Jawad Ahmad

Jawad Ahmad is a Pakistani singer and musician. He is known for his song "Main Tenu Samjhawan Ki" sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. This song was recreated by Sharib-Toshi for Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania.

Jawad Ahmad was first seen by the world as a person who called attention to the transcendental existence of God through the song "Allah Meray Dil kay Andar" which essentially showed a way to inner peace, a path forgotten much long ago. The lyrical expression that he has used to portray his inclination towards Sufism bears traces of Iqbal, Ghalib and Faiz who are known to have emphasized on the same values so as to eradicate all barriers that hinder the establishment of a connection with God and differentiate amongst human beings by placing them into morbid categories of race and class.

"I was born on the 29th of September to parents who are both professors of Political Science. This has been an important determinant of the course that my life, and most importantly, my perception have taken. The insight that I gained into the lives that people lead all over the world makes me want to strive harder for a better system where inequality and illiteracy can be eradicated while health care systems and the general standard of living can be improved. However I strongly oppose subversive elements in the society and believe in reforming the system from within."

His career in music is preceded by a degree in Mechanical Engineering from UET University of Engineering and Technology Lahore and active participation in societies including the music and the literary societies which he claims formed the basis of a serious consideration of adopting music as a career after he had graduated and left the band named Jupiters.

While he has received no formal education in music, most of his songs are written and composed by him. He claims to be an ardent admirer and a student of Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, Mehdi Hassan, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Tufail Niazi, Pathanay Khan, Hamid Aki Bela, Madam Noor Jehan, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosla, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Kishore Kumar, Eagles, Elvis Presley, Mohammad Rafi, Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd. He laments the absence of a formal institute where music could be studied as it is done in India and most developed countries.

"I have trained myself through listening to these prestigious singers and first lesson that I learnt and always uphold is an uncompromising attitude towards producing good music. Once I had set this premise, I got inclined towards greater experimenting evident through my first two albums, the first having a Sufi tinge and second being somewhat commercial oriented. It has also made me a versatile singer in terms of wanting to use both Urdu and Punjabi expression in my songs which has been much appreciated by my listeners."

So far, Jawad Ahmad has established his presence in the music industry through four albums.

Aside from his albums, he is to be accredited with the music direction of the movie Moosa Khan produced and directed by Shaan. Another hit song, "Mehndi" was composed and sung by him for the drama serial Mehndi produced by Evernew Entertainment. It gained immense popularity due to its melodious depiction of emotions using a folk beat. The popularity of the song was further heightened by its video directed by Ahsan Rahim and Amna Khan, two of the country's most talented video directors. He claims that music direction allowed him a margin of more creativity, as stated concepts were used to develop quality music, a rare phenomenon in the film industry in Pakistan.

The sensitivity and simplicity that he asserts through his music is not limited to the values that his songs reminisce and hope to enliven. His vision materializes through the impressive community service that he is involved in. Presently, he has been appointed by the Ministry of Health and the UNICEF as the ambassador of Pakistan for the eradication of Polio sung a song "Khushi Ho Teray Cahar So". British Council Beyond Borders project, awareness regarding the dangers of drug addiction. In this regard, he has used his talent to produce a song called "Tum abhi to aa kar"' accompanied by a video to portray the social impact on an individual of drug intake. He sang another social awareness song "Taaleem Sub Kay Liey" for a project of US_Aid. He hopes to present the nuanced aspect of life in order to motivate people to realize their stakes.

Another turf is a program against illiteracy, which he has been exploring. In conjunction with this, he is running ten schools in the most backward and underdeveloped areas of Pakistan under the Taleem for All program.

"I have always been greatly inspired by the Aligarh Movement initiated by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. It marks the first attempt by the Muslims to progressively align them with the need of the hour. Previously, Muslims had just been grieving the idea of Hindus enjoying a higher employment status overlooking the investment the latter had made in educating themselves. Thus, my aim is to invoke the same sense of self-upliftment in the people of my country. The causes of distress and deprivation mainly express themselves through worsening economic conditions, a degenerating social structure and abysmal health care provisions. For me the solution is mostly about increasing literacy so that people analyze the causes and consequences of perpetual scarcity and deprivation. Thus, my gift to this nation is schools network that I have started where primary education is dispensed for free. This is not only an attempt at increasing the standard of living of people in future but a parallel aim is to hunt for talent so that the number of potential stars being enabled to shine can rise."

Albums

Jawad Ahmed has done hosting for television and performed on border areas for morale boosting of Pakistani soldiers. Documentary series Har Dam Tayyar in 2002 including:

• Sons of the Soil for Pakistan Army
• Power of the Sea for Pakistan Navy
• Flying Tigers for Pakistan Air Force