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.
Everything is not politics in Kashmir, but everything tends to be
Invoking Kashmir's revolutionary poet Gulam Ahmed Mehjoor, President Pratibha Patil on Monday asked its "gardeners (people) to create the glory of spring and make the flowers bloom and the birds sing again". She said Kashmir was rightly called rishiwaer or the abode of rishis as it embodies love, tolerance and compassion.
Pakistan's acclaimed pop band Junoon staged their maiden performance in Srinagar on Sunday, ignoring death threats by militants who opposed the show, and regaling thousands of cheering fans at an open air theatre by the scene Dal Lake.
The scene was like a postcard image of Kashmir - but superimposed with visuals straight from the Woodstock music festival.