13 Jul 2019  |   04:30am IST

POETRY MUSIC AND PEACE, YES, FROM KASHMIR

Kashmir has been in the news for all the wrong reasons for years and Pragnya Wakhlu is trying to change that by singing about all that is good about that state, like its unique culture. Kashmiri poetesses Habakhatoon & Lalleshwari are among those celebrated through Wakhlu’s artistic curations

Ajit John

A Kashmiri Pandit far more comfortable in

Marathi than in her native Kashmiri, is making the pen (and music) of her land,  indeed mightier than the sword (or the bullet or the stone).

Pragnya Wakhlu, one-time IT professional, never faced a problem in terms of being pushed out of Kashmir but the plight of the ordinary folk suffering could not be ignored. A trained singer, Pragnya decided it was important to understand her roots better and to foster understanding among those who have a biased notion of Kashmir.

Now in Goa as part of the ‘Kahwa Speaks’ tour, Pragnya performed a unique audio-visual music set at Shala 142 as part of their Listening Sessions. The session is a unique look into the ‘heart of Kashmir’, through its culture and heritage and featured songs from both ‘Kahwa Speaks’ and ‘Journey to the Sun’. It focused on everything good that is happening in the state, however small.

She says, “For too long the people of India have been listening or reading about the ills that blight the state. Talk about the Sufi influence that is present in Kashmir and the importance of unity, harmony and integration.

I have also touched upon the translated works of the poetess Habakhatoon and importantly, the deeply resonant writings of the Kashmiri poetess Lalleshwari, who is universally hailed by all sects of Kashmiri society as their own. A few of verses have been translated for the first time in English in the song ‘Lalla’s Lore’ on the album.”

Asked why she had done this in Goa, she says that she has been visiting Goa frequently, having lived in Pune for several years. “The audience over here, I have found them to be intellectual; they like to listen to the lyrics and discuss them. I thought they would be an interesting audience to perform for,” she expresses.

She also hosted a Mousai signature workshop – Sound and Movement for Authentic Well Being. Mousai founded by Pragnya and is based on the concept that sound and movement can create a space that helps people be the best they can be, and convert potential to performance. The healing and wellness sessions from Mousai are based on the use of vibration and sound to build self awareness and achieve peace of mind.

She expresses her hope that other Kashmiri women will get inspired by her playing the guitar and singing and take up music. The band is also looking at taking ‘Kahwa Speaks’ as an audio-visual tour across India and the world to spread the message of peace and maybe influence a shift of perception towards Jammu and Kashmir.