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The Zubin Mehta concert Security personnel patrol the street outside the Shalimar Garden, the venue of the concert, in Srinagar on Friday. — PTI
Musical treat an honour for the state, says Abhay Rustum Sopori
Omar slams shutdown call by separatists
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Tagore Award for zubin: President Pranab Mukherjee presents the Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony 2013 to renowned music conductor
Zubin Mehta at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday. — PTI
Governor briefed on DD, AIR expansion plans in state
J&K may increase quota for OBCs
Quake of 4.5 magnitude rocks
Doda, Kishtwar districts
Two more held in Jammu rape case
Two LeT militants held in Srinagar
Pak opens fire in Balakote sector
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The Zubin Mehta concert
Srinagar, September 6 The policemen initially ran away protecting themselves with fibre shields even as in a matter of minutes the police vehicles parked along the Boulevard and carrying reinforcements rushed and chased away the protesters. The clash, which lasted a few minutes before the angry crowd dispersed, is the beginning of Kashmir’s tense hours which will culminate on Saturday evening when the internationally acclaimed music maestro finishes his performance. Zubin’s concert, organised by the German government, has led to unprecedented round-the-clock security arrangement in the city leaving the residents apprehensive. The 15-km stretch of the Boulevard Road, which runs along the eastern rim of the Dal Lake and leads to the concert venue at Shalimar Garden, is calm yet tense. On regular days, the Boulevard Road is teeming with locals and tourists. But this Friday afternoon, a day before Zubin will give a historic performance of western classical music in Kashmir to a VVIP guest list of diplomats, politicians, industrialists, and film stars — is a no regular day. The state security apparatus is facing a daunting challenge to ensure smooth conduct of the concert as the event is facing widespread opposition from separatists, civil society and the clergy. Three militant outfits have threatened to attack western tourists if the concert is not scrapped. Police and paramilitary personnel are manning all roads to the Shalimar Garden. The stillness and vastness of the Dal Lake is overawing as traffic along the Boulevard has diminished. Outside another Mughal garden, Nishat Bagh, which is around 4 km from the Shalimar Garden, a group of policemen have erected a checkpoint where all vehicles are being stopped for checking. This will not happen on Saturday when the entire Boulevard will remain deserted and no one except the vehicles carrying the high-profile guests will move on this road. Policemen in plain clothes and uniform have been patrolling ground zero and mobile bunkers and armoured cars are parked outside the Shalimar Garden. The market outside the garden is closed. A policeman, armed with an assault rifle, said the shopkeepers have shut down shops as a precautionary measure. Senior officials led by Director General of Police Ashok Prasad visited the venue in the afternoon and oversaw the security arrangements. The police chief later led a caravan of police vehicles around the area and was seen supervising the security network. Govt nod for parallel concert The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday evening said it has granted permission to Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir, a parallel cultural event to Zubin Mehta's concert, organised by the region’s civil society. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir zone, Shailendra Kumar told The Tribune that permission has been granted to the parallel event. |
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Musical treat an honour for the state, says Abhay Rustum Sopori
Srinagar, August 6 Sopori has trained the Kashmiri artists for the occasion and it is his composition, which had been sent to Zubin Mehta group for its presentation in the mega event. The one-and-a-half-hour musical extravaganza will begin with the seven-minute Kashmiri composition conducted by the internationally acclaimed musician. “It is a tribute to Kashmir… It is like musically sharing
Kashmiriyat, which has a Sufi colour and folk flavour, in the form of a symphony,” Sopori told The Tribune ahead of the mega event. “This is for the first time in the history of Kashmir and in the history of music that the symphony orchestra coming from outside is performing here”, he said. The 32-year-old santoor player, who has many national and international awards to his credit, insisted, “It is the world’s best orchestra being conducted by the best conductor, Zubin
Mehta.” Asked about how it feels to be a part of the presentation, Sopori said it was an
honour. “I have not taken it as an assignment only…My composition is being conducted by Zubin
Mehta. It is an honour to me as they agreed to my composition and I feel that it as an honour for the state,” he said. The traditional Kashmiri musical instruments,
santoor, rabab, matka, tumbak and saringi are being used in the presentation. “This presentation is a Kashmiri composition by the Bavarian and Kashmiri artists,” said Ravinder
Koul, an artist. “It is a rare opportunity when such an internationally renowned orchestra will perform in Kashmir and in conjunction with the Kashmiri artists,” Koul added. |
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Omar slams shutdown call by separatists
Srinagar, September 6 Talking to news channel during a visit to the Shalimar Garden where Zubin along with his troupe rehearsed for the tomorrow’s event, Omar said: “This is a big event for Kashmir... these (separatists) people are selective. This is not the first music concert in Kashmir. If music is anti-Islam, against the issue of Kashmir, how come Junoon came and performed here.” He was referring to the Pakistani rock band, “Junoon”, which had performed in Srinagar in May 2008. The hardline Hurriyat faction led by Syed Ali Geelani had called for protests and shutdown against the show after an earlier appeal to the
German Embassy to cancel the concert. Omar told reporters that all arrangements had been put in place for the show.
