These Gully Girls From Delhi Are Rapping For Safe Public Spaces

A group of girls from Delhi’s Madanpur Khadar area, a slum resettlement colony are rapping for safe transport.

These Khadar Girls are on a mission to rap away all the prejudices of society

Photo: Youtube/Khadar ki Ladkiyan 

The queens of rap from Madanpur Khadar are here, listen up!

Yes, a group of 11 girls from this slum resettlement colony in Delhi are narrating their stories — through the powerful medium of rap.

For the uninitiated, Madanpur Khadar JJ, located on the banks of the Yamuna river in South Delhi is an area dominated by first or second generation migrants from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan. Many of them are engaged in low-wage jobs as drivers, domestic workers, security guards, etc.

While the women — many of whom find their freedom and economic prospects severely restricted due to societal attitudes, lack of affordable public transport, and the fear of harassment by men — have no choice but to stay at home.

It is in this context, that the rap video titled ‘Khadar ki ladkiyan’, assumes greater significance.

Walking through the narrow lanes and rapping with confidence, they want the world to ‘listen’ to the problems they face at home and on the streets.

The life of the girls featured in the video has been anything but a simple one.

In an interview to the Hindustan Times, Meera, a 19-year-old girl featured in the video mentioned how most of the girls had dropped out of school after completing Class 11 or 10.

“The first step was to fight the prejudice at home. We were told not to step out alone and discontinue studies so that we could be married off. Girls in our area are married off at the age of 15-16, both against their will and the law. I just hope we are able to get more girls to join us,”

Meera, a social-work student, told, the<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/girls-from-delhi-slum-claim-dignity-access-to-safe-public-spaces-through-video/story-0ugvO8C6yB5wsuUPg5nfEJ.html"> Hindustan Times</a>

According to Hindustan Times, the video is a part of the project ‘Aana Jana’, funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), UK network and aims to provide a digital space to lower income women.

Misogyny to Sexism: Nothing is Forgiven in this Rap

From sexual harassment to judgmental remarks of the society, these girls take on all of it in their rap.

Ye sheher hamara apka, nahi tumare baap ka ... Khud ko badle bina ... mujhe ghar me bithaya hai..mai bhi khul ke jeena chahti hu

The song lyrics in ‘Khadar ki Ladkiyan’

They also make it a point to talk about unsafe streets and lack of transportation in their song.

Another girl Jagriti,19, who can also be seen in the video told the Hindustan Times how how for many girls and women in the locality, the absence of a safe and affordable commute remains the biggest issue.

But with their hard hitting rap, these girls wearing purple t-shirts with ‘Khadar ki Ladkiyan’ written at the back look like they are in no mood to give up.

More power to these Khadar Girls.