Shehzad Roy (born 16 February 1979) is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, guitarist, activist, social worker, producer and humanitarian. He started his singing career in 1995 and has recorded six albums since. He has recorded many hit songs such as "Saali," "Teri Soorat" and "Kangna," but is most famous for his 2008 socio-political album Qismat Apney Haath Mein.[1] Roy is also the president and founder of Zindagi Trust,[2][3] a non-government charitable organisation, that strives to improve the quality of education available to the average Pakistani.[4]
Roy has produced and hosted two documentary series, Chal Parha, about the state of public education in Pakistan; and Wasu aur Mein, which follows the travels of Shehzad and a villager and deals with issues like progress, poverty and patriotism in Pakistan.
He received the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) in 2005, Sitara-i-Eisaar (Star of Sacrifice) in 2006 and Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) in 2018 from the Government of Pakistan.[5][6][7] For his organisation's rehabilitation work after the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, he was awarded the Sitara-e-Eisaar in 2006. He was also selected to be a torch bearer for the 2008 Olympic Games.[8]
Early life and career
Shehzad Roy was born in Karachi on 16 February 1977 to Kabir Roy and Nazli Qamar in a Gujarati family.
[6] His father was a businessman. Shehzad Roy said in an interview to a major Pakistani newspaper that his father always encouraged him to do whatever he had his heart set on because his father wanted to play cricket in his childhood, but was not allowed to do so by his own father.[6] He finished his basic High School education in Pakistan Community School (Saudi Arabia).[6]
Early music career
Shehzad Roy released his debut album Zindagi in 1995. After only two years his second album Darshan was released in 1997. His third album Teri soorat was released in 1999. His fourth album Rab Janey and fifth album Buri Baat Hai were released in 2002 and 2005 respectively.[9]
Qismat Apne Haath Mein (2008)
Shehzad's sixth album marked his transformation from a singer of romantic songs to songs that reflected social issues.[6] In 2008, Shehzad released his sixth album, Qismat Apne Haath Mein in Karachi's juvenile jail to draw attention to the nearly 70,000 prisoners in Pakistan who had been awaiting trial for years.
The first music video of the album, "Laga Rahe" was a political comment on the situation in the country at the time. The call for the restoration of judiciary, increasing inflation and crime, price hike and the real politicking of corrupt politicians all featured in the video. The title track "Qismat Apne Haath Mein" is about those less privileged in society and their state of suppression.[1]
Ventures in Bollywood
Akshay Kumar's film Khatta Meetha features a song by Shehzad on its soundtrack. The song, titled "Bullshit" is a mash-up of two of Roy's most popular songs from his 2008 album Qismat Apney Haat Mein; "Laga Reh" and "Qismat Apney Haat Mein".[10][11][12]
Collaborations
Roy in 2015
On 6 September 2014 Shehzad released a patriotic song "Mere Dhol Sipahiya" featuring Ayesha Omer. It was dedicated to all martyrs and survivors of the Pakistan army who took part in War on terror; most specifically for the martyrs of Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
In September 2013, Shehzad performed with Guns N' Roses at a charitable event turned rock show, with performances from Guns N' Roses' Matt Sorum and Slash and Macy Gray in Los Angeles.[13] Part of the proceeds of this event went to Shehzad's organisation Zindagi Trust.[14] The event reached its climax when, Roy, Slash, Sorum and Gray did covers of The Beatles' Come Together and Radiohead's Creep.[15]
In 2007, Shehzad Roy came out with a musical collaboration between him and queen of Sufi soul, Abida Parveen. The song, titled "Zindagi", was rooted on his venture 'Equality in Education'.[16][17]
In 2006, Shehzad Roy brought Canadian rockstar Bryan Adams to Pakistan for a charity concert, Rock for a Cause, to raise funds for Shehzad Roy's Zindagi Trust and to aid the victims of the tragic October 2005 earthquake.[18]
To promote cross-border cultural exchange with India, he sang a hit duet with Indian singer Sukhbir in 2005.[1]
Being an ambassador to HBL Pakistan, Roy also serves as ambassador to Pakistan Super League, sponsored by HBL.[19] He released title anthem for 2017 Pakistan Super League "Ballay Ballay" on 30 January,[20] on which he also performed in the opening ceremony on 9 February in Dubai.[21][22] He is also the ambassador to team Karachi Kings, and released an anthem "Dhan Dhana Dhan Hoga Re" for it on 3 February.[23][24]
For 2018 Pakistan Super League, he also released an anthem "Lo Phir Say Miley" on 28 January[25] and released a new anthem for the team Karachi Kings "De Dhana Dhan".[26]
