Kashmir group to release music album as ‘tribute’ to Afzal Guru

The group is planning more such events under the aegis of Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir.

Four days after the Sher-e-Kashmir park near Lal Chowk in Srinagar resonated with songs protesting a performance by Zubin Mehta and Bavarian State Orchestra,Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society and organisers of the counter-concert titled Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir announced Wednesday an album tribute to Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Guru was hanged in Tihar Jail earlier this year.

Kashmir was demonised for being against art,culture and music in the run-up to the (Zubin) concert. This is not true. We want to use art and music to put across thoughts and opinions on issues concerning us. Music can really make a point as it did in Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir, said Khurram Parvez,convener of and spokesperson for Coalition of Civil Society.

A Tribute to Afzal will be released in a Srinagar hotel on September 21,World Peace Day.

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The album was planned towards the end of February and completed earlier this month in a central Kashmir studio.

Comprising eight songs in Kashmiri and Urdu,penned by upcoming poets and sung by three vocalists,the album will be available on the internet for free download.

Parvez refused to divulge details of people involved in the album. The singers and poets,however,attend its release.

We will announce the credits then, said Parvez.

He said: A lot of people would want to believe Kashmir has forgotten the hanging. This album is an artisitic tribute to Guru.

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The group is planning more such events under the aegis of Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir. It will soon bring out an audio CD of the September 7 event.