Musical Jehad

Bureau Report, "Junoon welcomes militants, separatists to `musical jehad`" - Zee News - Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Saturday, May 24, 2008

Srinagar: Brushing aside the reservations to their performing live in Kashmir, Pakistani Sufi-rock band Junoon has asked separatist and militant groups to join them tomorrow in a "musical Jehad" to usher in peace and harmony in the state.

The band arrived here today, set for a high-voltage show along the banks of the Dal lake including their runaway hit `Sayouni..` from the self-titled debut album which propelled them to stardom.

"We will sing songs of unity, peace, brotherhood and joy, and this seems to be the perfect setting for these kind of songs," guitarist Salman Ahmad said, trying a few bluesy riffs ahead of their maiden gig.

President Pratibha, who is also on her first official tour of Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyer, Governor SK Sinha and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad are expected to be would be among the invitation only audience at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre.

Asked about the opposition by United Jehad Council Chief Syed Salahuddin and Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani to their performing in the Kashmir valley, Ahmad said "I want them to join us in a musical Jehad for peace and ring the bells of harmony", a sentiment echoed by Tabla player Samir Chatterjee.

The fusion band members now settled in the US first visited India in 1998 and have since been trying to get permission to perform in the valley. "Finally, it has come through and I am happy," Ahmad said.

On settling at the centre, Junoon got down to a rehearsal and fans could expect their rendering of the poetry of Bulleh Shah, Iqbal and Maulana Rumi, combining the gruff vibrancy of rock with the lilting strains of sufi music.

South Asia Foundation, a no-profit organisation, is organising the music event in collaboration with Kashmir University to promote peace in the border state hit by nearly two decades of violence.

Though Pakistani singers have performed in Kashmir over the past few years following the thaw in Indo-Pak relations, this a first for a rock band of the status of Junoon. It has a huge fan following in the valley, especially the youth.

The organisers are not organising an open sale of tickets, but are issuing 10,000 invitation passes, most of which will be issued to students of Kashmir University.