Onika Maheshwari/New Delhi

Music has the power to heal both the body and the the mind. Kashmiri musician Bilal Ahmed is proving this through his efforts to help drug-addicted youth emerge from the darkness and reconnect with life through music.

Bilal has joined the ongoing 100-day anti-drug campaign launched by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to eradicate drug abuse from society. According to officials, nearly 10 per cent of Jammu and Kashmir’s population — mainly youth, including young women — are affected by substance abuse.

According to Bilal, the girls are responding positively and may soon perform on stage. He has also composed the anthem “Utho Sambhalo Nawjawano” for the Lieutenant Governor-led Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir campaign.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Despite their fame, the two musicians remained grounded and established a music centre where children could learn the art. However, due to the difficult situation in Kashmir at the time, the centre had to shut down.

Seventeen years later, Bilal says the atmosphere in Kashmir has changed dramatically. “There is no fear now. The situation has completely changed,” he says. Encouraged by the improved environment, the duo revived their music academy for the youth.

In 2020, they established Mezrab Institute in Bemina on the outskirts of Srinagar. The institute not only imparts musical training but also teaches students how to face life’s challenges and choose the right path.

Today, the institute has more than 120 students, many of them women. The youngest learner is just three years old, while the oldest is over 80. Bilal and Irfan constantly remind students that while talent is important, hard work is the real key to success. They also stress the importance of preserving traditional music.

Bilal trained in Indian classical music under the Patiala Gharana tradition, though he now practices fusion music. He and Irfan are deeply involved in promoting Sufi music to preserve Kashmir’s rich musical heritage.

Students at the institute not only learn music but also gain knowledge about the history of instruments and their cultural significance. Bilal believes this broader understanding keeps young people away from harmful habits such as drug abuse.

Bilal completed his early education in Amritsar and later pursued advanced musical training in Mumbai under Ustad Sajjad Ali Khan. He mastered the harmonium, mouth organ, and several wind instruments, while Irfan specialised in string instruments such as the guitar.

Together, the duo has performed hundreds of concerts worldwide, including tours in the United States, Malaysia, England, Australia, and New Zealand.

Bilal and Irfan are credited with pioneering Indo-Western fusion music in Kashmir. By blending traditional Kashmiri music with modern instruments like the guitar, they succeeded in connecting with the region’s youth. They have also helped establish several bands in Kashmir and are currently preparing to launch an all-girl band.

Over the years, the duo has performed more than 1,000 concerts, many of which carried a strong social message against drug abuse.

Bilal is now composing songs for the Mahakumbh event expected to be organised in Kashmir next year after a gap of nearly five decades. Through these songs, he hopes to spread awareness and inspire the youth.

“When I came to Kashmir in 2003, I faced many challenges,” Bilal recalls. “Today, I believe music is the strongest medium to unite young people and guide them towards a positive future.”