The pain and anguish that accompanies the loss of a loved one and the impact that the event has on one’s own sense of purpose is often overlooked. A critical component of this journey is the opportunity for loved ones to experience closure – often via religious rituals that the community holds dear. In Kashmir, this closure is denied to the loved ones of thousands of young men who have disappeared, or killed in fake and actual encounters as part of the armed struggle for freedom. Ahmer explores how this lack of closure exacerbates the already fragile health of the Kashmiri community on Janaza [Funeral].
JANAZA (INTERLUDE)
CREDITS:
Conceptualized, written & by Ahmer Javed.
Mixed & mastered by Henry Watkins.
Production by Zero Chill, Lambo Drive.
LYRIC BREAKDOWN
VERSE I
Phasa halaq mein hun,
Feels like I’m stuck in throat,
Main jaise rooh, ye kare mera photoshoot,
Like a soul trying to get out while they take my pictures,
Mere muh pe moot ke meri laash se ho rahi guftagoo,
They piss on my face and are trying to have a conversation with my dead body,
Thaila kitaabo ka uss pe khoon mera school aaj kafi door,
Fresh blood on my school bag, my school is too far today,
Dekhu zindagi ko hote choor,
I feel like my life is slipping away from me,
Dekhu sapno ko bante dhul,
As my dreams turn to dust,
Rakhi bagal mein ek bandook,
They have kept a gun right next to me, their alibi,
Ab tum shak karna nahi, inke jhoot bante sach hai ye gehra nadi,
Don’t be suspicious, their lies become truths, a river that is too deep,
Meri maa baithi hogi iss umeed mein, main ghar laut aau gha abhi,
My mother must be waiting to see me, happy that I will return home soon,
Ye usko hi pata dala kafan jisne hota kya
Only those who have wrapped a body in a shroud, know what is feels like,
Ye usko hi pata khoya badan jisne apno ka,
Only those who have lost their own, know what it feels like,
Aaj phir ek janaza par laash abhi mili nahi,
Another funeral today, but the body hasn’t been returned,
Phir goliyo ka shor, sunna main, chali nahi,
I heard gunshots but they wanted you to believe no bullets were fired,
Main charas ki lalach mein apno ko maara hai,
I have gotten my own killed for my personal gains,
Maine logo ke waado ko khoon se nikhara hai,
I have promised people a better tomorrow and only used their blood,
VERSE II
Ab jo falak pe hun main, mere abbu ke hathon pe mera lahoo,
Now that I’m up in the sky, my father hands are filled with my blood,
Unki nazron se mit ta nahi jinme ab bhi zinda main hun,
His eyes can’t unsee me, I am still alive, he says,
Tab se chali nahi unki ki zubaan, jab se mera jism aaya ghar wapas,
He doesn’t speak much ever since my dead body came home,
Insaaf ki talash mein bhikhari bane hue hum jale hue kaghaz,
We have searching for justice, like beggars,
Qanoon hi munafiq, azaad mere qatil,
Your laws are hypocritical, my killers are still free,
Jahan koi nahi khaalis,
Where nothing is pure and true,
Wahan kuch bhi hai wajib,
I guess everything is permitted,
Yahan kitno ko yaad mere jaise masoom, kya hamara anjaam,
How many do actually remember us, all the innocents who got killed?
Hai ye inka guman, ye jannat ka bagh nahi ye registan,
It’s your misconception, ignorance, this is a desert, not garden of paradise,
Aaj phir ek janaza par laash abhi mili nahi,
Another funeral today, but the body hasn’t been returned,
Phir goliyo ka shor, sunna main, chali nahi,
I heard gunshots but they wanted you to believe no bullets were fired,
Main charas ki lalach mein apno ko maara hai,
I have gotten my own killed for my personal gains,
Maine logo ke waado ko khoon se nikhara hai,
I have promised people a better tomorrow and only used their blood,
Be akh ha nuvukh,
One more taken away,
Be akh ha morukh,
One more killed,
Govha shaheed,
One more martyred,
Be akh ha povukh.
One more maimed,
Ghar ha zolukh,
Another house burned,
Phaansi ha kholukh,
Another guy hanged,
Kus pari janaaz?
Who will pray at the funeral?
Kus chu masoom?
Who is innocent?
Kus chu shareef?
Who is not guilty?
Kus chu mareez?
Who is ill?
Kus chu kameen?
Who is a tyrant?
Sard zan sheen?
Everything is cold as ice,
Phatnas chus aamut gov kalkharab
I am about to lose my mind and I want to vent out!