After theclashes last week left Meghalaya in turmoil, protesters have found a way to usherback peace into state capital, Shillong. Taking cue from protesters in Assam, musiciansin neighbouring Meghalaya have resorted to music to protest the CitizenshipAmendment Act.
Meghalaya ispopularly known as India¡¯s ¡°rock and roll capital¡±. After days of curfew andinternet shutdown in the hill city, these musicians took out a uniqueinitiative titled "Music For Protection And Future Of The People" toconvince the people into laying down arms.
One bandstrummed to Bob Marley¡¯s famous Redemption Song: ¡°¡We forward in thisgeneration/Triumphantly/ Won¡¯t you help to sing/These songs of freedom?/¡¯Causeall I ever have/Redemption songs/ Redemption songs¡¡±
The eventwas organised by Summersalt, a Shillong-based folk-fusion band, that featuredin the Bollywood film Rock On 2.
The event,Music for Protection and Future of the People, called upon the people to reasontogether and welcome the season of peace.
India hasbeen in a state of turmoil for the last 10 days, becoming a broken nation ofsorts. But we believe that music and arts can act as the best healing balm. Weare here at Shillong, but we know there are people in Mumbai, Jamshedpur,Northeast India and elsewhere who are voicing their fears in one voice," KitkuparShangpliang of folk band Summersalt told NDTV.
He addedthat the essence of this event is to get people unite and together understandthe importance of peace in trying times.
Rudy Wallangof blues-rock band Soulmate said the situation in Shillong had been scary andin such times music is a great unifier. He said the government must not takepeople¡¯s voice for granted.
Protestsover the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) have swelled across the country, and turnedviolent in some parts, especially Uttar Pradesh. So far, at least 26 peoplehave died in protests across the country with UP registering the highest tollwith widespread police violence.
TheCitizenship Amendment Act makes it easier for non-Muslim migrants fromBangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan to become Indian nationals.?
Protestershave termed the CAA as ¡°unconstitutional¡± and against the secular fabric of thecountry.
While manyacross the country and abroad have termed it "discriminatory" and"communal", residents of the Northeast oppose the law because theybelieve it will open the floodgates for illegal migrants into the region.