NEW DELHI, MAY 19: Even as India and Pakistan battle it out in Kargil, cultural exchanges between the two countries continue. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will inaugurate the Friendship Concert where ghazal singer Jagjit Singh will share the stage with Pakistani singer Farida Khanum.The charity show, titled Marasim (meaning relationship) - The Friendship Concert, will be held at Siri Fort auditorium on May 22. This is the first time that the two ghazal maestros will share a common platform in India. The Friendship Concert is being organised at the initiative of the Northern Railways Women's Welfare Organisation (NRWWO).
Jagjit Singh will also release his new album, also titled Marasim, on the occasion. He has collaborated with Gulzar for the album.
The Prime Minister, apart from inaugurating the concert, is also understood to have expressed the desire to attend the show and listen to the two singers render their best ghazals. Giving details about the show, Chandralekha Mukherjee, the Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO) of the Northern Railways said that the fund raising show will be a vehicle for better understanding between the two countries. Union Minister for Railways Nitish Kumar will the official host.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.