious Studies, Sufism and Punjabi Culture. He holds a PhD from the University of Alberta. He is fluent in Dari, Urdu and Punjabi. In this short documentary, Dr. Khaira visits the graves of Laila Majnu.

Dr. Arsh Khaira is fluent in Dari (Afghan Farsi) and has been studying the language in great detail since 2006. He holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of Alberta where his research focused on the relationship between Sikhism and Islam as well as the deep connections between East and West Punjab. www.ArshKhaira.com The Zafarnama is a letter written in classical Persian (Farsi) by the 10th King of the Sikhs "Shah-e-Shahenshah, Bhadshah Darvesh, Sache Pateshah, Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj" to the Moghal King "Aurangzeb" in 1705 after the "Battle of Chamkaur." At the Battle of Chamkaur, 42 Sikhs including the King Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his 4 sons fought against tens of thousands of Moghal soldiers. Aurangzeb had given the King of the Sikhs his written oath on a Quran that Guru Gobind Singh Ji would have safe passage out of the area, but instead the 42 Sikhs were sieged upon by Moghal forces. Guru Gobind Singh Ji was able to escape and penned this letter to Aurangzeb in the aftermath. This battle has been alluded to as a symbolism to the Battle of Karbala as it was here at Chamkaur that Guru Gobind Singh Ji lost his two older sons in battle, Baba Ajit Singh, and Baba Jujhar Singh. Subsequently after the attack his two younger sons, Baba Zorowar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh were captured and bricked alive. In this letter Guru Gobind Singh Ji begins with a supplication to God, and the moves to address the breaking of Aurangzeb's Quranic oath. The primary couplet of this piece is: "Chun kar az hameh heelate dar guzasht, Halal ast burdan bi-shamsher dast." Now that all other means of rectifying the situation have failed, It is permissible (halal) in the eyes of God for me to take my sword in hand. The meaning of this couplet is essentially that because Aurangzeb broke his Quranic oath, it then becomes not only righteous but "just" for Guru Gobind Singh Ji to engage in warfare with the Moghals. This prophecy was fulfilled within less than a hundred years as the Sikhs established a Kingdom that encompassed all of the Punjab (both in present day India and Pakistan), Kashmir, the North West Frontier Province, the Khyber Pass and Kabul through engagement in offensive war and territorial expansion. My rendition of this piece contains the first component of the letter which is the supplication to God as well as the primary couplet above. KAMAAL-E KARAAMAT KAA-YAM KAREEM RAZA BAKSH RAZAK RAHAAKUN RAHIM The Lord is perfection personified. He is eternal and manifests Himself through His miracles. He is generous in granting His bounties. He is merciful and delivers us from this world. AMAAN BAKSH BAKSHINDEH-O DASTGIR KHATAA BAKSH ROZI DEH-O DILPAZIR He grants peace and security and is always merciful in forgiving us for our sins. He holds our hand and guides us. He is provider of our sustenance and charms everyone. SHAHANSHAH-E KHUBI DEHH-O RAH-NAMUN KI BE-GOON BE-CHOON CHOON BE-NAMUN He is the king of kings who is guiding us all the time. He showers his benevolence on all. He is without colour, incomparable and formless. NA SAZ-O NA BAZ-O NA FAUJ-O NA FARSH KHUDAVAND BAKSHINDEH-E AISH-O ARSH He possesses no material things nor has He an army. He is merciful and grants all the pleasures of the heavens. JAHAN PAAK ZEER AST ZAHIR ZAHOOR ATAA MI-DEHAD HAM CHU HAAZAR HUZUR The Pure one is above everything in this universe. His glory is all pervasive. He bestows us with gifts. He is present everywhere. ATAA BAKSH O PAAK PARVARDIGAR RAHIM AST ROZI DEHAD HAR DIYAAR The merciful Lord grants us all the gifts and meets the needs of every one throughout the world. KI SAHIB DI-YAAR AST AAZAM AZIM KI HUSAN AL-JAMAL AST RAAZAK RAHIM He is Lord of the universe. He is merciful and provides sustenance to all. His charm and grandeur cannot be matched by anyone. KI SAHIB SHA-OOR AST AAJIZ NAWAAZ GARIB AL-PRAST-O GANIM AL-GADAAZ The Lord is intelligence personified. He protects the poor and the helpless and destroys the wicked. SHARI-AT PRAST-O FAZILAT M-AAB HAKIKAT SHANAS-O NABI AL-KITAB The Virtuous One gives justice to all. Nothing is hidden from Him. He is the inspiration of Koran. KI DAANISH PUYOH AST SAHIB SHA-OOR HAKIKAT SHANAAS AST ZAHIR ZAHOOR The all-knowing Lord seeks the learned. He is aware of all happenings. He is present everywhere. SHANASINDEH-EH ILM-O AALAM KHUDA-E KASHAA-INDEH-E KAR-E AALAM KUSHA-E He has the knowledge of everything in this universe. All cosmos is moving as per His command GUZAARIND-EH-E KAR-E AALAM KABIR SHANAAS-IND-EH ILM-O AALAM AMIR The great Lord is regulating everything in the world about which He has complete knowledge. MARAA AITBAAR BAR EEN KASM-E NEEST KE EIZAD GAVAH AST YAZDAN YAKEEST Aurangzeb! I have no trust in your oaths anymore. (You have written that) God is one and that He is witness (between us).

