Friday, November 30, 2007

With a Heavy Heart

The Times of India - India
Friday, November 23, 2007

Kolkata: They were all looking forward to this day. But they ended up feeling sorry.

A huge Turkish delegation was in the city on Wednesday to take part in an international event in the name of Rumi, the world famous Sufi saint.

But Wednesday’s violence badly affected participation in the programme. The event at Kala Mandir was expected to be attended by 11,000 people.

“Till the eleventh hour, we were getting requests from people wishing to take part in the programme. We could only accommodate 11,000. But thanks to Wednesday’s mayhem, only 300 people came,” said Imran Zaki, one of the organisers.

Simon Aygun, a Turkish journalist who had come to cover the event, said: “I came to cover this event on Rumi and now, I shall have to report about the riotous clashes that coincided with the programme. The 17 performers for the programme, Whirling Dervishes of Rumi, have left for Hyderabad, the next venue of the programme, albeit with a heavy heart. “

Ironically, the programme was meant to spread peace and secular harmony.

It would have been a hit like it is elsewhere in the world. But because of the clashes, only about 300 people could turn up in the evening.

We could not imagine that this sort of violence would mar such a great event,” said Hanifi Oguz, regional director of Indialogue Foundation, which co-organised the programme.

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Friday, November 30, 2007

With a Heavy Heart
The Times of India - India
Friday, November 23, 2007

Kolkata: They were all looking forward to this day. But they ended up feeling sorry.

A huge Turkish delegation was in the city on Wednesday to take part in an international event in the name of Rumi, the world famous Sufi saint.

But Wednesday’s violence badly affected participation in the programme. The event at Kala Mandir was expected to be attended by 11,000 people.

“Till the eleventh hour, we were getting requests from people wishing to take part in the programme. We could only accommodate 11,000. But thanks to Wednesday’s mayhem, only 300 people came,” said Imran Zaki, one of the organisers.

Simon Aygun, a Turkish journalist who had come to cover the event, said: “I came to cover this event on Rumi and now, I shall have to report about the riotous clashes that coincided with the programme. The 17 performers for the programme, Whirling Dervishes of Rumi, have left for Hyderabad, the next venue of the programme, albeit with a heavy heart. “

Ironically, the programme was meant to spread peace and secular harmony.

It would have been a hit like it is elsewhere in the world. But because of the clashes, only about 300 people could turn up in the evening.

We could not imagine that this sort of violence would mar such a great event,” said Hanifi Oguz, regional director of Indialogue Foundation, which co-organised the programme.

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