When two worlds came together in Jammu & Kashmir Michael Steiner,TNN | Sep 30, 2013, 05.51AM IST For the first time, Beethoven, Haydn, Tchaikovsky, the best of cultural heritage we have in Germany and Europe, were performed by a world renowned maestro and an internationally acclaimed orchestra in the heart of Kashmir. Three weeks ago, a premiere happened at the shores of Lake Dal. For the first time, Beethoven, Haydn, Tchaikovsky, the best of cultural heritage we have in Germany and Europe, were performed by a world renowned maestro and an internationally acclaimed orchestra in the heart of Kashmir. It was a sign of respect, a bow to Kashmir and its people. Ehsaas-e-Kashmir. For the first time, a classical cultural event was broadcast from the subcontinent in high definition quality (HDTV) live across more than fifty countries. The concert was not only followed by the 2,700 guests in Shalimar Bagh, but could also be seen on every TV set in Kashmir. And for the first time ever, traditional Kashmiri musicians performed a traditional Kashmiri song together with a classical orchestra from Europe. With the transcription of Rind-e-Poshmal into classical sheet music, the concert contributed to music history. All walks of life were present on this day in the serene setting of the freshly renovated Bagh: Houseboat owners, artists, politicians, bureaucrats, cultural icons, shopkeepers, villagers, students, academics, lawyers, workers, social activists, neighbours of the Mughal Gardens, music lovers coming from far, pathani suits and kameez salwars. Under the given circumstances, the concert was as inclusive as possible. In the end, we had 1,200 more guests than the 1,500 originally envisaged. Everyone from Kashmir who was really interested in the concert and who requested the Embassy for an invitation got one. However, those arguing for a Woodstock-like concert are simply denying the realities on the ground, including threats against concert guests and foreign tourists. Please dont forget: As the organiser, we had to guarantee full security to the orchestra and our guests. The overall response we received after the concert from Kashmir and beyond was simply overwhelming. All were moved by the enchanting performance and perfection of Maestro Zubin Mehta and the Bavarian State Orchestra in this magical place. I want to thank once again all those involved in the 12-month-long preparation of the concert, overcoming hundreds of technical challenges and thousands of kilometres of distance. But most of all, I want to thank the Kashmiris. That night, you were host to the world. That night, the world saw Kashmir in all its splendour and natural beauty, but also the unredeemed Kashmir with its disturbing, harsh reality. Dozens of international media were accredited for the concert; they also reported on the legitimate concerns of the population. As I said right from the beginning, the Kashmir Concert was not a peace concert, but a purely cultural event with no state insignia. Music cannot change realities. However, it is a universal language where other languages fail. On 7th September, the world got connected with Kashmir - and Kashmir got connected to the world. No doubt, the Kashmir Concert has triggered heated debate in the valley -- as always, when something out of the box happens. Some of the criticism of hardliners was far off the mark and does not deserve a response. Some even claimed the concert had caused the Shopian killings. I deeply deplore that young people were killed in Shopian. Every person killed is one too many. However, to instrumentalise and link these killings with a musical concert 50 kilometers away is nothing but a disgrace to the deceased. But to discuss openly whether it is right or wrong to stage an international concert of this magnitude in Kashmir under its current circumstances was healthy and necessary. In the end, it was right to stay the course and stage the concert. It was also right to let the parallel cultural event at Municipal Park in Srinagar happen. Culture is always welcome. It is true, the debate was partly harsh. And yes, there also have been some rather abstruse arguments against the concert. But I am confident that the lively inner Kashmiri debate we saw in recent weeks will in the end help dissolve some decades-old incrustations. In that sense, it is cathartic. For my Embassy, the Kashmir Concert is part of a broader civic engagement in the valley - from health care over education to the idea of technical engineering training by a German company. The concert was not an alternative to, but a mobilizer for greater civic engagement. If you want to attract concrete projects, you need to generate empathy. Thats how the world functions and thats exactly what the concert did for Kashmir. It was a Concert for Kashmir. Music cannot change realities. But music is powerful. Music enlightens, moves and touches hearts. Music connects. On September 7, a phenomenal 63% of Srinagars TV viewership above the age of 18 watched the concert live on screen. They were mesmerized by a fantastic orchestra, conducted by one of the best maestros there is, playing together with fabulous Kashmiri musicians in on of the most beautiful gardens in the world. Something that has never happened before. Something that will remain. Something the Kashmiris can be rightly proud of. (The writer is the German ambassador to India)
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 03:21:50 +0000
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