Icon of the Month: RIZWAN JAFFER -- The Youth

Icon of the Month: RIZWAN JAFFER
The young man who makes the youth vision in cafes!
Interviewed by Aqsa Hussain


Name? Rizwan Jaffar
DOB? 19 th June.
Favorite Book? Awaz-e-Dost.
Favorite TV show? Oprah Winfrey, Hard Talk on BBC and 50 minutes on Geo.
What is Politics? Politics is to serve the country.
Political leader you like? Nelson Mandela.
Favorite Film? Rang De Basanti.
Favorite singers ? Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Kishore Kumar, Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar.

Rizwan, you're the one who according to our knowledge first started a TV program exclusively designed for Youth. How did concept of Cafe Vision strike your mind?

We started Café Vision in 2003 and it’s been five years now. I’ve been an active student and a very good debater throughout my school and college life and have won numerous awards including Pakistan’s best debater award. It was back in PTV’s era that I along with my debater friends realized that there should be a platform for youngsters to come on TV and express, so, that’s little something behind Café Vision.

Since you've been doing Cafe Vision for past few years and have a direct interaction with Youth, what according to you are the shortcomings and strengths in our youth?

I have interacted with youth even in Dubai and UK. I have huge interaction with youth of Pakistan. Shortcoming is of course desire of short cuts. They do not wish to work for long and then reap benefits.
But, our youth is very hard working. They always want to do something, and are very much enthusiastic. Problem is only of lack in guidance and consistency to achieve goals.

Have you directed any shows? I remember you did Shaista and You. Tell us more about them.

I’ve directed many shows, including Shaista and You, Café Vision, Career Moves, Taleemat-e-Nabavi, Tareekh ki Talaash, and more shows on TV One. I’ve hosted shows as well. Upcoming is a show on a different channel with a new name and a new concept. It definitely would be for the youth.

What are your other interests?

I have a book and a music library at my place. I read books, listen to music and watch TV. Internet and that’s all.

Our concept of a scout is of a volunteer who takes on a stiff dress and acts like an army man/woman, can you elaborate on it's real concept please?

Scouting is an International movement. It gives youth programs for the youngsters in the age group of 17 to 25 years. People having crossed this age become leaders. It’s basic aim is character building in youth, to give them the concept of social service so that they can work better for their country, religion and get worldwide exposure, that’s why there are lots of international conferences happening every now and then. I’ve many friends all over the world.

You’re a President Gold Medallist and successfully got your mother sponsored for performing Hajj, Masha Allah. Tell us how did it happen?

I’m President Gold Medallist in scouting. After being selected as the Best Scout, you’re given an opportunity to perform Hajj with your mother or father. So Masha Allah I performed Hajj with my mother. After that I went to Japan for representing Pakistan in an international conference.

Rizwan, tell us one thing, you've been successfully doing a show for a few years now and have produced a few more as well, but there's not much hype about you that should have been created... why? Also, Cafe Vision's pattern is being monotonous too. Are you planning to bring in some variation?

It happens. It happens with the governments as well. There’s a saturation point of watching anything. We’d been bringing in changes; we changed venues, covered different places, cities, restaurants etc
There’s a line mentioned with the name of Café Vision. “Voice of the Next Generation”, it basically gets monotonous for the ones who’ve attended Café Vision few times. But the ones who’ve not been here, it’s for them.

If you were to change any one thing about yourself and about your shows, then what would it be?

I regret that my passion for my work caused me to neglect my studies. But I think it was all a training process. If time rolled back, I would use it more constructively.
Youth parliament was my dream. Youth wants to do something for the country too. I want to do something for youth so that they come forward and give guidelines to government. Youth is the only force that can tell government that we lack dynamic leadership; we ought to use electricity intelligently etc. My next show would be on this theme.
profession, then getting time out to do this extra bit of writing can again prove to be a very challenging task. Hence, the key is to know which time is the best and then take that time to get your writing tasks done.

Tell us about "Ishq-e-Rasool mei Jiyo" (a Naat competition). How did you come up with that and how was the response?
Response was amazingly nice. Dr Aamir Liaqat who is senior to me and a good friend told me to do a religious program. The basic reason of going for a Naat competition was to change the mindset of people regarding Naat Khwans. I mean a person wearing modern dress can also recite Naat. We had countless entries and people showed great interest. We short-listed our contestants and final show took place in Karachi.

How do you see electronic media's explosion in the past few years?
Government has permitted everyone to open channels and as a result of which TV is flooded with many channels. Some people really had bad experiences. Electronic media’s journalists have made TV “shaam ka akhbar”. We lack quality directors, producers etc but it will hopefully improve. Someday we would realize that saucy news 24/7 isn’t the only thing to be shown on TV. You see BBC and CNN are sensible channels when they talk about their homelands. On the contrary, our channels act like opposition in the assembly.

Tell us any five things; a person should have before even thinking of taking media as a profession?
- Degree: It is very important. Quality education is important above all.
- Specialization: Be a master in whatever you are pursuing.
- Knowledge and information: You can’t host unless you have something intellectual and knowledgeable to share.
- Patience.
- Consistency.

How do you see girls taking media as a full time profession, be it production, acting, modeling, anchoring, reporting etc?

Our family system doesn’t easily accept women going out and working in the media. If you talk about males, even they have this marriage issue. People avoid getting their girls married to a media guy. Girls have to portray their jobs in the nicest way they can.

What do you have in store for audience?

There will be a new bi-weekly show for youngsters on a new channel. I’ve worked as a freelancer in the past and now I’m going for a job, so show would be the only focus.

What’s Youth Parliament?

At the time of celebrations on Café Vision’s 100 th episode, we thought to get some output. Youth parliament was an idea. We formed it and have thousands of members – young members. Great achievers were awarded. Great achievers are the youngsters who at this young age have done something exclusive in their own respective fields for the country, in any area like science, technology, arts, culture, education, sports, entertainment etc. The basic aim was to portray Pakistani youngsters as high achievers. We wanted to generate a positive image of Pakistan other than saucy stories and terror. Such awards motivate others to do more.
We also have a plan to award top ten achievers.

Do you have any message for the youth and Youth magazine?

Please don’t run after shortcuts. Dream for a sky of success, by doing that you’d probably be able to achieve something nearest. Don’t run after money, but run after your work and money will follow you.
I’ve read three copies of Youth magazine and believe me you guys are doing incredibly well. I just love it. I had idealized to take out exactly this kind of magazine but unfortunately couldn’t do it. I’m always interested in reading and writing, have written some articles for leading newspapers as well. So magazines are of great interest. Keep it up!