Singles
Shehzad Roy recorded the official soundtrack, titled "Bus Khail Nahin", for the first Quaid-e-Azam Inter-Provincial Games held in April 2016.[27]
Filmography
Wasu aur Mein
In 2011, Shehzad discovered Wasu Khan, a villager from Baluchistan, on YouTube.[28] In his video,[29] Wasu raps about Pakistan's checkered political history. After seeing this, Shehzad tracked down Wasu and they collaborated to produce the hard-hitting song "Apney Ulloo". Packing a political punch, the video is a tale of the exploitation of a poor man. In the music video, Roy emulates a peon, a lawyer, a government secretary and a media man, all of whom exploit the common man, played by Wasu.[30]
The song "Apney Ulloo" started as a one-off collaboration but ended up taking a very different direction.[30] In 2012, Roy produced and hosted the 8-episode documentary series titled Wasu aur Mein.[31] The show followed the travels of Shehzad and Wasu Khan. Brought together by their common passion for music, Shehzad and Wasu realise that they have a lot to learn from each other. Wasu's unique perspective on Pakistan's history and his shrewd observations force Shehzad to re-evaluate his own notions on progress, poverty and patriotism. As the show moves through several cities, the two of them try to understand what being a citizen of Pakistan means and realise what the future holds for them in this country.[32]
Chal Parha
In 2013, Shehzad produced and hosted the 22-episode documentary series titled Chal Parha.[33]
In the show, Shehzad travelled on a Harley-Davidson bike across 80 cities in Pakistan and visited more than 200 public schools. In each of the 22 episodes, a new issue in public education was explored, for example, medium of instruction, curriculum, teachers, corporal punishment.[34]
The show highlighted both the obstacles in improving public schools and also the remarkable individuals who are committed to teaching and learning despite the collapsed system in which they work. An example of the impact of this show is that the third episode on corporal punishment (aired 15 February 2013) resulted in catalysing a decision by the government to finally ban corporal punishment in Pakistan.[35] Soon after the episode aired, Pakistan's provincial assemblies passed a resolution against corporal punishment and on 12 March 2013, the National Assembly unanimously passed a Bill making corporal punishment an offence.[36][37][38]
The show was intended to create awareness among Pakistani citizens for their basic right to quality education and also proposed solutions for government officials to resolve the various issues in public education. Chal Parha also showcased Pakistan's scenic beauty and diverse cultures.[34][39]
Films
On 1 June 2015, Dawn (newspaper) reported that Roy had signed a film scripted by Anwar Maqsood, which will be directed by Ahsan Rahim and will feature Faisal Qureshi as a co-star.[40][41] However, on 28 January 2018, The News reported that Roy had signed a film that was scripted by Qureshi.[19] On 4 November 2018, Dawn reported that Qureshi had recreated the story of Alif Noon (a PTV comedy drama) in a film, which he will be directing also, in which Roy will star as Allan and Qureshi as Nanha.[42][43]
Philanthropic work
In 2002, Shehzad established Zindagi Trust, a non-governmental, non-profit organisation that strives to improve the quality of education available to the average Pakistani.[44]
Paid to Learn
In 2003, the Trust pioneered the concept of I-am-paid-to-learn, a non-profit that offers working children an alternative to child labour; makes them aware of their rights as children, as workers and as citizens. With nearly 1800 students in schools across Pakistan, a 2.2-year accelerated primary education course is taught to the children who spend most of their days working in car-repair shops & other general stores in Karachi, Lahore & Rawalpindi. The programme also sponsors the continuing education of top graduates who are encouraged to enroll in mainstream secondary schools.[45]
Public School Reform
A few years after Paid-to-learn was initiated, Shehzad realised that this program was not enough to educate the masses. Most children of school-going age in Pakistan (over 85%) only have access to government schools which are plagued with low teacher attendance, dilapidated buildings, poor facilities, a curriculum and teaching culture that starves creativity and encourages rote-learning, etc.[46]
Reform Matric Board campaign
In 2016, Shehzad Roy launched an education campaign to reform the examination boards of Pakistan. The cornerstone of the campaign was a music video, titled "Sirf Bandhi Hai Kamar", which depicted a mother transforming into a Kill Bill-type Samurai sword-wielding assassin; a teacher mutating into the Hulk; a father into a Maula Jutt lookalike and a maulvi into a Kung Fu fighter! simply on being cross-questioned by someone younger than them.
