By Twocircles.net Staff Reporter,
Kozhikode: In what could be termed as a clear message to the Sangh fold from Kerala against growing intolerance, the state has set two venues for Pakistani Ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali to hold his concerts. Ghulam Ali will perform in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode on January 15 and 17.
(File Photo Credit: Deccan Herald)
The concerts are held after the legend cancelled his programmes scheduled to be held in Mumbai, Delhi and Lucknow. The music programme will be organised in the two cities under the aegis of Swaralaya, a Thiruvananthapuram based pro-left fraternity functioning to promote classical art and music.
While addressing the media persons in Thiruvananthapuram, M A Baby, former Education Minister and co founder of Swaralaya, said that the organisers got nod from the legend after communicating with Ghulam Ali.
“The incidents, where the maestro was confronted by the protests from Sangh Parivar outfits, had come as heartbreaking for his fans in the state. The programme is organised following demands raised from his fans in the state,” Baby said.
Soon after his programmes were cancelled in Mumbai, there were online hashtag campaigns launched by activists in Kerala. Baby and another CPM leader Dr. B Ekbal were in the forefront of the campaigns, seeking public opinion about organising Ghulam Ali’s concerts in Kerala through Facebook. The campaign has, however, bore fruit.
The CPM leader, however, exuded his confidence in smooth conducting of the programme saying no protests would hit the concerts in the two cities. “It is upon the State Government to ensure adequate safety for the singer and the organisers,” the CPM leader added.
“Not a single fan who wishes to hear the singer will be disappointed. We are obliged to make the legend along with his fans satisfied,” Baby said.
The venues will be soon fixed in the two cities and entry passes will be distributed to the viewers .