Pakistani student mesmerizes Turkish masses

A teenage Peshawar student Arsalan Naseer has mesmerized the entire Turkey by singing the immortal songs of legendary most popular Kurdish Turk singer Ahmet Kaya who passed away in self-imposed exile in November 2000.

Arsalan has become a hot topic in Turkish masses, social and mainstream media. Some newspapers have published headings like “Ahmet Kaya is not dead; he is living in Pakistan”.

According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Arsalan Naseer is 10th grade student of Pak-Truck school in Peshawar and he is among twelve Pakistani students sent by Pak-Turk International Schools and Colleges to participate in the 10th International Turkish Olympiads in which over 1500 students from 135 countries are participating.

The winners of national competitions will participate in the international event to compete in the categories of poetry, presentation, writing, speaking and drama. In singing competition Naseer is going to sing a song, “Kafama Sıkar Giderim” originally sung by the Kaya. His vocal performance, style, presentation and personality are not too different from Kaya which has helped him earn great admiration across Turkey.

Leading Turkish newspapers, TV channels, and social media like Facebook and Twitter are full of his pictures and videos of performance. Even before the final rounds, public has given its verdict in favour of Arsalan Naseer.

The closing ceremony of the Olympiads will be held at Turk Telekom Arena on June 14. Gold medallists will be awarded with $1000, Silver medallists $750 while Bronze medallists will get $500.

The renowned Turkish poet and musician Ahmet Kaya was born on October 28, 1957 and died on November 16, 2000 at age of 43. He formerly sang in Turkish as some of his most popular songs include Ayrilik Vakti, Söyle, Agladikça, Oy Benim Canim, Birazdan Kudurur Deniz, Arka Mahalle, Nereden Bileceksiniz, Hani Benim Gençligim, Yakarim Geceleri and Safak Türküsü.

He first encountered music at the age of six when his father bought him music equipment for his birthday. Ahmet Kaya worked for a while as a taxi driver in Istanbul before becoming a well known singer in the mid-1980s. His first album, Aglama Bebegim, was released in 1985. His popularity continued to rise into the 1990s when in 1994 he released the album Sarkilarim Daglara which was sold a record 2.8 million copies. All of his 1990 albums were graded as chart-toppers.

During his career he recorded approximately 20 albums and was known for his protest music and positions on social justice. Recurring themes in his songs are love towards one’s mother, sacrifice, and hope. He died of a heart attack in Paris in 2000, at the age of 43, and is buried in Père Lachaise cemetery.

Published on The News International, 29 May 2012, Tuesday