August 28, 2025 04:57 PM IST
First published on: Aug 28, 2025 at 04:57 PM IST
Last month, while concluding their concert at Dubai World Trade Centre as part of the Global Encounters Festival 2025, composer duo Salim-Sulaiman spoke of Gaza and its children. They also sang for them, these haunted ones who are still around, living what they probably think is a nightmare.
“When I see the children of Gaza, their pain, their silence, their strength, I think of Maula Ali…the guardian of hearts…how he would hold the orphans, how he would never allow injustice to breathe. We need his grace today. We need his courage…In a world torn by violence, may his spirit inspire love…teaching us mercy, dignity and truth,” said Salim before the two brothers dove into ‘Himmat-e-ata karo o madadgaar maula’ (Bestow courage, O benevolent lord)
Unable to reconcile with the destruction, loss of life, and a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, especially the soaring numbers of children who are dying amid the Israel-Palestine conflict, an Indian musician made a desperate plea through a song. Once on the soundtrack for Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan-starrer Kurbaan (2009), the duo turned the song into a lament, barren of hope, yet still asking for help and benevolence at a time when those ruling Israel have made public calls for the eradication of Palestinians and the destruction of Gaza.
As the social, physical and moral fabric of a place and its people becomes unrecognisable, here was an Indian artiste speaking up about an issue that the Indian government is still not explicitly condemning. Art may be rooted in conscience, but when it does not conform to the nation’s official position, it can be misread as a lack of allegiance. In a time of polarisation, it is becoming increasingly difficult to explain that to speak up as Salim-Sulaiman did is to be pro-dignity and pro-life — that their position speaks of the pain an artist feels at the sight of starving, suffering children.
At a time when the Indian government has chosen the path of cautious diplomacy— abstaining multiple times from UN resolutions that called for a ceasefire in Gaza and distancing itself from a statement by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) that condemned Israel’s military strikes on Iran — an artist’s vocal plea for empathy felt brave and significant. Prince Hussain Aga Khan and his wife, Elizabeth Hoag, seated at the front, applauded warmly along with the audience in a concert organised by the Ismaili community.
In India, in the last few months, a few celebrities like Swara Bhasker, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Dia Mirza, among others, have also expressed concern on social media. But Salim-Sulaiman taking a stand before thousands in a space designed for spectacle, resonated — first in that room and then beyond, through videos that were circulated on social media.
“…India has emphasised the need for safe, timely, and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance,” said the Ministry of External Affairs on August 8, in response to a question in Parliament regarding India’s stand on the Palestine issue. It reiterated support for a two-state solution. Yet, there has been no official condemnation of the brutality of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Even three of Israel’s allies, France, the UK and Canada, issued a sharper statement: “We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable… We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions… We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions.”
On August 27, India expressed “deep regret” over the killing of five journalists in Gaza’s Khan Younis in a strike on a hospital right after Benjamin Netanyahu called it a “tragic mishap” and asked for an investigation. Yet, there was no condemnation of excessive Israeli action.
In the meantime, an artist, through his prayer — a song — is not only mourning, he is asking for mercy, asking for help, asking for peace. Those in positions of power could really learn a thing or two about empathy from him.
suanshu.khurana@expressindia.com
