KL Report
SRINAGAR
At a time when separatist leaders and other Civil Society Groups are opposing the forth-coming performance of international music maestro Zubin Mehta, the tourism players of Valley are looking at it other way. They don’t see any political dimension to it and urge upon the people of Kashmir to look at the concert at a positive way.
CEO of Kashmir Caravans, Muzaffar Andrabi, who has been appointed the official travel agent for the show told CNS that the musical concert would prove a booster for tourism sector in Kashmir. “Although German ambassador has said that it is merely a cultural event but I feel this show is going to boost our tourism sector in a big way. This show would go air live in different European Countries and it would certainly change the mindset of people living there,” he said.
House Boat Owners Association president, Tuman Azeem opined that separatist leaders should not take this concert in a negative sense. “I appeal them to reconsider their decision. From last 20 years, Kashmir has got a bad name and now this musical concert is certainly going to improve our image. One more positive thing about the concert is that foreign tourists would realize that Kashmir is a safe destination for them,” Azeem said.
Director, Shangloo Travels, Noor Mohammad said that people in Kashmir should not politicize this issue. “Political issues are there and they would remain there. This event is apolitical. People should understand that this concert would give boost to the economy here and world community would come to know about the real face of Kashmir,” he said adding that one more positive thing about the event is that we could share our ideas and aspirations with European delegates that would come here to attend the concert.
Convener and head INTACH, J&K chapter, Mohammad Saleem Beg told CNS that there is no political dimension to it. He said that it would send a positive message across the globe when the musician of international repute would perform at Shalmar garden. “Now if we oppose this concert the world would not say that Kashmiri people did not allow it to happen on political reasons but the message would go that they are intolerant. Let Zubin come and spread the message of peace through his enchanting music,” he said.
“Many great philosophers of Islam wrote profusely on the theory of music and encouraged its performance. Al-Kindi, one of the greatest Islamic philosopher argues that music can turn anger into calm, grief into joy, avarice into generosity and cowardice into bravery. One is reminded of this treatise when one looks at the great work Zubin and his brother are doing in occupied territories of Isreal where they are lighting the tender hearts and souls of Palestinian children in villages like Nazareth and Shawaram by treating them to music therapy. The concert has been named Ehsaas-i-Kashmir. We hope it will measure upto its title and present the feelings of Kashmir through the medium of music,” Beg said.
Around 1,500 guests from Kashmir and across the country and Europe are expected to attend special concert that is being organized by the German Embassy at world famous Shalimar Garden in Srinagar.
