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Today’s Shuffler: Sham-e-Ali al-Jamil

Sham-e-Ali was born in Hyderabad, India and raised in both the UK and the US. She is a poet, a public interest lawyer and mother to one 5-year-old who is her inspiration. In 1997, she started a welfare rights program for survivors of family and intimate partner violence to challenge the devastating impact of “welfare reform” in NYC. From 1997-2003, the program provided free walk-in legal clinics at soup kitchens, food pantries, and domestic violence shelters throughout the city. She has moved a few times since then and currently works at a community arts and social justice organization in Philadelphia, PA.

All along, poetry has been a daily part of her life. Her biggest influence was her late father, who loved Urdu poetry. Sham-e-Ali’s poetry has appeared in publications such as, SALT Journal, SAMAR, Roots & Culture Magazine, and Mizna and can be found in anthologies such as, Shattering the Stereotypes: Muslim Women Speak Out (Olive Branch Press, 2005), Living Islam Out Loud: American Muslim Women Speak (Beacon Press, 2005) and “Shout Out: Women of Color Respond to Violence” (Seal Press, 2008).

Her son, H, wanted to do a shuffle too. Follow the link to peep both his and her shuffle…

H’s mini-shuffle (in his own words):

Belkio Zairoise
Zap Mama
When I hear this song I feel like throwing papers into the sky.

Kasto Mazza
Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal
(from the Parineeta Soundtrack)
I like how the train whistle sounds! I feel like taking a train to the train station.

My Favorite Things
John Coltrane
Oooh I love this! Raindrops! I like the bass and the saxophone– it goes brrrrrrrrrr!

Free Satpal Ram
Asian Dub Foundation
Off the 1998 album, “Rafi’s Revenge” this song speaks of the injustice in the case of Satpal Ram, a Desi man who was accused of murder in 1986 after defending himself against a racist attack in London. The song itself was released by Asian Dub Foundation in support of a campaign for justice for Satpal Ram.

You know you’re gonna get a rough ride/
Hold tight, even if you know your rights/
Its just a piece of paper unless you’re prepared to fight…

After being imprisoned for almost 15 years Satpal Ram was finally released in 2002. Much of Asian Dub Foundation’s music from the early 90’s till present has been a reflection of their belief that there is an intrinsic link between art and politics.

Sun Moon Child
Imani Uzuri
I think Imani Uzuri is brilliant. Her voice bursts like a galaxy of stars on this track off of her debut album ‘Her Holy Water: A Black Girl’s Rock Opera’. The CD features incredible folks such as, pianist and composer, Vijay Iyer (who also co-produced the album) and Maximina Juson on Electric Bass. Sun Moon Child is love, justice and truth rolled into one. It is a beautiful song that I listened to a lot in 2007.

Aaja Nachiye Boliyan Paiye
Tigerstyle featuring Gunjan (off of DJ REKHA’s Basement Bhangra)
This track is one of my favorites. Gunjan’s voice is lovely and Tigerstyle’s production is very good. The combo leaves you with a song that makes you want to forget all your troubles. DJ Rekha’s whole CD is excellent. Another track that I like from her CD is Panjabi MC’s Snake Charmer. Panjabi MC samples from the folk-tune “Nagin” and mixes it real nice. Back in the day, the folk-song “Nagin” was featured in the song “Man Dole Mera Tan Dole” from the 1954 Hindi film classic “Nagin” (if you have not seen the film, it is a tragic romance involving snakes). Sung by Lata Mangeshkar, “Man Dole Mera Tan Dole” was often on heavy rotation when I was growing up because my Mom was fond of it. Years later, it is nice to see her smile when hearing “Snake Charmer”. Both tracks take me back to when I first learned of Rekha’s Basement Bhangra parties more than a decade ago in NYC. Those days in NYC were really special. DJ Rekha created and nurtured Basement Bhangra, building a much needed space for Desis in NYC and beyond. If I am in a bad mood… these tracks cheer me up right away.

Oully Ya Sahbi
Natacha Atlas featuring Sofiane Saidi
Oully Ya Sahbi is the first track off of Natacha Atlas’ 2006 album, “Mish Maoul”. It is a gorgeous duet. The ney and the kawala (reed flutes) whisper stories throughout. Listening to it is like getting to that magnificent chapter in a well written novel where everything is revealed and nothing is the same again.

Dam Mast Qalandar
Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
In 1992, I went with my Dad to see Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan perform live. Dam Mast Qalandar was the last song he performed to close the evening. There are some moments that completely transform you and that performance was one of them. It was pretty amazing. The poetic & musical complexity…his voice… faith, beauty and devotion. A gift. I remember my Dad translating some of the stuff that went over my head… a moment I will always hold close.

Last 5 posts by shuffled

• Shuffled! Adrian Tomine - May 15th, 2008
• Shuffled! Ed Lin - May 8th, 2008
• Shuffled! Catzie Vilayphonh - May 1st, 2008
• Shuffled! Danny "Dandiggity" Le - April 24th, 2008
• Shuffled! Goh Nakamura - April 17th, 2008

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