Where words fail, music speaks, said Hans Christian Andersen, his oft-repeated quote aptly describing today an effort by a group of guitarists who came together to strum a note against racism encountered by the people of the Northeast.
Initiated by vocalist/guitarist Rahul Rajkhowa (25), the guitarists from different corners of the country joined in to play 'Rockstars against Racism’, an evocative tune with searing solos, the music video of which has been enthusiastically shared by like-minded people on social media.
For years now, men and women from the “Seven Sisters” and Sikkim, have faced the brunt of racist comments, which have, at times led to physical assaults. Even during the current global Covid-19 pandemic, many of those from the region were not spared from racist attacks in Delhi and parts of south India.
Apart from Rajkhowa, the others included in the simple but telling project are Parthiv Saikia (Assam), Shem Faith (Sikkim), Aakash Menon (Kerala), Mikkimra (Meghalaya), Abhishek Mittal (Uttar Pradesh), Ruata (Mizoram), Subu Nomo (Arunachal Pradesh), Arsh Sharma (Delhi), Japfiio Kayina (Manipur), Elvis Gabriel (Chennai) and Kosapong Lusang. They are all between 23 and 32.
Rajkhowa believes racism against the Northeast mostly stems from “ignorance”, he told The Telegraph Online.
“So, I decided to bring together my ‘rockstar’ friends from around the country on a song that could serve as a geography lesson. I reached out to all my favourite guitarists from different parts of India and they were happy to be part of a noble cause like this one!
“My friends from Delhi, UP, Kerala and Chennai joined my effort because the fact is that racism against northeastern people will only end when people from other parts of India join the discourse and speak up against racism along with us,” Rajkhowa said.
He said everyone had a responsibility t “fight for unity in diversity together’. Hence, the music video, which, is packed with positivity and good vibes. “It is, I believe, a step in the right direction,” he said.
Racism, Rajkhowa said, had to be countered at the grassroots. Citing an example, he said schoolteachers in metros should make a special effort to educate students about the region.
“I am a history teacher in an international school in Bangalore now. but I did the same while I was teaching in Mumbai. I make an active effort to include the northeast in my lessons,” the guitarist said.
For schools in rural areas, he said, workshops needed to be held to talk to students about sensitivity, and to impart geography lessons about the Northeast.
Rajkhowa said he is done fighting negativity with aggression. “It honestly does not work.” His mantra from here on is to fill the world with so much “infectious positivity that they cannot ignore you anymore”.