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Kashmir chose me, says music maestro
New Delhi, September 6 “I didn’t choose Kashmir, it chose me,” Zubin, 76, told reporters after receiving the Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony in the capital. “I hope to have the blessings of the people as music is the only language I know and hope to spread the message of peace with this performance,” said Zubin, who was born in Bombay (Mumbai) and received his first musical education under the guidance of his father, Mehli Mehta, the founder of the Bombay Symphony Orchestra. Zubin will conduct in Kashmir the Bavarian State Orchestra, which emerged from one of the oldest orchestras in Germany. Its origins can be traced back to 1523. Zubin’s 90-minute concert in Kashmir, “Ehsaas-e-Kashmir” (The feel of Kashmir), has been facing opposition from separatists and civil society groups of the Valley. Speaking at the award function, Zubin said one should never underestimate the power of inner peace. “It was in 1994 that I played in Sarajevo during the Bosnia war. During those two hours, there was peace. This doesn't mean that we brought peace, but the soldiers engulfed in the war felt that inner peace,” he said. “Never underestimate the power of inner peace that comes with music,” he added. Zubin, however, refused to comment on the opposition to his concert. Winning notes *
Zubin Mehta has conducted the Vienna, Berlin and Israel Philharmonic Orchestras and recently celebrated 50 years of musical collaboration with all three *
In 1981, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra awarded him the title of music director for life. He has conducted over 3,000 concerts with the ensemble, including tours spanning five continents *
In 1978, he took over the post as music director of the New York Philharmonic, commencing a tenure lasting 13 years, the longest in the orchestra’s history |
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Governor briefed on DD, AIR expansion plans in state
Srinagar, September 6 The Governor and the CEO, Prasar Bharati, as per an official statement, discussed important issues related to the strengthening of the All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan kendras in the state, particularly with a view to serving the people who reside in the border and remote areas of the state. Sircar briefed the Governor about the current and future plans about the expansion and upgrade of the radio and Doordarshan network in the state. The Governor emphasised the need for all required measures being taken within a limited time frame to strengthen and expand the AIR and Doordarshan services in all three regions of the state. “The Governor’s meeting with Sircar today follows the Governor having some time ago addressed Manish Tewari, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, to stress, inter alia, the need for requisite steps being taken to strengthen the AIR and Doordarshan services in the state, besides ensuring optimum utilisation of the available infrastructure,” the statement added. BB Pandit, Member, Finance, Prasar Bharati, also participated in the discussion. |
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J&K may increase quota for OBCs
Jammu, September 6 The OBCs get 2 per cent reservation in the state whereas in other parts of the country they are entitled to 27 per cent reservation as per the recommendations of the Mandal Commission. Various organisations of the OBCs have already begun an agitation for implementation of the Mandal Commission report in J&K. “A high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary would be held on September 10 to take a decision on increasing the reservation for the OBCs,” said Kuldeep Raj Verma, vice-chairman of the Board for Development of OBCs. “The Chief Secretary has convened a high-level meeting in which the Secretary, Law; Secretary, Social Welfare; and the Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD); have been invited to take a decision,” he said. Sources said the Congress leadership was trying its best to enhance the reservation for the OBCs because Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz had made a promise in this regard. “The Congress has realised that OBCs voters will play a decisive role in both Jammu and Kashmir regions,” a source said. |
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Quake of 4.5 magnitude rocks Doda, Kishtwar districts
Jammu, September 6 Since May 1 this year, 91 moderate and small-intensity quakes have been felt in the districts. The highest intensity quake with 5.8 magnitude hit the area on May 1. Official records said more than 80,000 structures had developed cracks during the May 1 quake, more than 1,000 structures were completely damaged and more than 10,000 severely damaged. The people are living in fear due to the continuous spell of tremors in the area. The state government has done nothing so far to ascertain the reason behind the tremors.