ADRAAK Moneeb Hussain - Guitar Arsh Khaira - Vocals / Bass Saddam Hasan - Vocals / Keys Asim Mubashir - Drums Set List: MISSION "IMPOSSIBLE" WAQT (ENTITY PARADIGM) SAYONEE (JUNOON) GOLE SANGAM (PERSIAN FOLK SONG) - ADRAAK ORIGINAL ALLAH HOO (BULLEH SHAH) - ADRAAK ORIGINAL DAM DAM KARO FAREED - ADRAAK ORIGINAL DOSTI - JUNOON TASBIH - NUSRAT FATEH ALY KHAN JANA JOGI DE NAAL - NUSRAT FATEH ALY KHAN - ADRAAK ORIGINAL VERSION LIVE FROM THE PAKISTANI CANADA ASSOCIATION OF EDMONTON SOCIAL HALL

MUSIC BY ARSH KHAIRA AND NADEEM ALY www.ArshKhaira.com For all albums please go to: www.ArshKhaira.Bandcamp.com

In this compilation I share interviews I conducted with Pakistanis from KPK, Punjab, Sindh and Kashmir about their views on East Punjabi music, culture, traditions and people. It is virtually unanimous that the majority of Pakistanis from every province have a deep rooted love and respect for the people of East Punjab. This goes to show that the Punjabi people cannot be divided even in-spite of one of the most heavily guarded borders in the world. These are the people of "Panj" aub. Not yak, do, se or chehar "ab." The five rivers are like siblings that cannot be separated as they are all from the same family and bloodline. The Sikhs have been separated from their ancestral home and their spiritual roots, and the Muslims of West Punjab long for their homecoming. Background music, all footage and all interviews are copyright of Arsh Khaira. www.ArshKhaira.com

www.ArshKhaira.com Dr. Arsh Khaira is fluent in Dari (Afghan Farsi) and has been studying the language in great detail since 2006. He holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of Alberta where his research focused on the relationship between Sikhism and Islam as well as the deep connections between East and West Punjab. In this video I travel to Hargobindpur, Punjab, to visit the Guru's Mosque, or "Guru Ki Maseet." The background music is my own recorded version of "Tasbih," originally by Nusrat Fateh Aly Khan Sahib. The historical proximity of Sikhism and Islam from the very beginnings of the Sikh faith and all the way until partition is very important to understand. Throughout the history of the Sikh people, a deeply entrenched interdependent cultural and spiritual relationship with Muslims has been the very heartbeat of the Punjab region. Unfortunately, the partition which divided Punjab into two, and separated Muslims from Sikhs continues to have devastating effects on the preservation of language, customs and traditions for both of these communities. There are innumerable historical examples of the mutually interdependent cultural relationship shared by Sikhs and Muslims, and the Guru's Mosque is just one of them. For more information about this UNESCO historic site, please visit: http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Guru_ki_maseet For more content in Punjabi, Urdu, Persian and English, please visit: www.ArshKhaira.com

Words and Music: Arsh Khaira All Footage: Arsh Khaira Please visit www.ArshKhaira.com for more Punjabi, Kashmiri, Persian and Urdu content.

Arsh Khaira's new PUNJABI MUSIC VIDEO - "PYAR" - In this music video directed by the world renown Sandeep Sharma (Satinder Sirtaj, Waddali Brothers, etc.) the story of two lovers who come from different religious and cultural backgrounds is depicted in the beautiful setting of the North-Easterm Himalayan range. I play a character that is definitively Sikh, with a long flowing beard and a turban indicative of the Amritsari style. The woman who I am in love with is from the mountains of North-Eastern India, and throughout the video the story is told of how the two characters meet years after being torn apart due to social, tribal and religious differences. The video begins as I ride my motorcycle through the mountains and come across a woman who has just fallen from a tree from which she was collecting firewood. As I help to lift her to her feet, we both recall that we were once lovers. After this a dream sequence begins in which we both reminiscence how years ago we had fallen in love in these same mountains, but that her family had forced her to move away, as the lead-male protagonist who I play is a Sikh from Panjab, and does not belong to the same ethnic or religious extraction as her. Thie video depicts the reality of Panjab, where many different cultural and tribal groups exhibit very high levels of pride when it comes to their own lineages. When it comes to marrying outside of one’s own community however there is often strong resentment and push-back from one’s own family, and often from society as well. In this part of the world the value of a woman’s izaat, or “honor,” is highly contingent to her family and her own bloodlines. www.ArshKhaira.com Music by Arsh Khaira Directed by Sandeep Sharma Lyrics by Ladi Soosanwala

