Kashmir's music industry was in shambles for the last three decades. There were no music albums or songs released for years until the young brigade took it on themselves to revive this industry. The pace is slow but these young artists are making every effort to put life back into this industry.

Young brigade steps up efforts to revive Kashmir's music industry

Kashmir's music industry was in shambles for the last three decades. There were no music albums or songs released for years until the young brigade took it on themselves to revive this industry. The pace is slow but these young artists are making every effort to put life back into this industry.&nbsp;

Hashim Rather, 23 is one of the youngest singer, songwriter and composer in Kashmir valley.

A self-taught musician has had no formal training but that did not stop him from pursuing music. He has performed in hundreds of events across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He is mostly admired by young people and that's why in every college or university event, Hashim is always seen performing.&nbsp;

''I think music has been dying slowly here but I guess a lot of local artists who came forward are trying to revive it. All I know is that music is something that expresses what I am going through, what's in my heart and it's a venting mechanism for me. I do music for myself, I never knew people would like it but they did. A lot of people say that it heals them and that gave me encouragement to pursue music,&nbsp;'' said musician&nbsp;Hashim Rather, Musician.&nbsp;

<img alt="Kashmiri musician" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7fb9c89b-ec04-487a-ae1d-ef05d29011dc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/43_0.jpg" />

Hashim has recently launched a Kashmiri song called 'Baalyaro' which has gained a lot of popularity across the valley on the social network. He says there are many challenges for artists. From finding a platform to being socially accepted in a conservative society.&nbsp;

''Social media is the only platform here. I am able to interact with people from across the country. We didn't have many opportunities and now we have social media where people can see your work. We live in a society where we are not free to follow our passion, there are social standards, we have to fit in and if someone tries to live a different path, he is going to be questioned and that's why people doubt it. When you talk about your ambition,all they will say is that it has no future, and I think this kills many dreams. And that's the main reason people give up easily," Hashim asserted.&nbsp;

While the music industry was gasping for its survival, even some traditional musical instruments were at the verge of extinction. Rabab, A Kashmiri musical instrument was completely forgotten till a new brigade of musicians picked it up and brought it back to life.

Adnan Manzoor started playing Rabab when he was just 15 years old. His fascination with this instrument increased after he learnt guitar. At 21, he is the youngest Rabab player in the valley and not to forget the most famous too. His music videos have millions of views and he has become an inspiration for many youngsters to pick up the art.&nbsp;

<img alt="Kashmiri musician" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="250f91b7-5700-455f-8c16-054d88dca9d6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/33.jpg" />

''I agree that there was no music scene in Kashmir while I was growing up, but that's how I got inspired. I wanted to recreate the tradition and also want young people to take this up to save this art. As an artist, every Kashmiri has to struggle more as there are no platforms for them. but there is social media and I started using social media, my one cover had more than 3 million views. I get mails, messages from people who want to learn rabab. '' said Adnan Manzoor, Musician.&nbsp;

While the industry is surviving because of these young artists, not many female voices have chosen music as their career.&nbsp;

Mehmeet Syed is among very few female musicians in the Kashmir Valley. She started her musical journey when there were no women singers around. The challenge for her was not only to make a mark in the music industry but also to break the cultural barrier of accepting women in this industry.&nbsp;

<img alt="Kasmiri musician" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1250c749-ee52-4fb2-b3d4-cdeb8ba991a0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/53.jpg" />

''I loved singing, It was my passion, I used to sing in my school. Everyone wanted me to sing during my school days. I would say I was a privileged one as I had family support. I was kind of the first one at that point in time. I was like a teenager, Considering my age and family background. There used to be criticism but thankfully my family supported me and they used to be around me as a shield and I didn't have to answer anyone. That's very true, I remember when I started there were many girls who were with my during the teenage years but they kind of vanished and disappeared from the scene, i believe it could be because of the culture. Girls think singing is like breaking the glass ceiling and I think it could be Kashmiri culture. I do get a lot of messages from girls nowadays and I try to help as much as I can.,'' said singer Mehmeet Syed.&nbsp;

Kashmir’s music industry has seen the worst in the last three decades but with these new budding artists, there is hope for its revival.&nbsp;

Kashmir's music industry was in shambles for the last three decades. There were no music albums or songs released for years until the young brigade took it on themselves to revive this industry.

