Sandeep Silas' musical eve, Ibadat-e-Aman, aimed to bring two nations closer. He also launched his book Ranai-e-Khayal
Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, Manish Tewari inaugurated Ibadat-e-Aman, a peace bridge music initiative by Sandeep Silas on November 6. luizinho Faleiro, former Chief Minister of Goa, Sudha Pillai, former Member-Secretary, Planning Commission and Raj liberhan, director, India Habitat Centre were the guests of honour. On this occasion, Sandeep’s book Ranai-e-Khayal and Ibadat-e-Ishq, a music album, brought out by Times Music, were also released. The music album is a collaboration between Sandeep and Shafqat, with ghazals written by Sandeep and sung by Shafqat.
The most important feature of this initiative of Ibadat-e-Aman is that it is a music collaboration on an artist-to-artist level between the duo; an Indian and a Pakistani citizen, of sharing peace through music. Sandeep Silas ‘deep’, a shayar in his own right, is the fore-runner of this initiative.
Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan is one of the leading vocalists of classical and sufi music in India and Pakistan. He belongs to the Shaam Chaurasi gharana of East Punjab. This school of music has a long tradition dating back 500 years to the Mughal times of emperor Akbar. Shafqat’s father Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and uncle Ustad Nazakat Ali Khan, the internationally accalaimed maestro of classical singing, belong to the tenth generation of Shaam Chaurasi School, Shafat began performing at the age of seven. He has performed throughout the world and received numerous awards. In 2009, the President of his country awarded him ‘The Pride of Performance’ award, one of the highest honours for the members of the civil society. He is much loved in India.
Sandeep, himself a poet, belongs to the rich tradition of Agra. He enjoys a rich educational, civil society and cultural standing. His distinguished education career started at St Peter’s College, Agra; thereafter he went to college at St John’s Agra. As a chevening scholar, he attended Manchester Business School, UK. In 2008, he was awarded a Masters in Public Administration with distinction and honour from the number one-ranked School of Public Affairs in the United States, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, New York, USA.
He pursues his novel idea and concept, now become his mission, the Garland of Peace, a project to declare all war ruins in the world as Peace Heritage Sites, to take yet another step towards peace building, peace education and peace tourism.
Sandeep has been instrumental in building bridges between different countries through his work, which can be seen on his website www.garlandofpeace.com. Sandeep has to his credit six books and is working on more.
The audience listened to Sandeep Silas’ shayari with rapt attention. To quote two couplets, which mark the pain and suffering of communal disharmony — “Aag laga ke chale aaye, basti apni thi/Ye bhi na socha, jo jal gayi hasti apni thi/Rakh bhi na mil paye, murad apni thi/Jo lag gayi watan ko, aatish apni thi.”
(We set fire and left, it was our habitation/It did not cross our mind that it was our soul which burned/let them not even find ashes, such was our desire/The fire that has consumed our nation, was our own spark.”
Shafqat Ali Khan enthralled the audience with his heavenly voice and his sufiana kalaam was just like a prayer rendered to heaven for peace between two nations, two people, and, peace in hearts. Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan had come from Pakistan especially for this event and it is the firm belief of both the ‘brothers sans frontiers’ that they will be able to change hearts and bring about an environment of peace between two countries and two people.