Skip to content Skip to navigation

Faced with bandh calls, musicians in Assam get together for Freedom Jam


A day that is of immense significance in the lives of every Indian. The entire country wakes up on this particular day to celebrate their state’s independence. The day is a national holiday in India and widespread jubilation is witnessed amongst people of different religion, caste and creed. Besides the government-sponsored celebrations, people from different walks of life get to together to celebrate their being Indians, when more focus is given on strengthening the bond of brotherhood rather than on fighting amongst themselves for petty differences.


The scenario in Northeast India, especially in Assam, is a bit different, with most of the people being forced to stay indoors due to the bandh diktat of the countless militant and insurgent outfits. Thanks to the bandh calls, the very essence of the day is lost and for the people it is another lazy day to while away at home as most people refrain from coming out of their homes to go to work, vehicles remaining off their roads and businessmen and traders downing their shutters. A true ‘celebration’ of our independence.


But things are slowly changing. Since last year, musicians of the city have started to celebrate the day by jamming on the city roads. Led by musicians and music lovers like Rupam, Mrinal, Aiyushman, Arzoo, David, Rabiul, Deepak and the like, the jamming session was a huge success as lots of passers-by joined the impromptu jamming session and lit candles by the roadside. The musicians got together once again this year and together they struck a chord or two to celebrate the day, much to the delight of all those who came out of their homes last Sunday evening.


Aiyushman Dutta, one of the initiators of the session and secretary of the Eastern Beats Music Society, says, “There are no big names or stars involved in the Freedom Jam session and everyone is free to join. There were no backdrops or logos and the only motive behind organizing the session was to celebrate Independence day through music. Candles are lit in the evening by the roadside and the entire act results in the creation of a very serene atmosphere, befitting the sanctity of the day.”


Rupam Bora, one of the initiators of the session, said that the number of musicians slated to participate in the session would increase this year. “Last year it was more of an impromptu session. But a number of prolific musicians, amateurs as well as simple music lovers are expected to join us this year.”


The response of the public towards the jamming session is increasing with each year. While only a handful of people could be noticed last year, thousands of people thronged the small empty pavement near Commerce College last Sunday evening to watch the performance of the musicians.




Comments

ropi's picture

organise such a show against mega dams

Pages

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

Motivational talk at Rangia

16 Sep 2012 - 10:34pm | editor
SERS Public School organised a career cum motivational talk at its school premises on 15th September. It was organized to sensitise students on various career options and also how to be successful...

Engineer killer held in Haflong

25 Nov 2013 - 8:27am | AT News
Police have arrested a Naga militant in connection with the recent killing of the irrigation engineer.           Identified as Ibung Kuame, the NSCN militant was held from a...

Janasewak Janardan Pathak at Guwahati Press Club

13 Nov 2011 - 10:44pm | editor
Janasewak Janardan Pathak attended as the Guest of the Month program of Guwahati Press Club on Sunday. Born in a remote village of Nalbari district and now a resident of Sariahjan of Karbi Aglong...

Gogoi tables vote on account

13 Feb 2014 - 11:26am | AT News
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi tabled a vote of account on the floor of the House on Thursday.Gogoi, who holds the finance portfolio, has proposed a Rs 28,467 cr in the vote of account from April 1 to...