www.ArshKhaira.com Presenting KASHMIR by ARSH KHAIRA, directed by SANDEEP SHARMA. ****** If you are originally from PAKISTAN OR INDIA - PLEASE take a moment to fill out the following survey to assist me with my research - I really appreciate it! (Click on the link - it will take about 10 minutes to do). https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FS8TBFP ******* Dr. Arsh Khaira is fluent in Dari (Afghan Farsi) and has been studying the language in great detail since 2006. He holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of Alberta where his research focused on the relationship between Sikhism and Islam as well as the deep connections between East and West Punjab. This song reveals the tragedy of the Kashmir conflict that has cost thousands of lives of civilians and military personnel. Directed by Sandeep Sharma and composed and sung gorgeously by Arsh Khaira, this song will allow you to experience this beautiful but conflicted region of the world personally. The senseless atrocities that have taken place in the Kashmir valley since Partition continue to turn this beautiful paradise on earth into a destitute war zone. This video will allow the viewer to travel to the "gulistan" (garden) of Kashmir and experience the pain of all those affected by this conflict - offering a glimmer of hope for the people of the valley. AUGUST 14th and 15th. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE and SHARE www.ArshKhaira.com This is an important initiative to honour the victims of Kashmir violence. Director: Sandeep Sharma Writer: Ladi Soosawala Music: Arsh Khaira Vocals: Arsh Khaira Kashmiri Poetry and Rubab: Yaqoob Shah Production: Kaameshwari Productions DOP: Honey Cam Editor: Ram Parvesh Bhardwaj

Presenting a quick glimpse into the upcoming epic music video release KASHMIR. This song reveals the tragedy of the Kashmir conflict that has cost thousands of lives of civilians and military personnel. Directed by Sandeep Sharma and composed and sung gorgeously by Arsh Khaira, this song will allow you to experience this beautiful but conflicted region of the world personally. The senseless atrocities that have taken place in the Kashmir valley since Partition continue to turn this beautiful paradise on earth into a destitute war zone. This video will allow the viewer to travel to the "gulistan" (garden) of Kashmir and experience the pain of all those affected by this conflict - offering a glimmer of hope for the people of the valley. Releasing on Independence Day AUGUST 14th and 15th, 2018. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE and SHARE www.ArshKhaira.com This is an important initiative to honour the victims of Kashmir violence. Director: Sandeep Sharma Writer: Ladi Soosawala Music: Arsh Khaira Vocals: Arsh Khaira Kashmiri Poetry and Rubab: Yaqoob Shah Production: Kaameshwari Productions DOP: Honey Cam Editor: Ram Parvesh Bhardwaj

Arsh Khaira delivers a workshop on Sufism to graduate music students at the Punjabi University in Patiala. He examines the revival of a mutual culturally interdependent relationship between East and West Punjab (Pakistan's Punjab Province and India's Punjab State). www.arshkhaira.com

ADRAAK perform Sayonee (Junoon) live in Edmonton, Alberta for Canada Day 2018. @ The Pakistan Eid Mela ADRAAK: Arsh Khaira - Bass / Vocals Saddam Hasan - Keyboad / Vocals Moneeb Hussain - Lead Guitar Asim Mubashir - Drums

Arsh Khaira performs Dhol for the Pakistani Eid Mela in Edmonton, Alberta on Canada Day 2018. www.arshkhaira.com

Arsh Khaira talks about the upcoming release of his new music video "Kashmir," Directed by SANDEEP SHARMA. Releasing Independence Day (Pakistan and India) August 14th and 15th 2018. Presenting a quick glimpse into the upcoming epic music video release KASHMIR. This song reveals the tragedy of the Kashmir conflict that has cost thousands of lives of civilians and military personnel. Directed by Sandeep Sharma and composed and sung beautifully by Arsh Khaira, this song will allow you to experience this beautiful but conflicted region of the world personally. Releasing on Independence Day AUGUST 14th and 15th, 2018. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE and SHARE www.ArshKhaira.com This is an important initiative to honour the victims of Kashmir violence. Director: Sandeep Sharma Writer: Ladi Soosawala Music: Arsh Khaira Vocals: Arsh Khaira Kashmiri Poetry and Rubab: Yaqoob Shah Production: Kaameshwari Productions DOP: Honey Cam Editor: Ram Parvesh Bhardwaj