Kashmir's music industry was in shambles for the last three decades. There were no music albums or songs released for years until the young brigade took it on themselves to revive this industry. The pace is slow but these young artists are making every effort to put life back into this industry. Hashim Rather, 23 is one of the youngest singer, songwriter and composer in Kashmir valley. A self-taught musician has had no formal training but that did not stop him from pursuing music. He has performed in hundreds of events across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He is mostly admired by young people and that's why in every college or university event, Hashim is always seen performing. ''I think music has been dying slowly here but I guess a lot of local artists who came forward are trying to revive it. All I know is that music is something that expresses what I am going through, what's in my heart and it's a venting mechanism for me. I do music for myself, I never knew people would like it but they did. A lot of people say that it heals them and that gave me encouragement to pursue music, '' said musician Hashim Rather, Musician. Hashim has recently launched a Kashmiri song called 'Baalyaro' which has gained a lot of popularity across the valley on the social network. He says there are many challenges for artists. From finding a platform to being socially accepted in a conservative society. ''Social media is the only platform here. I am able to interact with people from across the country. We didn't have many opportunities and now we have social media where people can see your work. We live in a society where we are not free to follow our passion, there are social standards, we have to fit in and if someone tries to live a different path, he is going to be questioned and that's why people doubt it. When you talk about your ambition,all they will say is that it has no future, and I think this kills many dreams. And that's the main reason people give up easily," Hashim asserted. While the music industry was gasping for its survival, even some traditional musical instruments were at the verge of extinction. Rabab, A Kashmiri musical instrument was completely forgotten till a new brigade of musicians picked it up and brought it back to life. Adnan Manzoor started playing Rabab when he was just 15 years old. His fascination with this instrument increased after he learnt guitar. At 21, he is the youngest Rabab player in the valley and not to forget the most famous too. His music videos have millions of views and he has become an inspiration for many youngsters to pick up the art. ''I agree that there was no music scene in Kashmir while I was growing up, but that's how I got inspired. I wanted to recreate the tradition and also want young people to take this up to save this art. As an artist, every Kashmiri has to struggle more as there are no platforms for them. but there is social media and I started using social media, my one cover had more than 3 million views. I get mails, messages from people who want to learn rabab. '' said Adnan Manzoor, Musician. While the industry is surviving because of these young artists, not many female voices have chosen music as their career. Mehmeet Syed is among very few female musicians in the Kashmir Valley. She started her musical journey when there were no women singers around. The challenge for her was not only to make a mark in the music industry but also to break the cultural barrier of accepting women in this industry. ''I loved singing, It was my passion, I used to sing in my school. Everyone wanted me to sing during my school days. I would say I was a privileged one as I had family support. I was kind of the first one at that point in time. I was like a teenager, Considering my age and family background. There used to be criticism but thankfully my family supported me and they used to be around me as a shield and I didn't have to answer anyone. That's very true, I remember when I started there were many girls who were with my during the teenage years but they kind of vanished and disappeared from the scene, i believe it could be because of the culture. Girls think singing is like breaking the glass ceiling and I think it could be Kashmiri culture. I do get a lot of messages from girls nowadays and I try to help as much as I can.,'' said singer Mehmeet Syed. Kashmir’s music industry has seen the worst in the last three decades but with these new budding artists, there is hope for its revival.

Young artists reviving Kashmir music industry

When Kashmiri teenager Shabnam Bashir first took up classical Sufi music three years ago, she had to practise singing in secret because all the men in her Muslim family opposed her new passion.

Now the 14-year-old is a proud member of what her teacher Mohammad Yaqoob Sheikh says is the first mixed Sufi singing ensemble in Indian-administered Kashmir, where the music has for generations been a male preserve.