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Two more held in Jammu rape case
Jammu, September 6 Police sources told The Tribune that one of the accused, watchman Angad Kumar, had confessed to his crime of raping the girls for the past one year but the director, Sudhakar Sharma, was yet to open his mouth on the issue. “It is on Angad’s disclosure that two more persons were detained for questioning,” a source said. Meanwhile, a local court today sent Sharma and Kumar to eight-day police custody. The accused were arrested on Wednesday evening and produced in the court today. The girls are living in the home situated in the Channi Rama area of Jammu. “We will not spare those responsible for sexual exploitation of the girls. The investigation is on and whosoever is found guilty will be punished,” said Shakeel Beig, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu-Kathua range. About a month ago, a complaint was lodged with the police regarding exploitation of mentally challenged girls at the home. Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Ajit Kumar Sahu constituted a board comprising Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Jammu East, and doctors to look into the issue. The board found that the girls were made habitual of sex and were being raped on a regular basis. It was only after the board submitted its report that the director and the watchman of the home were arrested. Political and social organisations have condemned the act and demanded strict punishment for people involved in it. The National Panthers Student Union (NPSU) and the Jammu Province Peoples Forum (JPPF) have condemned the incident. The NPSU held protests at SPMR College of Commerce and Government Degree College, Palloura, and demanded harsh punishment for the rapists. The JPPF lodged a protest against sexual exploitation of mentally challenged girls. JPPF president Thakur Pavitter Singh demanded stern action and exemplary punishment for the director and other staff of the NGO involved in the sexual exploitation and rape of innocent girls.
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Two LeT militants held in Srinagar
Srinagar, September 6 “We arrested the duo from the Chanapora locality. One of them is a resident of Srinagar and another is from north Kashmir. After their questioning, arms and ammunition were recovered from a shop in the Maisuma locality,” a source said. The LeT has so far not issued any threat against Zubin's music concert, which would be held at the Shalimar Garden tomorrow. Zubin would perform during an event titled, ‘Ehsaas-e-Kashmir’ (The Feel of Kashmir), which has been organised by the German Embassy with the support of the state and Central authorities. The event would be attended by 1,500 guests. Separatists and civil society groups in Kashmir are opposed to the music concert. Three lesser-known militant groups, Al Nasireen, Shohada Brigade and Farzandan-e-Millat, had asked the people to stay away from the concert. Security has been beefed up across the city as there are inputs about the movement of another militant module on the city outskirts. “After the arrest of the two militants, days ahead of the event, we are on a high alert,” the source said. |
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Pak opens fire in Balakote sector
Poonch, September 6 “Around 4.50 pm the Pakisatni troops of 605 Mujahid Regiment opened small and medium arms fire from their Goba post on Indian posts in the Balakote sector,” an intelligence source said. “The Indian troops retaliated in equal measure and the firing is still on,” he added. — TNS
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At Dalgate, one of the terminal points of the Boulevard Road which leads to the venue of Zubin Mehta’s concert, a group of teenage boys sprang out of a nearby neighbourhood and blocked the road on Friday afternoon. The angry youths pelted state police personnel with stones and forced a few buses and cars to take a diversion.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Prasar Bharati, Jawhar Sircar called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today evening.
The Governor and the CEO, Prasar Bharati, as per an official statement, discussed important issues related to the strengthening of the All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan kendras in the
state
