Inspired by truck Art

Truck art is not only seen on trucks but ...

Pakistan and Trucks!

Fasla Rakhen Warna Pyar Ho Jaega!

We, as Pakistanis, take pride in things we shouldn't be proud of.  For instance we take pride in Faisal Mosque, the ninth largest mosque in the world, located in Islamabad. It was built by a Turkish Architect and is named after the king of Saudi Arabia. Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque both of which attract thousands of tourists were built before the existence of Pakistan. We still take pride in it. We also announce proudly that we have five of the fourteen highest peaks in the world which includes K2, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum I, Broad Peak and Gasherbrum II which might have not been a part of Pakistan if the border lines were drawn little differently.

What we not take pride in is people like Mr. Abdul Sattar Edhi – the famous Humanitarian – Dr. Abdus Salam – only Pakistani to have won the Nobel Prize – and definitely not the art on wheels.  We don’t value our own people, our own talent until foreigners don’t appreciate it. Maybe because we see these things on daily basis, we don’t realize their worth.  

One of such things is art on wheels, normally known as truck art. It is a religio-cultural entity which brings color to our life daily through colorfully-ornamented calligraphy- prose and poetry- and paintings, and yet we took it for granted until Haider Ali, the truck artist, was called by the Sheraton Hotel to paint a truck for their exhibition and since has been travelling to England, India, Turkey and US to display his talent.

Truck art is not just a hobby; it is an art through which we express our religion and our culture. Trucks from different regions in Pakistan depict their culture through this art. Karachi being the center of these arts shows colorful features, while Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Swat and Quetta show their religious and cultural beliefs.

Jamal Elias who studied truck art in Pakistan explains how different sides of the truck illustrate different meanings. Both sides of the trucks are usually painted geographically showing famous building, mosques or landscapes. The main area of focus is the back of the truck.

Back of the truck is where we see both religion and culture. It often has a picture of cultural value maybe of a pop artist, singer or actress or maybe something more religious.

 Below this image is where we can find religious or cultural prose and poetry, maxims or witty one-liners.

Religious one may include some of the names of God like “Ya Allah! Ya Muhammad!”, “Ya Rahim! Ya Kareem!”  or it may include verse of a poetry representing their religious beliefs.

“Jhuk Kar Salam Karo Zahra ke Astane Ko – Pal Ke Hussain Diya Jisne Zamane Ko”

We can also find some religious one liners encouraging people to follow Islam. Some might include sarcasm while others might be just plain maxims.

“Namaz parho is se pehlay tumhari namaz parhi jaye”

                 “Maa ki dua jannat ki hawa.”

              “Maa ke paon ke niche jannat hai.”

Apart from these witty one-liners, we also read things which just brighten our day by their humor. Some of them might make sense and others might be completely absurd but they never fails to bring smile on our faces.

Maalik Ki Gaadi Driver Ka Paseena – Chalti Hai Road Par Ban Kar Haseena”

“Dekh magar pyaar se”

“Fasla rakhen warna pyar ho jaega”

There are other sayings which might seem funny and humorous when read over the lines, but when you go little deep inside you’ll know they have a meaning to it.

“Jab tak zar lagao ge, zere- dast hai dunya – Zara sa haath khench ke dekho, matlab parast hai Dunya”

“Harn ahista bajaen, qaum so rahi hai”

“Our people still call it cheap” says the truck artist, Haider Ali.  Although it is expensive, we see the art on almost every privately owned truck. Faisal Mosque, Badshahi Mosque and the Mountains doesn't define a Pakistani but talents and arts like this define a Pakistani.