Tibetans gather at TIPA for the rock concert organised by TCHRD, VOT and TIPA, in Dharamshala.
Rock and roll music echoed in the Kangra Valley on the evening of December 10 to celebrate the combined anniversary of Human Rights Day and the Dalai Lama’s awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize. Renowned Indian band Parikrama headlined the festival, which also included performances of Tibetan traditional music and poetry.
Parikrama manager and keyboard player Subir Malik spoke to us about the message the band was trying to send out by playing a gig in such a particular venue on a day full of historical importance, and without charging a single rupee for the performance.
Subir Malik, Parikrama musician and manager (left) with Contact contributing writer Chris Healey after the show.
Malik told us that the basic notion they were trying to spread is freedom for all living creatures. “Of course we are here today and we are playing for Tibet’s freedom from oppression, a cause which I personally support” Malik said, “But we would like to extend this message to all life around the whole world as everyone deserves to be free. This includes all animals that are being kept in cages.” According to Parikrama’s manager, there is no reason why anyone should ever “oppress others for political gain”.
Malik also explained why the issue of Tibetan freedom in particular resonates with the entire band. “Sonam [Parikrama’s lead guitarist] introduced us to a close friend of his who had just left Tibet in the early nineties. This was before the internet and mobile phones, when you had no way of getting independent information about oppression in Tibet”. From that day onwards support for the Tibetan cause became an ongoing part of the band’s message to their fans.
Monks wear the Banned Expression t-shirts in support of the campaign to protect free speech in Tibet.
Malik also commented on the role of foreign countries, “Unfortunately I do not understand the role that the international community is playing. Look at Obama and the US for example, why don’t they intervene?”
With regards to the Chinese, Malik concedes that Beijing’s policies are bringing about some form of development “but given the choice between being someone’s slave and being undeveloped, I [Salim Malik] think they would choose to remain undeveloped.”
A glimpse of the night.
Parikrama is one of India’s most successful bands, being endorsed by the likes of legendary heavy metal band Iron Maiden. Rather than release a full length studio album, they strongly believe in making all of their music available for free to their fans, visit www.parikramainc.com to hear their music and for more information on how to support their cause.
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