Kashmir’s ‘Gully Boy’ Rapper With a Cause Talks 2019 Elections

Muazzam Bhat is a 25-year-old rapper from Kashmir.

(Photo: The Quint/Kamran Akhtar)

Editor : Deepthi Ramdas
Cameraperson : Neeraj Gupta

Producers: Badsha Ray, Zijah Sherwani

Army.
Terrorists.
Encounter.
Stone pelters.

These are the first words that come to mind on the mention of Kashmir. Even though the situation in Kashmir is mostly tense, this 25-year-old actor, writer and rapper Kashmiri boy has a unique way of expressing his feelings. His name is Muazzam Bhat.

Muazzam is a ‘conscious rapper’ which is a sub-genre of hip-hop that focuses on creating awareness and imparting knowledge.

“My rap is a documentation of the situation and everything that happens here (Kashmir). I write from a common man’s perspective, write what all they have to see, as my contribution to history.”

Muazzam Bhat, rapper, Kashmir

There’s a surge in army troops in Kashmir considering the Lok Sabha elections but most Kashmiris are not interested in the electoral process.

“They feel that they are not taking part in a process. It won’t work unless people have faith. I don’t think Kashmiris have faith in polls. This is not something new, this is something that is stuck in people’s mind and it has it’s own reasons.”

Muazzam Bhat, rapper, Kashmir

Indian Army has toughened its crackdown in Kashmir after the terrorist attack on 14 February 2019 in Pulwama. Amongst the chatter about removing article 370 and 35A, Muazzam believes that strictness is not a solution.

“I feel the politics of inclusion is the solution. Our society is divided. There is one radicalised section of the society which is completely cut off, the other is drifting towards mainstream politics and a third section of society isn’t inclined towards either of the two. So if the government can formulate a solution with the inclusion of all the three sections then that would be a very good step.”

Muazzam Bhat, rapper, Kashmir

Muazzam's rap narrates the pain of Kashmiris:

Sanjeeda yeh haalat hai
Apni riyaasat ki
Police ki be-rehmi
Gandi siyaasat bhi
Jagah yeh ibaadat ki
Thi dilo mein shafqat
Yeh vaadi roohani thi
Ab toh bas nafrat aur mausam toofani hai
Khoon ki rawaani aur zaaya jawaani hai
Hum sab jawaano ki kitni qurbaani hai
Darkaar yeh sarkar bhi bankar begaani hai
Baithi hui jaise ekdam begani hai
In sab haalat se nakaam yeh hukumraan hain
Jhoote yeh insaan hain maut pe bhi khaamosh
Toh kaisi shaitaan hain yeh socho aur dekho
In qaatilo ko roko
Jo khidmat ke naam pe yeh karte mazaak hain
Kya kismat mein apni yeh likhe azaab hain
Par khud bhi toh hum dhokebaazi mein shaamil hain
Kya sach mein hum log azaadi ke qaabil hain