Aneeka Khalid, one of the three performers of Kashmir’s all-girl band Pragaash, told mediapersons here on Tuesday that she and her teammates had quit music in deference to the wish of Mufti Azam Basheer-ud-din. “He is a respected person and we should obey his counsel,” she is reported to have said.
“It’s impossible to play music in Kashmir. If someone has to pursue music as a career, he/she should move out of the Valley,” the teenager said on television, her face morphed.
Prominent persons who targeted the band on Tuesday expressed “satisfaction” and “pleasure” that the young girls had shut their band.
Keywords: Pragaash, Kashmir rock band, Kashmir all-girl rock band, Grand Mufti Ahmad, fatwa, Information Technology Act, J&K police, moral policing
Many of the top singers in India are our brothers from Muslim
community and Indians from all walks of religion have loved listening
to them for years and decades together. I have never heard of a fatwa
against them. Even when we invite Pakistani singers ( who are usually
Muslims) to sing/ participate in our music industry/competitions we
say "it will bring people of two country together", "music knows no
boundary", etc... But, why are we restricting these girls to pursue
their passion for music? What happens to Right of Equality[Art 14] and
Right to Life[Art 21] based rights here?
Aldous Huxley once said : After silence, that which comes nearest to
expressing the inexpressible is music.
The girls should be allowed to follow their love for music. While
music will provide a Healing Touch to Kashmir valley, participation of
Girls will help in achieving the equality in the society.
Music is one way of expressing our devotion to God and these people
claim music is un-islamic. The fanatic leaders should grow their brains
and learn what Islam is before they wear the apparel of religious head.
Even Quran is recited with a tune which is music.According to this Mufti
, even A.R.Rahman, who has captivated our hearts with his music, is also
against Islam. Religious intolerance and fanaticism in its highest form.
I feel sorry for these young girls. Fanatics have forced them to shut
off their music. What else could they do? With a general atmosphere of
intolerance and fanaticism in J&K (which is contrary to the famed
Kashmiriyat), poor teenage girls had no choice. After all they have to
live there. The CM has said some right things but it remains to be seen
how far he will go and how far his commands shall be implemented by his
government.
Yes. Threaten them first. They shut down their band. Express "pleasure and
satisfaction" saying that they realized their mistake. All Hail Indian Democracy and Free
Will!
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