The next day I had a performance at the University of Education in Kabul. The crowd consisted of both men and women. While I was performing my opening number I noticed that a few students were not comfortable, so after I finshed the piece I said those who would like to leave may do so. I noticed that 60 per cent of the women walked out. After my performance, there was a question and answer session.
I also had a lecture at the University of Fine Arts. It had an all male attendance; the fine arts department mainly comprised of students from the visual arts.
The fine arts crowd was very responsive; they readily volunteered when my lecture turned into a demonstration. The hall that I was speaking in had large windows and outside that there was a parapet. I climbed onto the window sill and the students helped me open the windows. I manipulated my movements on the window sill. I adopted a technique showing part of my body. Twelve students volunteered to dance with me when I selected them.
My main performance was at the Indian Cultural Centre on the premises of the Indian embassy in Kabul. It was attended by about 300 people. The audience included ambassadors, diplomats, ministers, expats, musicians, local Afghan people and NGOs.
During this performance I had a jugalbandi with local musicians. During my tour of China in 1988, just before the Tiananmen square massacre, I had followed the same pattern of inivting local Chinese musicians and we did an improvisation, it had always worked and brought the house down with applause for both the local artist as well as for me. In Kabul, the emabssy had invited an Afghan singer along with his musicians who were part of the final performance of the evening.
My final performance in Kabul was held at the ambassador's residence. It was very special because Ambassador Jayant Prasad invited almost 30, 35 guests. One of the highlights of the evening was meeting Sima Samar. She is very active in Afghanistan. She is being considered for the post of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. If she gets the job, she will be the first Asian to be UNHCR. She has been doing a lot of work in Darfur, Sudan. The granddaughter of the last king of Afghanistan also attended the performance.
I also met the minister of communication, whose ministry, Ambassador Prasad told me, is doing a great deal to transform communications in Afghanistan. By the way, mobile and Internet connections were just great in Afghanistan. The minister had lived in Bangalore for six years. His wife is from Bangalore. The ambassador said his wife never goes out, but that evening she took the initiative to come and see my performance.
Some other ministers, the Afghan chief of protocol, the Canadian ambassador, who is of Indian origin, and the economic adviser to President Hamid Karzai also attended my show. There was an intimate gathering of people at the performance. They were all very appreciative and enjoyed the evening.
Image: Musicians at the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Kabul.
Also read: 'The Taliban have returned'
Advertisement
