Sacramento Community Members Celebrate Pakistan Independence Day
By Ras H. Siddiqui
The Pakistani Community Members of America, also known as PCM, is a club or grouping based in the Sacramento region which has been hosting Pakistani events for a few years now. In recent times it has hosted the large annual gathering of Pakistanis and their friends in California’s Capital City to celebrate August 14 th or Pakistan Independence Day. This year was no exception. It is interesting to note that “Pakistanis” have been residing in this part of California for over a hundred years now, as some British Indian Muslim arrived and settled here in the early 1900’s.
Since most large events in our Pakistani American community are best held on the weekend and August 14 fell on a Monday this year, PCM decided to observe the festivities early on Saturday, August 12, 2023. The weather cooperated somewhat because we had a high temperature in the mid 90’s and not the 100 degrees plus that we can encounter here during the month of August. Parking was a challenge, but arrangements were otherwise made to accommodate a large number of people at the Mirage Banquet Hall parking lot. This took a great deal of work so kudos to PCM and its team of volunteers for all their hard work. The stage, seating and stalls were very well decorated, and it was almost like being in Pakistan and celebrating there.
The formalities started at around 7:30 pm as our young co-hosts Raniya Hassan and Rayaan Naseem took to the stage for the first segment of the event. We are here tonight to celebrate 76 years of Pakistan’s independence, said Raniya, as Rayaan described what we had in store for the attendees this evening with food, music and more. But first, two little girls were invited to the stage to recite from the Holy Qur’an and provide an English translation of the verses, and they did a fine job to start things off.
Raniya said that this celebration is not only to celebrate our Pakistani heritage but to honor our American home as well. And to honor that fact, the national anthem of the United States was played first followed by that of Pakistan, with a group of kids on stage waving the flags of both. The now large audience stood up and participated in the singing of both here too. Rayaan and Raniya next took a moment to thank all the event sponsors before inviting young Ibrahim Iqbal to deliver a speech on his Pakistani heritage.
Today, we gather to honor and celebrate our forefathers who fought for our freedom, said Ibrahim. He added that as we raise the Pakistani flag, we must remember the cultural diversity and unity that makes our nation strong. Let us recommit ourselves to the values of unity, faith, and discipline, he said. “As a Pakistani American I would ask our youth to research, study and reconnect with our roots,” he said. Ibrahim also thanked PCM for holding such events and for providing a bridge between being both Pakistani and American.
A couple of colorful kid’s items followed on stage with the playing and singing of Allama Iqbal’s famous “Lab Pe Aaati Hai Dua Ban Ke Tamanna Meri” and followed by Dil Dil Pakistan to the delight of the ever-growing numbers in the audience.
PCM President Qumar Ashraf accompanied by his wife next presented official words of welcome. “Tonight, we are celebrating the 76 th Independence Day of Pakistan,” he said. “I want to thank each and every one of you for coming here to celebrate with us. A special thanks to our sponsors for making this night happen as well as my PCM family for their support. Many people have struggled for Pakistan’s independence, and it is because of their sacrifices that we are able to come together today as a community,” said Ashraf. “However, this night is not only to celebrate our independence, but it is also an opportunity to introduce our culture to our (American born) youth,” he added.
There were some individual kids’ performances before the second segment of the evening started, and that was entertainment. This segment was hosted by Sohail Shahzad and featured Pakistani entertainers Mohsin Abbas and the Raga Boyz. By that time an estimated crowd of over 3000 people was present and all the food and drink stalls on the periphery were doing roaring business. Families decked out in green and white (the colors of Pakistan) really added gaiety to the event.
Mohsin Abbas Haider is no stranger to Sacramento. He is multi-talented, and singing is certainly one of the talents that he possesses. He is also Faisalabad-born, the city from where most of the Pakistani community in Sacramento originates. He was here at last year’s event too for a short performance but that was recompensed this time around as he sang at least 8 full songs’ starting with a patriotic number, Yeh Watan Tumhara Hai, and Alamgir’s Dekha Na Tha and Jazbah Junoon besides Dil Dil Pakistan along with a sprinkling of Punjabi songs. Mohsin sang well. He ended his performance with Mast Qalandar. He is certainly a crowd motivator and went off stage to sing within the audience to their delight.
The final act was The Raga Boyz in their first Sacramento or possibly even California public appearance. The trio, young members from the Patiala gharana, are brothers, Nayab Ali Khan, Wali Hamid Ali Khan and Inam Ali Khan, sons of ghazal legend Ustad Hamid Ali Khan. Classical and semi-classical singing is in their blood, but they have successfully ventured out into Sufi melodies too. They started off here with a soulful Punjabi number (Teri Yaad Satavay) and then performed a wonderful Pakistani national song Ae Watan Piyare Watan, Pak Watan made famous by the late Ustad Amanat Ali Khan. The rest of their performance was a high energy trip down memory lane, a mix of Sufi, along with Bhangra and Gidda inspiring numbers. The enthusiastic audience participation indicated that The Raga Boyz will be back performing for us on the West Coast again soon.
The event ended with a sponsor recognition, a raffle and a cake cutting to mark Pakistan’s independence. This writer would like to thank PCM for the recognition and the plaque of appreciation. Some others at the event deserved them more.
To conclude, one is never happy to write that our country of origin sometimes does not make it easy for its people overseas to express their love for Pakistan by holding such events. There was no large celebration this year in the San Francisco Bay Area (although AMV and PACC did hold their gatherings) and none was held in the Stockton-Lodi area. But thanks to Sacramento’s PCM group, people from those two and other parts of the region came to Sacramento to celebrate and made this event not only memorable but also one with possibly the largest attendance ever at an event held by our community in this area.
Pakistanis need to remain hopeful for the future. Insha’Allah things will turn around. We may not be happy about recent events but that is no reason not to celebrate our important days and heritage.
