Laggan phul gulaab de ni tere
Dohi paase wasde ni adiye putt Punjab de.
And Shaukat Ali was a true son of the soil, who, when he lived, he lived for the idea of Punjab, and now when he is no more, he unites his fans on either side of the border. The song, ‘Ni waghe diye sarhade’, was written by Chan Jandialvi and sung by many, but it is Shaukat Ali’s rendition that gives goosebumps each time. The voice still resonates, it will resonate for long.
Shaukat Ali was born in Pakistan but represented what is hailed as the shared cultural heritage of the two Punjabs. His career spanned six decades. He found fame early on with his song, ‘Kannu door door rende ho’, recorded by HMV. His oeuvre included Punjabi folk, Urdu ghazals and nationalistic songs. However, his heart beat for Punjab. He hated the border, but would often light candles in the wind at Wagah when Kuldip Nayar gave the call. He hated Samjhauta Express, but made endless journeys on it to meet his extended family her