The ongoing anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest is not only about thundering and passionate speeches against the “unconstitutional and anti-Assam” legislation but also about songs sung or played to generate awareness against the impending danger posed by illegal immigrants.
The numbers which have become popular include Zubeen Garg’s Politics nokoriba bondhu (No politics my friend), Xunore xoja poja khohi khoi jai (hut made of gold erodes), Manas Robin’s Poradhin hol jati (the community turns into slaves) and Bipin Chowdang’s Jai Ai Axom (glory to Mother Assam) dealing with politics and history of Assam.
“Pragjyotishpur (the ancient name of Assam), once the seat of culture, was known for songs and plays. Guru Xankardeb changed the lives of thousands of people through naam kirtan and bhaonas (religious plays) and brought a positive spiritual and social change. Zubeen, Manas and Bipin are also doing the right thing. When a crisis looms over a community, it is the artistes who come forward with a remedy. The singers have always shouldered great responsibility and their songs are eye-openers,” Amritanand Sarma, a teacher of Assamese in Christian College, said.
Zubeen, the most popular singer of the state, starts with the hit Politics nokoriba bondhu and ends with a stirring Xunore xoja poja khohi khoi jai at almost all anti-CAA protests rallies besides belting out his other hit patriotic songs. “I appeal to the people to take part in peaceful cultural protests,” he said.
Manas, a name known to every household, too is for protests in a peaceful and democratic way. With perfect rendition of Poradhin hol jati, he inspires the audience.
“Poradhin hol jati is not merely a song. It depicts the true history of Assam and is about jati, mati and bheti with beautiful lyrics and music. Its tune is appealing as the song comes straight from the heart. Its pace too is heart-warming,” Bahadur Phukan, 25, a student leader, said.
Manas’s songs explain how people believe the leaders, expecting they will bring changes, but later their hopes are shattered. The song says bhavise hobo bhal, hol mahakal (It was thought, there will be good in the state and to its people, but it became the worst, a killing one).
Manas’s song which begins with Kokai o! aako Joi Aai Axom (Brother! Again glory to Mother Assam) explains how the people have to rue for wrong decisions of rulers. The singer said sometimes decisions taken by the administrators — thinking those will be good for people — later bring mahakaal (very destructive).
He also sings: “Ako eke bhulare, punravriti ne ki, jati, mati, bheti rakhibole Hindu Bangladeshi (Isn’t it the repetition of the same historical blunder when Hindu Bangladeshis were brought to keep jati mati bheti? ) The singer asks: “You became the king promising to oust the foreigners, but why are you bringing them?”
He gives message to people. Khed khedi jau, khedi jau, Bangladeskhik khedi jau. aa hoy aa, ulai aa, khed oi khed, bidekhi khed (come let’s oust foreigners, come, come out, oust the foreigners).
Bipin Chowdang’s Jai Aai Axom, a patriotic song also adds zest to the protests.
Biswa Bijoyee Naujawan by music maestro Bhupen Hazarika help the protesters to face all the odds bravely.
From Aami akhomiya nohou dukhia (We are Assamese and we are never unhappy) to Jai Aai Axom are being played in trains, buses, auto, tea stalls, restaurants, hotels, on social media, including YouTube.
Binay Dubey, president of AASU’s Tinsukia unit, said: “This movement is also about our rich cultural heritage. We sing together which give us immense energy and mental strength,” he added.
“We will go on singing the melodious songs to protest against CAA,” Madhu Swara, a music teacher, said.
Other personalities from music, art and films fraternity, including actress Barsha Rani Baishya, Prastuti Prashar and Nishita Goswami and singers Krishnamoni Chutia, Dikshu, Neel Aakash, have supported the movement and taken part in various protests.
Even the lawyers sung Bhupen Hazarika’s Manuhe manuhar vave, jadi aknu na bhave an evergreen classic song of the music legend.
