U2 Pays Tribute To Indian Women Icons In Mumbai Concert

Irish rock band U2 paid tribute to India’s women icons at their concert which was held at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. The concert marked the end of The Joshua Tree Tour 2019 for the band. After performing in Seoul, Auckland, Brisbane and Melbourne, U2 drew curtains on it in Mumbai. Among the women they paid tribute to were politician Smriti Irani, author Arundhati Roy, and journalist Gauri Lankesh.

U2’s Tribute To Women

U2 included a special segment in their concert, which was called “Herstory” and it was a montage of women icons from across the world. Photos of women were projected on a giant screen at the backdrop of the stage. As the band played their song Ultraviolet, inspiring women across the world showed up on screen. Among the Indian women featured were Smriti Irani, Arundhati Roy, Kalpana Chawla, Karuna Nancy, Gauri Lankesh and Rana Ayyub. The band also paid homage to other women across the world including American singer Rosetta Tharpe as well as disability rights activist Ruth Sienkiewicz-Mercer. U2 also included in their montage young climate activist, Greta Thunberg, acknowledging her contributions as well.

U2 included a special segment in their concert, which was called “Herstory” and it was a montage of women icons from across the world.

The band not only paid tribute to women icons but also highlighted the safety concerns that women across the world face. To do this, they showed pictures from a recent protest march in Hyderabad after the rape and murder of a young vet. The lead singer of U2, Bono, talked about women’s safety. "When women feel safe at homes or walking on the street, that's a beautiful day. When sisters around the world are in school like their brothers, that's a beautiful day.”

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Refering the name of the segment, he also said, "When women of the world unite to rewrite history as their story, that's a beautiful day. To rewrite history as her story- that's beautiful day," Bono said as the crowd erupted in applause.

The Concert

When women feel safe at homes or walking on the street, that's a beautiful day. When sisters around the world are in school like their brothers, that's a beautiful day. - Bono

The U2 Mumbai concert celebrated the band's fifth album, The Joshua Tree. The band spoke at length about how honoured they felt to close their tour in India. Bono spoke about how it took them a while to get here. “It took us only four decades to come here! India, what a country! Tonight it’s going to be the best ever show. We have fallen head over heels in love with India. Our prayer for the evening is for an epic night of rock and roll which transcends beyond. We come to India as pilgrims. We are students, you are our teachers.”

U2’s drummer, Larry said, “We have been here for a few days but it already looks to me that we just have to come back. It’s such a thrill. This feels something special”. Adam, the band’s bass guitarist added, “We are grateful that our journey has brought us to India. I’m so glad these companions have come here tonight.”

The band spread their message of peace and love through their concert, while also advocating for change. “When women and men, left and right work together for change, that’s how we change the world.”

Image Credit: Twitter

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Prapti Sarkar is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.