The campaign points out the flaw in the way children are assessed in Pakistan and calls for reforms in the structure of the exams to test for application of concepts instead of the traditional focus on knowledge alone.[47]
UNODC Goodwill Ambassador
Roy with UNODC Rep. César Guedes and Suhail Al Zarooni in 2018
Roy commented, "Their work is commendable in the fields of criminal justice, drug demand reduction and HIV/AIDS prevention. These things are close to my heart especially when children are concerned". He said, "It's an honour to be designated as the UNODC National Goodwill Ambassador." He further added that "I will give my all to my new role" for Pakistan, "If I can help one child out of prison or convince just one boy or girl to turn away from drugs, I feel proud that I have made a difference".[50] UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov said that Roy's fame, humanitarian works, energy and talent "will help UNODC publicise the dangers of drug abuse", as he "has shown an unwavering commitment to tackling illicit drugs" throughout his career.[51]
He launched a video song, titled "Zulm Kay Khilaf", on 21 November in an event at Youth Offender Industrial School, Juvenile Jail, Karachi. He said, "I am not going to be a symbolic ambassador," adding, "I want to start bringing change from the ground up". He further said, "We can make some positive changes for the jailed children in collaboration with the judiciary and civil society through awareness."[52][53][54][55]
Awareness against child abuse
On 4 January 2018, a young girl named Zainab Ansari was found murdered in Kasur, Pakistan, after being kidnapped and raped. The incident caused nationwide outrage in Pakistan. Roy collaborated with Bilawal Bhutto to introduce awareness about education against child sexual abuse and rape in Pakistan. He said that it was a cause he had started in 2009, and it was a must to teach a child what is a bad touch and how to deal with it.[56][57] A bill was approved in Sindh assembly on 17 January to improve the educational reforms in secondary schools.[58]
Shehzad Roy and Malala Yousafzai at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony
On the occasion of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize to Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan and Kailash Satyarthi from India, Shehzad performed at a joint Peace concert held on the evening of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony on 10 December 2014 in Oslo, Norway. The concert was attended by dignitaries like the Royal King family members, Prime Minister of Norway, Former Pakistani Prime Ministers, Ministers, Members of the National Parliament and the Norwegian elite in the fields of knowledge and culture, along with Norwegian Pakistanis and Indians.[60]
In April 2013, Shehzad was invited to Harvard University to talk about music, activism and his documentary series, Chal Parha, in which the audience learnt about Roy's journey to over 200 schools across Pakistan and the lessons learnt from this journey. Additionally, the viewers were educated about ways in which art and artists have struggled to bring social change throughout Pakistan's history.[38][61]
In May 2013, Shehzad Roy performed in Rome on invitation from Pakistan's Ambassador to Italy. The Pakistan Embassy in Rome in collaboration with Zètema Progetto Cultura, an agency of Rome's Municipality, organised the concert in Villa Borghese, the second largest public park in Rome, and was part of La Notte dei Musei (The Night of Museums). The solo show presented Pakistan's rich heritage; especially its music and poetry, to the Italian audience.[62]
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs awarded the 2009 Patricia Blunt Koldyke Fellowship on Social Entrepreneurship to Shehzad Roy to recognize his commitment to providing better learning opportunities in government-run schools, and honor his goal of encouraging Pakistan's youth "to value education and provide them with the knowledge and opportunities they need to realize a peaceful, democratic political future." As a Koldyke Fellow, Roy spent one week in Chicago exchanging ideas about education, philanthropy and nonprofit management with the city's civic, government, business and academic leaders. He delivered a major public address about education in Pakistan to a Chicago Council audience the evening of 29 October 2009.[63]
On 23 March 2018, he received Sitara-i-Imtiaz for his contributions to represent Pakistan as UNODC ambassador.[64]
Music awards
Roy has won the following awards over the course of his career:
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