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At last: Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali performs in India despite Shiv Sena protests last year
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At last: Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali performs in India despite Shiv Sena protests last year

An earlier concert in Mumbai was cancelled after threats by Shiv Sena
Images Staff
13 Jan, 2016

Are there clear skies ahead for Pakistani artistes visiting India? Legendary ghazal singer Ghulam Ali was finally able to perform in Kolkata after his earlier concert was cancelled in Mumbai last year due to security threats, reported IANS

The maestro expressed his gratitude and happiness at the beginning of the concert: "I am very happy today. I have been coming to Kolkata for 30 to 35 years. But this time it feels like I have come back after 50 years. I was so sad and today my sadness ends."

He also lauded the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as he performed with his son Aamir at Netaji Indoor Stadium. He refered to Banerjee as Saraswati who is the Hindu goddess of wisdom and music: “I am grateful to her. She has done us a favour in the form of Saraswati."

The minister welcomed the singer by gifting him a shawl and scarf and also requested Ghulam Ali to revisit Kolkata. He has previously performed in the city in 1981.

He also gave a humble response about his own skill of singing as he was taught by Baray Ghulam sahab: “Gana wana mujhe nahi aata (I don’t know how to sing). I only know how to listen,” he said.

He added: “I used to be after them [to learn]."

Ghulam Ali's concerts in Mumbai and Delhi were cancelled in 2015 due to threats from Shiv Sena, a Hindu extremist party in Maharashtra. The singer, who had then vowed to not perform in India until Pak-India relations improved, had confirmed his participation in the upcoming concert, organised by West Bengal Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (WBMDFC) at the Park Circus Maidan in Kolkata.

Comments

SHAH Jan 13, 2016 02:14pm
These are the peoples with radical thoughts in both the countries and they do not want to see India and Pakistan a peaceful countries.
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Ahmed USA Jan 13, 2016 02:19pm
Perseverance wins... Haters lost big time...
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Krish Jan 13, 2016 03:02pm
Excellent. Shiv sena is nobody in India. Even in Maharashtra their main base they have lost very badly. But it is all destructive forces that are given maximum attention. Even a drop of poison in bucketful of milk will poison the whole milk. Shiv sena is like that.
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S. P. Mitra Jan 13, 2016 03:16pm
Ghulam Ali Sahb's performance at Kolkata is an achievement for those who wants normalization of relations between our two countries. There was no arrangement for attendance by buying ticket; the entire audience was invitees and I did not get any invitation - this was a sad story for me. The happiest story is success of the function which was attended by many prominent Indian personalities. This is a very good development which has made everyone (who wants friendly relations between our two countries) happy.
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sid Jan 13, 2016 04:02pm
I have been listening you since college days! awesome Ghazals
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jimmyali Jan 13, 2016 04:03pm
Good news, Music wins hate perishes
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shekhu Jan 13, 2016 04:45pm
gulam ali is such a gem of humanity... shiv sena is pathetic ppl , moreover they are sitting in mumbai and have impacted bollywood in a very bad way. India need to clear such mess urgently... already shiv sena are in war with modi... but problem with modi he never become strict with anybody be friend or foe, he is very friendly but this has given chance to all such craps to do all nonsense without hesitation.
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irfan Jan 13, 2016 04:52pm
In India there is not such place as good as full of joy and harmony as Kolkata, it has been like that since 1966.
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shyam Jan 13, 2016 06:27pm
Good thing should resume early...... Only last year i came to know that he is actually pakistani and not indian...
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Faisal Jan 13, 2016 07:52pm
Being Pakistani, I wish some day I could visit Beautiful city with beautiful people of Kolkatta.
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Addi Jan 13, 2016 08:03pm
He lives millions of heart in India his voice gift of god listen to live him is achievement to any Individual who love music specially gazal.
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RK Jan 13, 2016 08:24pm
All Indians love Ghulam Ali ji, except fews goons of Shiv sena
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Vijay Jan 13, 2016 09:35pm
Why did Ghulam Ali pull out of Bombay? Shiv Sena is a paper tiger and the Government of Maharashtr would have protected him.
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Desh Deepak Jan 13, 2016 11:00pm
I have been listening to Ghulam Ali since I was in college in 1978. He is a legend and is loved all over India. How I wish I could listen to his singing in person. Or atleast get his autographs. Singers like him comes once in hundreds years. Long life to him.
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zamir kiani usa Jan 14, 2016 12:14am
its blessing to see your neighbors happy! hate covers ones eyes and ears, life is all but to care and to share.
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Ash20 Jan 14, 2016 12:17am
Why did he perform if he had said earlier as per article that he won't perform in India until relations between two countries improve?
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Imtiaz Faruqui Jan 14, 2016 12:31am
I heard my wife say what Kolkata think today India think afer 10 years, I juess she is right. My best wishes to the people of Kolkata. Music is for for peace loving humans. I will most definately visit that beautiful place . Pak-American.
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Mohammed Naviwala Jan 14, 2016 12:54am
Very uplifting.
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Historicevents Jan 14, 2016 03:19am
Thank you Kolkatta .CM like Mamata Banerjee is like a jewel in W.Bengal.And the people of W.Bengal know and love music.
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Hanumant Jan 14, 2016 07:43am
Indians are always fan of pakistani singers.
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Desh Deepak Jan 14, 2016 04:51pm
I have a feeling that even Shiv Sena people must be listening and liking Ghulam Ali privately. Politically they oppose but that is a political angle.
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