&quot;It took me two months to convince them all,&quot; said Bashir as she joins four other girls, and one 13-year-old boy, for singing practice.

&quot;My father finally gave me permission on condition that it did not affect my regular studies.&quot;

Thousands of people in the Muslim-majority region follow Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam whose adherents seek spiritual communion through music and dance at the shrines of their saints.

The songs, which use the lyrics of old Kashmiri- and Persian-language devotional poetry, date back to the 15th century.

But they have evolved as a uniquely male tradition, sung by men and handed down through the male line of the family.

Sheikh is the exception, he learned the art from his maternal grandfather, Ghulam Mohammad Qaleenbaf, one of the region&#39;s best known Sufi singers.&nbsp;

&quot;The earlier masters wouldn&#39;t even pass it on to sons of their daughters, only sons or sons of sons,&quot; Sheikh told AFP at his home in the outskirts of the main city of Srinagar.

Sheikh began teaching young Kashmiris in a bid to preserve the Sufi musical tradition of the picturesque Himalayan region, which has been divided between India and Pakistan since partition but is claimed by both countries.

He said young Kashmiris were turning away from classical music and towards protest rap songs inspired by the tense politics of the heavily militarised region, where dozens of protesters were killed last year in clashes with government forces.&nbsp;

&quot;Teaching young boys and girls in a disciplined manner is the surest way to preserve this heritage,&quot; said Sheikh.

&nbsp;

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Sheikh&#39;s students perform during the class. (AFP)
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Sheikh is the exception, he learned the art from his maternal grandfather, Ghulam Mohammad Qaleenbaf, one of the region&#39;s best known Sufi singers. (AFP)
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He said young Kashmiris were turning away from classical music and towards protest rap songs inspired by the tense politics of the heavily militarised region, where dozens of protesters were killed last year in clashes with government forces. (AFP)
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Once a feature of most public events, performances of Sufi music are now relatively rare. (AFP)
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But doing so has not been easy.When he first started teaching girls, Sheikh faced opposition from both neighbours and soldiers, and had to move the classes to a new location four times.

&quot;It looked like everything was going up in flames. I wanted to do something to save Sufiyana,&quot; he said.

Now he has trained nearly 50 Kashmiri women, although only a small minority continue to perform after marriage.

Among his current students are teenagers Rehana Yousuf and her sister, who sit in a circle with their fellow musicians, heads covered in bright colourful scarves.

Yousuf plays the Santoor, a 100-stringed instrument that accompanies Sufi singing, and says she was inspired to learn when she first saw Sheikh perform on television.

&quot;When I heard he (Sheikh) teaches girls too, I developed a strong urge to learn,&quot; she said.

&quot;My father is also his (Sheikh`s) student, and he was happy for me to come here.&quot;

A curfew imposed last year following violent protests over the killing of a popular rebel leader meant classes had to stop for four months.

The situation has calmed since, but tensions are still running high in the territory, where many favour independence from India.

On the Pakistan side of the border, Sufi music is thriving thanks to a hybrid form known as Sufi Rock, in which the original lyrics are sung to electric guitar tracks and traditional tabla beats.

The form has seen a recent revival with the advent of Coke Studio, a television show which features live music performances.

Female performers are among its biggest stars.

But over the years, political tensions have eroded Indian Kashmir&#39;s rich musical heritage.

When an armed uprising against Indian rule broke out in 1989, public performances by artists suddenly stopped and cinema halls were closed and transformed into camps for government forces.

Once a feature of most public events, performances of Sufi music are now relatively rare.

Sheikh still goes wherever there is demand.

&quot;Once in a while we go to perform in the homes of a few who still appreciate this music,&quot; he said.

