It was the autumn of 1982, music was in the air at a hotel in Lahore as a 20-year-old medical student was strumming his guitar to the tunes of Eddie Van Halen’s Eruption. All of a sudden the melody abruptly gave way to shrieks and screams.
Before realisation dawned, the young musician witnessed his guitar being smashed beyond repair. The assault came from religious zealots who considered music and mixed gathering a lethal sin. That evening, a numb Salman Ahmad silently made a loyalty pledge to his passion for music. Years later, the silence was replaced with hysteria, as Junoon band’s euphoric music engulfed the subcontinent.
Salman, the founder member of Junoon (Passion), took a moment to pause and reflect, the result is an intriguing autobiography that goes by the name Rock and Roll Jihad: A Muslim Rockstar’s Revolution.
“The role of the artist is to challenge the status quo and reveal the truth. My book is a snapshot in time of an artist’s journey through Pakistan, India and America. It tells the story of a doctor who decided to give up his stethoscope and picked up his guitar against his family’s expectations. I chose passion over profession and music over medicine. My message is simple: If you want to find your path, follow your heart and passion,” he says.
The famous musician dismisses the notion that the book’s title has the potential to court controversy, considering the word “Jihad” shares space there with Rock and Roll.
“Jihad literally means struggle and I have never associated it with violence. I always understood jihad in the context of self-improvement and finding your true identity. For me, social service is the greatest Jihad and Rock and Roll in a broader concept can be interpreted for freedom, tolerance and pluralism. I subscribe to the belief that art is mightier than the sword and the guitar in the long run is more powerful than the gun,” he clarifies.
Touching on the impending reason for turning to writing, he explains, “Ever since 9/11, there has been a deluge of queries, especially from the Western media, seeking an explanation on the apparent contradiction of being a Muslim and a rock musician. A quick sound byte would not have justified the reply and I felt a book will be far more appropriate.”
Salman’s life story acts as a metaphor for the crucial times, Pakistan has been witnessing since the last three decades. He recalls, “After living the life of a teenage American for more than six years, it was time to head homewards. On my return, I discovered that the country was going through tumultuous times. General Zia Ul Haq had the reigns of power and he had unleashed a massive attack on art and culture, music too was a casualty. A fanatic bandwagon was working overtime to apply his distorted ideology. But their destructive designs failed to deter my determination and I decided to walk down the musical road despite the barriers. In the present situation too, Muslims in general and Pakistan in particular are going through crucial times. I believe, the voices of sanity should not allow murderous thugs masquerading as holy men to hijack Muslim culture and traditions.”
The book opens with an introduction by Grammy award winner Melissa Etheridge, followed by 13 chapters chronicling Salman’s musical odyssey and his country’s political labyrinth. Incidentally his musical pursuits have opened a broader spectrum for him, where Salman has adorned the role of a goodwill ambassador between India and Pakistan, has acted as the bridge between the Muslim world and America, or has simply let his music do the talking against corruption and social ills prevailing in his country. As a writer too, he does the balancing act with perfect élan. If the tome mirrors stark reality, it is also laced with humour.
Written in a sharp, fluid and casual style, it narrates vivid details of his trials and triumphs. “Junoon has the rare feat of being the only Pakistani band that performed in Kashmir and defied the terrorist threats,” he points out.
“We live in an increasingly interconnected world where we face common threats like poverty, water shortages, terrorism, pandemic diseases and global warming. And as neighbours we should join hands and walk together on the road to progress,” he added.
Salman and his wife Samina run a non-profit organisation that focuses on promoting pluralism, wellness and education through music.