Other Contents by Author

Various aspects of impacts of climate change on the water resources of the NE region as well as results from contemporary research relevant to the region and especially the Upper Brahmaputra basin area were in focus in a one day workshop on ‘Adapting to Climate Change Impacts on Water in the Upper Brahmaputra basin in Northeast India’ that was held at the Shankardev Sabha Kakhya of the Dibrugarh Hanumanbux Surajmal Kanoi (DHSK) College on November 17th, 2012.The workshop was organised by Aaranyak (Guwahati), premier environmental research and advocacy organisation of India in collaboration with the DHSK College (Dibrugarh) with financial support from the India Water...
Here is good news for the food lovers of the region. The Morung, a restaurant which has been serving ethnic food of northeast, is organizing a series of food festivals in order to promote the local food items in a bigger way from November 23. The first phase of the festival will serve only the Naga dishes till November 25. Proprietor Rudra Deka said that the visitors will be able to enjoy unlimited supply of various food items at a minimum cost of Rs.299 per person. Popular singer Priyanka Bharali and celebrity cook Enu Baruah of Paakghar fame have formally will inaugurate of the festival on Friday. The Buffet menu is: 1. Chutney 2. Salad 3. Plain Rice 4. Naga Curry 5. Boil Veg 6....
Thousands of devotees offered prayers to the Sun God on the bank of Dudhnoi river on Tuesday on the occasion of Chhath puja. Bidyut Sarkar
The sixth annual national seminar was organized by Sanskriti-North Eastern institute of Culture and Religion, Guwahati from 16th to 18th November, 2012. Sanskriti is an anthropological research centre engaged in data based research on the people and cultures of north east India. It is administered by SVD society which has a number of social science research institutions world-wide. This year the theme selected by the organizing committee was Indigenous Resource Management in Tribal Cultures of North East India.The inaugural session was presided over by well known anthropologist Prof. A. C. Bhagabati, former vice chancellor of Arunachal University and present Director, Indira Gandhi National...
Despite strict vigil, ULFA militants are moving with arms without any hindrance in Sivasagar district. Sonari police recovered a huge cache of explosives during a joint operation with army in Bahbari area on Saturday. But the ULFA men managed to vanish from the spot. Acting on a tip off that three hardcore ULFA militants were hiding in a tiny village in Bashbar, police and army’s 299 Field regiment launched a joint offensive at Raidongia village in Rajapukhuri area. But the militants fled from the spot. Security forces recovered a mobile bomb, TNT weighing three kilogram, 2 detonators along with some other materials.
Diplomats from Association of South East Asian Nations countries are all set to visit Guwahati on November 15 to hold talks with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. The ASEAN diplomats would be in Guwahati just before the ASEAN-India Car Rally in the city. Officials from the ASEAN countries are likely to talk about increasing trade and cooperation between the ASEAN region and north east. Thailand's ambassador to India Pisan Manawapat, Brunei's ambassador Dato Paduka Sidek Bin Ali, Indonedia's Charge d'Affaires Hendra Henny Andries and ambassador of Laos Thongphanh Syackhaphom would be among those who are expected to join the delegation. The rally would reach Guwahati on December 17 and...
Much to utter disappointment to the Assamese community in Delhi, a Delhi university student committed suicide on Saturday. The incident took place at Bijoynagar area where Sri Ram College student Abhishekh Saikia committed suicide by jumping down from a building in the capital. His neighbor said that he was found depressed with his affair with a girl. Saikia hails from Guwahati.
Five security personnel guarding Water Resources Minister Rajib Lochan Pegu have been injured when their vehicle collided with a dumper truck at Golaghat on Saturday. The incident took place on the National Highway 37 near Dergaon when Pegu’s convoy was on its way from Jorhat to Guwahati. The driver is understood to have lost control over the pilot car before it rammed into the dumper truck. Three of whom are stated to be in serious condition. All the injured have been admitted to the Jorhat Medical College. Two others have been released after primary treatment.
After a brief halt, violence revisits Bodoland. Two persons were killed in two different shoot outs in the BTAD areas on Saturday. The first one incident took place in Gossaigaon when one minority youth died in miscreant firing at the paddy field. The another incident took place in Kokrajhar where another youth lost his life. This has sparked off tension and administration has sounded alert in the area.After a brief halt, violence revisits Bodoland. Two persons were killed in two different shoot outs in the BTAD areas on Saturday. The first one incident took place in Gossaigaon when one minority youth died in miscreant firing at the paddy field. The another incident took place in...
Dispur is contemplating an education and employment generation panel to link up the two so that the youth could get jobs with their education. According to chief minister Tarun Gogoi, said economic development of the state, education, employment generation and farmers were its top priorities. He further said that his government is mooting to launch a state nutrition mission to tackle the problems of anaemia and malnutrition, found among the women and children of Assam.