While India-born conductor Zubin Mehta performed under the shadow of mighty chinars in Srinagar’s Mughal Shalimar gardens, a counter-concert, called Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir (the reality of Kashmir), was held about 12 km away at a city park to highlight what its organisers said sufferings of the people of the state.
They had alleged that the Zubin Mehta concert, the first of its kind in Kashmir, called Ehsaas-e-Kashmir (the feeling of Kashmir) was to serve build on the state narrative that seeks to dilute the reality of Jammu and Kashmir and people’s aspirations. The charge was denied by the German embassy which had sponsored the event.
Not only did various Kashmiri separatists, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, members of civil society groups and the local literati attend the Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir, several prominent people who had come from various parts of the country for the Zubin Mehta concert, including New Delhi’s former interlocutor on Kashmir, Prof. Radha Kumar, also turned up “to show solidarity with the people of Kashmir”.
Some foreign and national journalists and television crews who are here to cover the Bavarian state orchestra were also seen at the parallel show held at Srinagar’s Sher-i-Kashmir Municipal Park.
Ms Kumar, who earlier also attended the Zubin Mehta concert, said: “I just wanted to hear voices of Kashmir.” A group of young Kashmiri rappers, 2K, sung Resistance Is A Choice, It Is Gonna Make Some Noise amid sloganeering and applause. A young boy recited poetry of Nayeem Ahmad, killed in 1993 in home district Baramulla. A Valley singer, Irfan Bilal, sung a Kashmiri song, Ye Kaem Woan Che Subhas Gasnai Digar (Who told you that your dawn should turn in dusk), depicting the sufferings and narrative of situation of past more than two decades.
Noted paediatrician and author Altaf Hussein said, “Every oppressor is bound to succeed.” He termed the Zubin Mehta concert an “event for rich and elitist” and Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir as an “event of the common Kashmiri who has been suffering at the hands of India and breathes with pain and agony”.
Mirwaiz Umar said, “The message from Kashmir was clear that it is active conflict of the world.” He added, “I’m here to express my solidarity with the cause for which this event is being organised.”
Reacting to Zubin Mehta’s claim that “Kashmir chose him for the visit”, the Mirwaiz said Mr Mehta must have a “divine revelation” for feeling that way.
“The fact of the matter is that his visit is part of a bigger design. Kashmir is the beautiful prison and how could you hold concert in a prison?” he said.