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Terror will never win: Mary Millben expresses solidarity with India
The American singer shared her “deepest condolences” to the families and victims of the Apr.22 Pahalgam attack, ahead of her visit to Mumbai for the WAVES Summit.
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Lalit K Jha - Mon, 28, Apr 2025
- 01:37 EDT
- 479
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PM Narendra Modi and American singer and actress Mary Millben. / Courtesy Photo
American singer and actress Mary Millben said that terror will not win “as long as there is a resiliency, a unity amongst humanity," as she expressed solidarity with India in the aftermath of the Apr.22 terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists. She was speaking on the sidelines of the inaugural World Audio Visual and Entertainment (WAVES) Summit, to be held in Mumbai.
"In these times when we see terrorism in the world, our forces combined together as the human race are much more powerful than any act of terrorism," Millben said. "We will continue to unite behind India during this time," she added, applauding the swift response of the Indian government and the support expressed by US leaders.
Millben will be attending the inaugural World Audio Visual and Entertainment (WAVES) Summit at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, where she is a featured speaker from May.1-4, 2025. She emphasized her prayers for the victims' families and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, calling his response to the attack "bold" and "courageous."
Drawing a comparison to the United States' response to 9/11, she said, "The Prime Minister's words here several days ago...were very direct to those who were part of this terrorism, that they would be found and any persons that were in cahoots with them would be found and brought to justice."
A familiar figure in US-India relations, Millben has gained widespread recognition for her performances of the Indian National Anthem, the Hindu hymn 'Om Jai Jagdish Hare,' and the American National Anthem at major events, including the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup final between India and the United States in New York. Her ties to India date back to August 2022, when she became the first American and African American artist invited to perform for India's Independence Day observance.
Speaking on broader international support, Millben noted that there was a "diversity of world leaders" publicly backing India. "When one of our friends is mistreated and hurt via hateful acts like terrorism, we should all be speaking up," she said. "That support should not be questionable. It should be firm."
On the WAVES Summit
Asked about her return to India, Millben described the trip as long-awaited since her first visit in 2022. "I've been desiring to return to India for quite some time," she said. She also welcomed the opportunity to participate in the WAVES Summit, where she highlighted the role of "cultural trade" in strengthening international ties through media, entertainment, music, and film.
"The headlines are filled between the United States and India on economic trade, but I'm excited that I am able to travel...and speak about cultural trade," Millben said. "Culture, entertainment, cinema, music, film, media — all of these mediums culturally really do have an impact on how we shape the world."
Discussing her two-decade career as a global artist, Millben described wearing a "cultural diplomacy hat," and stressed the role of arts in diplomacy. She pointed to patriotism as a universal language, connecting it to cultural engagement. "When citizens love their country, they learn to appreciate other countries and learn to appreciate other cultures," she said. "That is all part of how we do business together, and how we shape the world to be a better place."
On the question of a "cultural trade deficit" in the United States, Millben said she did not see a deficit in cultural output but noted a gap in how cultural diplomacy is prioritized in international relations. "I think governments across the world should put a greater priority on how culture is being brought into the tables in the conversations of diplomacy," she said.
Millben’s appearance at the WAVES Summit comes after her performance at President Trump's 60th Presidential Inauguration and follows US Vice President Vance's recent trip to India.
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