Saturday, April 27, 2013

'PRAGAASH' - THE BACKLASH OF BATTLE OF BANDS

By CJ Poonam Mondal in Kolkata

The three little souls who were perhaps dimly mistaken to choose music in their lives must have been anguished to see how they were treated in recent times. Number of people in Kashmir valley, from common masses to the grand mufti, went on troubling the all-girl rock band "Pragaash' which came into limelight soon after its first public appearance in the month of December last year.

Now the question arises, were the girls wrong on their part? They might have been aware of the fact that music is not allowed in their religion and that it might not be accepted by locals. However, their inspiration lies in the valley itself.


In recent years, a number of music bands have evolved in valley especially in Srinagar city which got tremendous appreciation from people and have been applauded in various events organized in the city. Seeing people being awarded for their particular talent perhaps induces interest in minds of those who have similar talents. I believe the case is same with regards to the ‘Pragaash’ band.

One cannot overrule the fact that various elements of music have flourished in the valley including a private radio station majority of whose’ content is based on music. The station reflects that numerous music lovers are present in the valley. Obviously the channel would not survive the market without any audience. Another fact, majority of the privately owned cars have audio systems installed just because people listen to music while travelling.

Same is the case with various events which are some way or the other related to music, may it be a full-fledged music event or a small backdrop in other events. Music is not only about songs; it is as well used in the movies and television programs in background which gives a soothing effect to the sequence. News channels which people watch on daily basis also use music in the backdrop of headlines and other programs. Although music in this form is listened by all who watch the programs, they perhaps do not realize it.

Accepted, music is ‘haraam’ (prohibited) in religion - Islam, but is it prohibited only for a portion of society? No, it is not. So I believe, if ‘Pragaash’ has not been accepted by people, they should even not accept music from other sources or allow all of them to continue with the same.

Is ‘Pragaash’ band really at fault?: ‘Pragaash’ means ‘band of enlightenment or the band of lights’ it is the name of an all girl rock band which was introduced as a comet in the sky full of ‘Codes’. The band was formed in December 2012 by three Muslim Teenage girls -Noma Nazir Bhatt, Farah Deeba, Aneeka Khalid of Jammu and Kashmir .In a very short span of time this band has been crowned with the controversy by the Islam Militants as they claimed that these girls has went against the codes of Islam. 

After this they have been threatened badly in terms of harming physically, death, rape and even Fatwa (according to the Islam it’s the opinion legal opinion)declared by Grand Mufti (officials of Islam) which leads the band to end its battle of existence in the allegation of harming the codes and sentiments of Islam.

 Now the question arises that if the barriers of codes keep on impeding the art of music to be acknowledged then the world should deny the existed talents of women music legends like Lata Mangeskar, M.S.Subhalaxmi etc? Obstructing the path of music is more sinful than violating the codes of existing world. How religion comes forward to question the existence of Music band and the existence of the music? Now the point of thinking is that living in 21st century is the world really progressing or it is just a cloud of make-believe progress.

The band Pragaash was first recognized in 10th of December after the won the Battle of Bands for their best performance and soon after the threats of death, rape started to haunt the band members in their cell phones and Facebook accounts. The Grand Mufti disapproves and publicly criticized the band, stating that they were displaying "indecent behavior" and that "this kind of non-serious activity can become the first step towards our destruction". 

The Grand Mufti further added not even against the band but also against the art of Music by saying that music was "not good for society" and that’s the root of all "bad things happening in the Indian society are because of music". 

This statement directs to huge controversies between the music lovers against Grand Mufti rather every individual against Grand Mufti. Because Grand mufti has not just insulted the all girl rock band but also insulted the music cult or the art of music. Though at the beginning of the controversy Omar Abdullah the Chief Minister of J&K supported the band through tweets but later all his tweets were found deleted. 

This keep on arousing the controversy after controversy because this band has not only enhanced the music  culture but it has also  made us think about that in which society we are living where the religion is against the development of the society where  the king of the society is slowly corrupted by the corruption present in the society. Darwin’s theory says Survival of the fittest which means the fittest will survive till the end.

Now in present day in course of evolution the ‘fittest’ is been changed into power, narrow mentality and codes-conducts which will survive because those are fittest and the point of morality which should actually survive for the betterment of the society will depart as it vary person to person and person is been corrupted and stamped under corruption. And if this kind of corruption continues then that day will not be far when culture and heritage of India for which we Indians are proud of will collapsed in the middle of the battle like ‘Pragaash’ band.

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