&quot;For us, it`s like prayers, we cannot demand a price. They pay what they like,&quot; Sheikh said.&nbsp;

(AFP)

Political tensions over the years have eroded Kashmir's rich musical heritage

When Kashmiri teenager Shabnam Bashir first took up classical Sufi music three years ago, she had to practise singing in secret because all the men in her Muslim family opposed her new passion. Now the 14-year-old is a proud member of what her teacher Mohammad Yaqoob Sheikh says is the first mixed Sufi singing ensemble in Indian-administered Kashmir, where the music has for generations been a male preserve. "It took me two months to convince them all," said Bashir as she joins four other girls, and one 13-year-old boy, for singing practice. "My father finally gave me permission on condition that it did not affect my regular studies." Thousands of people in the Muslim-majority region follow Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam whose adherents seek spiritual communion through music and dance at the shrines of their saints. The songs, which use the lyrics of old Kashmiri- and Persian-language devotional poetry, date back to the 15th century. But they have evolved as a uniquely male tradition, sung by men and handed down through the male line of the family. Sheikh is the exception, he learned the art from his maternal grandfather, Ghulam Mohammad Qaleenbaf, one of the region's best known Sufi singers. "The earlier masters wouldn't even pass it on to sons of their daughters, only sons or sons of sons," Sheikh told AFP at his home in the outskirts of the main city of Srinagar. Sheikh began teaching young Kashmiris in a bid to preserve the Sufi musical tradition of the picturesque Himalayan region, which has been divided between India and Pakistan since partition but is claimed by both countries. He said young Kashmiris were turning away from classical music and towards protest rap songs inspired by the tense politics of the heavily militarised region, where dozens of protesters were killed last year in clashes with government forces. "Teaching young boys and girls in a disciplined manner is the surest way to preserve this heritage," said Sheikh. Sheikh's students perform during the class. (AFP) × Sheikh is the exception, he learned the art from his maternal grandfather, Ghulam Mohammad Qaleenbaf, one of the region's best known Sufi singers. (AFP) × He said young Kashmiris were turning away from classical music and towards protest rap songs inspired by the tense politics of the heavily militarised region, where dozens of protesters were killed last year in clashes with government forces. (AFP) × Once a feature of most public events, performances of Sufi music are now relatively rare. (AFP) × But doing so has not been easy.When he first started teaching girls, Sheikh faced opposition from both neighbours and soldiers, and had to move the classes to a new location four times. "It looked like everything was going up in flames. I wanted to do something to save Sufiyana," he said. Now he has trained nearly 50 Kashmiri women, although only a small minority continue to perform after marriage. Among his current students are teenagers Rehana Yousuf and her sister, who sit in a circle with their fellow musicians, heads covered in bright colourful scarves. Yousuf plays the Santoor, a 100-stringed instrument that accompanies Sufi singing, and says she was inspired to learn when she first saw Sheikh perform on television. "When I heard he (Sheikh) teaches girls too, I developed a strong urge to learn," she said. "My father is also his (Sheikh`s) student, and he was happy for me to come here." A curfew imposed last year following violent protests over the killing of a popular rebel leader meant classes had to stop for four months. The situation has calmed since, but tensions are still running high in the territory, where many favour independence from India. On the Pakistan side of the border, Sufi music is thriving thanks to a hybrid form known as Sufi Rock, in which the original lyrics are sung to electric guitar tracks and traditional tabla beats. The form has seen a recent revival with the advent of Coke Studio, a television show which features live music performances. Female performers are among its biggest stars. But over the years, political tensions have eroded Indian Kashmir's rich musical heritage. When an armed uprising against Indian rule broke out in 1989, public performances by artists suddenly stopped and cinema halls were closed and transformed into camps for government forces. Once a feature of most public events, performances of Sufi music are now relatively rare. Sheikh still goes wherever there is demand. "Once in a while we go to perform in the homes of a few who still appreciate this music," he said. "For us, it`s like prayers, we cannot demand a price. They pay what they like," Sheikh said. (AFP)

In Kashmir, girls help preserve Sufi music traditions

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Young brigade steps up efforts to revive Kashmir's music industry

Young artists reviving Kashmir music industry

In Kashmir, girls help preserve Sufi music traditions