Junoon: Breaking down barriers

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Dawn - 28th May 2008

MUSIC knows no boundaries, allowing its universality to transcendage-old divisions and bring strangers — even rivals — closer to one another. Which is why one should appreciate, rather than condemn, concerts such as the one staged by Pakistan's Junoon band in Srinagaron Sunday. Considering the militaristic attitudes that have over the decades come to dominate the Kashmir question, it was not surprising to hear jihadist concerns that the rock band's presence would send the 'wrong message' to the international community about India's political status in the Valley. However, the huge response to the band that played at the opening of the Institute of Kashmir Studies despite the death threats it had received from militants gave a different impression. Politics was forgotten as prominent South Asians, including Indian President Pratibha Patil, former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga and civil society representatives from Pakistan amongst others enjoyed the performance that received thunderous applause from thousands of young Kashmiris. While this was not for the first time that Pakistani musicians performed in occupied Kashmir, Sunday's concert, organised by the South Asia Foundation, created greater waves on account of the popularity of the band and its Sufistic message of peace.

There is no doubt that cultural exchanges, particularly in the performing arts, between India and Pakistan have been gaining momentum as part of people-to-people diplomacy. But they are especially relevant in war-scarred territories like Kashmir where there is anger against religious militants and their acts of violence as well as Indian troops that have perpetrated countless excesses on the population. Here, the people, especially the youth, need unrestricted forums to interact with those from the other side and in order to build up a non-political base for promoting peace in the region. Perhaps access of this kind will propel the governments of India and Pakistan to take a less rigid view of the situation and soften their respective political stances.