Guinness record holder Dr Ghazal Srinivas has many achievements to his credit. But one initiative he has taken surpasses all his credentials and makes him a role model to the world. Ghazal’s visit to the blood ridden and war torn Afghanistan is for a special mission, a mission of peace and Gandhiism. Recently he unveiled a new album which was dedicated to an ex-Taliban. Here are few excerpts from his thoughts.
Dedication to Habibullah
When Ghazal Srinivas was singing Ghazals in Dari language for a crowd of 10000 people, one man stood from the crowd and said “You have won my heart”. That man was Habeebullah, an ex-Taliban who worked with Osama Bin Laden for 15 years, got vexed of killing and started believing in humanity. Ghazal’s words struck his heart strongly. Later, despite risk for his life, he met Ghazal at an undisclosed location and shared his experience during Taliban days. Looking at his intense urge for peace, Ghazal Srinivas dedicated his album to Habeebullah.
Peace meeting experience
Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan is frequently filled with sounds of explosions and gun fire. But amidst that, Ghazal Srinivas’s voice filled the hearts of 10000 people on the World Peace Day. He sang in their local language and spread the word of peace. After his performance, the entire crowd stood up and gave him a standing ovation. Ghazal Srinivas believes Gandhiji’s word that one should hate the crime and not the criminal. He also believes that Ghazals have the power to transform terrorists into a peace loving human being.
Initiatives in Afghanistan
Few years back when Dr Sandeep Pandey started a peace yatra between India-Pakistan, Ghazal composed a Hindi album. The Peace March took place for 58 days covering 1538 kms. Later, Ghazal also took part in the fasting with the slogan ‘Bread Or Bomb’ which happened at Lahore in Pakistan.
Why Afghanistan?
Ghazal Srinivas mentions that it is the roots of link between India and Afghanistan which drew him first. Gandhari from Mahabharata hails from Afghanistan. When he visited Afghanistan, his heart melted with the hospitality and affection of the Afghans. In a place where there is so much humanity why these killings and terror. That’s what prompted Ghazal to make a decision, to risk his life and spread the word of peace through his Ghazals.
Horrifying Realities
Ghazal Srinivas recalled how when he walked on the streets of Kabul, he saw people with amputated limbs, injured members in plenty. Then he decided to have a closer look and visited the local hospital. He was aghast to see hundreds of people struck by shrapnel of bombs, bullet wounds etc. Most of them are not even coming for treatment due to poverty. All this reality pushed Ghazal to do something to that nation.
Preparation
Ghazal Srinivas took the help of a friend Hamid Raza for preparing the Ghazals in local language. Hamid was former student of Hyderabad Central University who is an expert in Urdu and Hindi. Ghazal happened to meet him here and their friendship started. Hamid is located in Netherlands today but he helped Ghazal to pen the lines in local language.
Ghazal Srinivas' Goal
Ghazal Srinivas has reiterated that he will continue his journey till bombs don’t blast in Afghanistan. As part of that, he is planning to come up with yet another album in Dari and release it next year. He has already visited Afghanistan a few times and next time he is planning to take his daughter Sanskruthi and release the album through her hands. Ghazal reportedly mentioned that his dream as a father is to give a future to his child where there are no bombs exploding. If all fathers think alike he is confident the world will be a better and peaceful place to live.