Arsh Khaira and Yaqoob Shah welcome Saeen Zahoor to Canada with a performance on Rubab and Tabla. Saeen Zahoor is a famous Sufi singer from Pakistan who is well known for performing with a "tumba" (single stringed Punjabi instrument). He has won many major awards and is a world-acclaimed artist. www.arshkhaira.com

Arsh Khaira performs Dama Dam Mast Kalandar live in Rajasthan, India. www.arshkhaira.com

Arsh Khaira performs the Shabad Zafarnama Live. Dr. Arsh Khaira is fluent in Dari (Afghan Farsi) and has been studying the language in great detail since 2006. He holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of Alberta where his research focused on the relationship between Sikhism and Islam as well as the deep connections between East and West Punjab. First Recitation: Zafarnama (Farsi) - Shah e Shahenshah Guru Gobind Singh Ji (10th Guru) Second Recitation (Gurjot Sandhu): Gyan Dhyan Kich Karam Na Jana - Panjve Patshah Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj (5th Guru) www.arshkhaira.com www.arshkhaira.bandcamp.com

Music by Arsh Khaira A popular folk song from Hazara and Khyber Pakhtunkwa in Pakistan and Afghanistan in the Hindko language - with a Canadian pop/rock style. Arsh Khaira is a singer/songwriter from Canada. Please like, share and subscribe. www.arshkhaira.com www.arshkhaira.bandcamp.com

A traditional Punjabi wedding song performed in a pop/rock style by Arsh Khaira, a singer from Canada. Music by Arsh Khaira www.arshkhaira.com www.arshkhaira.bandcamp.com

Arsh Khaira delivers a lecture that analyzes Junoon's seminal and ground-breaking composition, "Sayonee." www.arshkhaira.bandcamp.com www.arshkhaira.com

To address the epidemic usage of drugs in Punjab, Arsh Khaira brings to light some of the concerns and impacts of this issue and then performs Neal Young's "The Needle and the Damage Done" to a live audience. Dr. Arsh Khaira is fluent in Dari (Afghan Farsi) and has been studying the language in great detail since 2006. He holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of Alberta where his research focused on the relationship between Sikhism and Islam as well as the deep connections between East and West Punjab. www.arshkhaira.com www.arshkhaira.bandcamp.com

Arsh Khaira directs students from the U of A in the performance of two popular Pakistani songs in Punjabi: Laiyan Laiyan and Allah Hoo. www.arshkhaira.bandcamp.com www.ArshKhaira.com

Jarnail Basota interviews Arshdeep Khaira on the Punjabi Television Show "Parwaaz." Khaira discusses the role of music in promoting peace between Pakistan and India by way of cultural interdependence between East and West Punjabis based on a common language, shared history and a shared set of musical and cultural traditions.

Arsh Khaira interviews Amjad Islam Amjad and then Anwar Masood during their recent trip to Canada in Spring 2017. They discuss the importance of musicians, writers and other artists in promoting peace between India and Pakistan. This interview is in Punjabi.

Arsh Khaira and Daniel Stadnicki perform to celebrate the beginning of "Ayyam i Ha," a period of religious significance for Bahai's. This song is in the Punjabi language. It is an invocation to the Sufi Saint "Baba Faridudin Ganjshakkar," or "Sheikh Farid," or "Baba Farid." Farid is a very important Sufi saint in the SIKH tradition. His hymns are highly revered by Sikhs as they are contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS). Farid is a Sufi of the CHISHTI order, which began with MOINUDDIN CHISHTI (Ajmer Sharif), and NIZAMUDIN AULIYA (Delhi) is also of the CHISHTI order. Nizamudin Auliya was also Sheikh Farid's disciple. Farid is considered one of the first SIKHs (by Sikhs) as he predates the birth and ministry of Baba Nanak by over a hundred years. Farid's writing were highly influential on the later discourses of Baba Nanak, the first Sikh Guru. Farid is a SUFI saint, and a SIKH saint. His writings are all in the PUNJABI language, spoken in Northwest India and Northern Pakistan. Video: Laheeb Quddusi

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Arsh Khaira and Daniel Stadnicki perform to celebrate the beginning of "Ayyam i Ha," a period of religious significance for Bahai's. This song is in the Punjabi language. It is an invocation to God "Data," where the Sufi proclaims that his every breath is a recitation of the name of God, and that these consecutive breaths are akin to praying a "Tasbih (rosary)." "Karan Tasbih Mein Data Tere Naam Di." - "I pray the Tasbih (rosary) of your name with every breath." Video: Laheeb Quddusi

www.arshkhaira.com Download the album here: www.arshkhaira.bandcamp.com Arsh Khaira performing for a large and welcoming crowd at a packed Genesis Centre in Calgary, AB.