German ambassador to host concert for J&K flood victims

“It is heartbreaking to see what the brave Kashmiris have to go through these days. These are the worst floods in Kashmir since Independence. And it will continue to be very difficult as it will become cold in the Valley in a few weeks from now. The Indian authorities are working day and night,” Steiner said.

“In this catastrophic situation the Kashmiris also need our solidarity. To show our common solidarity and support in these critical days, we would like to invite you to a concert for Kashmir on September 23 in the German Residence garden in Delhi with music legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori and Maestro Abhay Sopori,” the German ambassador said on Monday.

The German embassy has already provided funds for a first basic healthcare package, purifying chlorine tablets, blankets etc.
In September last year, the embassy had organised the Zubin Mehta concert in Kashmir, in the heart of Shalimar Bagh, which was the first such international event in the last two decades of turmoil in the Valley.

The concert witnessed 2,700 guests who were mainly common Kashmiris. “It was really heart-warming to see the Kashmiris’ reactions. We had live broadcasting to more than 50 countries of the world. Doordarshan broadcast for the first time in high definition. We were flooded by positive response,” he said.

Steiner last week took up the rice bucket challenge. Commensurate with the level of Germany’s development cooperation with India, 392 families of Vivekanand Camp in Chanakyapuri had received a bucket with 5kg of rice each this week. The diplomatic community is abuzz that some other envoys are also planning similar events.

The German embassy attracted the attention this summer by organising the screening of FIFA World Cup matches — semi-final and final matches, which were won by their national football teams.

However, Steiner is not going to rest easy. Ask his aides, he is planning a mega bash next month to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Re-unification of Germany, and the falling of the Berlin Wall.