Published at Counter Currents & Kashmir Observer
By: Ravi Nitesh
By: Ravi Nitesh
I am a non kashmiri, like
you, with reference to domicile. A kashmiri, me and you are different on this
ground, but we all are similar on the ground that we all are human beings. But
if I will say that you are still different, while me , a non kashmiri and
Kashmiri are similar in a way, then probably you will wonder. Yes, you will
wonder because probably you did not see (or ignored) this aspect. It is in the
context of understanding the sufferings of people there, and here you are
completely different.
Pic: Taken by Pulse Media Website (http://pulsemedia.org/category/activism/)
Now, without going much in
length, I am writing this letter, just to convey my 'sincere' protest through
this letter. Also, before reading more or chucking it, I would like to make it
clear that I am a supporter of 'Free speech and expression’, I am a supporter
of 'Art and Music' in all its forms, but still I protest.
I am completely blank in
understanding that when you (with the help of the Government) are trying to use
this concert to convey a message for peace for local people but these 'local'
people are not interested in listening to you, rather they find peace through
sloganeering, protest songs and all, then what is the meaning of your concert?
Is it not true that peace should come from within? And if it is true, then let
it come from the heart of kashmiris through their protest songs. Is it not
ironical that you are trying to 'define' and 'distribute' the 'peace' for the
people without knowing their consent? Are you 'imposing' and 'enforcing' peace?
Is your imposed
performance of 'Music' for 'Peace' is not just like Government 'supplied'
military occupation that also comes with 'messages' of 'safety' and has been
made 'enforced' with the same 'rigid' attitude?
I request you to think
over the fact that how your show is protected by hundreds of security personals
because you are only selling 'artificial' peace.
Dear Zubin, as an admirer
of music, I believe that music brings peace and harmony and it plays a great
role in connecting people but I object when you come to 'supply' peace in the
region that is suffering from the pain of rapes, murders and fake encounters
etc and all in the veil of peace and safety. I regret that probably just
because of your personal desire/ motivated desire intentionally/
unintentionally, you have become a cause of their sufferings again.
Zubin, people in this
conflict zone, have their music and songs, have their writers and poets and you
probably know that people here are famous for their culture full of love and
peace. People here equally respect, invite all other writers and poets and many
come here, sit and talk, teach and learn, and people here accept all those with
love from heart. If you think that we here lives in trouble all the time, you
are right but you must know that even in conflict zones, there are smiles,
happiness, love, harmony, but it comes from within and is natural.
I protest because your
performance was political rather than musical. Through your performance,
Germany came into the picture intentionally/unintentionally and (tried to)
recognize the need of Peace without going in the way through which the real
peace can come. I protest because though Government of India accepted the
German ‘request’ as a ‘challenge’ for it, but it never accepted any demand of
including ‘third party’ in solution of Kashmir problem. So on one side, ‘Third
party’ is interfering on ‘spreading’ (actually selling) peace but not accepting
any such interference for ‘establishing and recognizing’ peace. I protest
because like any other music lover, I too demand for unbiased music. I favor
peace as a music of soul that connects hearts and makes the environment calm
and peaceful, rather than taking the music as ‘challenge’, rather than making
the peace, a commodity and selling it through marketed music, rather than
making an environment of depression, suppression and oppression and diluting
the sufferings of people who are really in need for a real peace.