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

Khalingduar RF witnesses attempt to end man-elephant conflict

27 Sep 2011 - 4:20am | Jayanta Kumar Das
Situated on the remote Indo-Bhutan international border, Khalingduar RF (Reserve forest) under Dhansiri Forest Division,Udalguri, (location 26 52' 14E and 91 53' 01E/elevation 270 M from sea level...

Protest over trader killing

15 Jul 2015 - 8:36pm | AT News
At least ten people sustained injury when security forces sprang upon a group of people who hit the streets in Tinsukia district in protest against ULFA’s attack on a businessman on Wednesday.Local...

Patowary elected leader of Opposition

7 Sep 2007 - 2:46pm | pbaruah
Guwahati: A crucial meeting of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) legislator elected Dharampur Assembly constituency MLA Chandra Mohan Patowary as the leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative...

Tinsukia steps up NRC works

11 Dec 2017 - 6:48pm | Mithun Baruah
TINSUKIA: Only a couple of weeks are left to publish NRC draft across the state. Tinsukia district authority is also gearing up to complete the NRC draft works in time. Those deployed in NRC works...

Other Contents by Author

Assam Congress mires in a mysterious incident much to the embarrassment of APCC president Bhubneswar Kalita and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. APCC secretary Rajesh has been absconding with Rs.1 crore in cash he allegedly received meant for to party high command in Delhi. According to sources, Joshi and his family vanished from Guwahati after he received the money at Nakashtra Hotel in Guwahati. He received the amount one Tarh Koyu, a contractor in Arunachal Pradesh who brought the money on behalf of Chief Minister Nabam Tuki. The deal was struck on September 7. Koyu was sent to Guwahati to transfer the money to AICC. But under some mysterious circumstance, the money reached Joshi. The money...
For the first time the dangerous dengue strikes the state with altogether 13 cases. The cases reported mostly from Guwahati and its surrounding areas. Nine cases were reported from Kamrup (metro) district and one from Kamrup (rural) district on Friday. Three other cases have been reported from International Hospitals in Guwahati. NVBDCP sources said that over 10 cases have been reported so far forcing the department to start fogging and awareness programme in the affected areas. The disease is caused by the biting of aedes mosquito, which breeds in stagnant water.
The overall flood scene remains unchanged on Saturday. Fresh rains wreaked havoc in the form of flood inundating several villages in Dhemaji, Lakhmpur, Jorhat, Nagaon, Kamrup, Barpeta and Nagaon districts. Although there was no report of loss of life. District administrations rescued many affected people to higher ground. An alert has been sounded in Majuli, Jorhat, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Sivasagar. The government has announced measures to provide relief to the affected people and instructed the deputy commissioners of districts accordingly.
ULFA militants exploded yet another grenade in Sivasagar district of Assam on Friday to make their presence felt.The blast took place at Sonari near petrol pump at around 10-40 at night. There is, however, no report of any casualty. Police officials have rushed to the spot.
Surging waters of the Brahmaputra have again threaten to ravage the Kaziranga National Park and Dibru Saikhowa National Park in Tinsukia. Another worst hit area is the river island Majuli in Jorhat were submerged and it was also cut off from the mainland due to stoppage of ferry services.
Security forces are fanning the along the Assam-Mizoram inter state border in Cachar district following tension flare up from Friday. Efforts were on to initiate talks with Deputy Commissioner of Kolasib district in Mizoram and a letter had already been sent to him in this regard. Notably, several organisations took out a protest march on Thursday demanding immediate solution of the long-standing boundary dispute between Assam and Mizoram.The organisations - All Barak Youth and Students Association, Dalit Sena, several local clubs among others, alleged that a few days back the pillar between Assam-Mizoram border was destroyed by unidentified miscreants.
The Assam government keeps kept the air force on standby in view of the flash floods that renders lakhs of people homeless. Kamrup, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Sonitpur districts have been submerged by the surging waters of the rivers. At least 25 villages in Kamrup district were affected due to floods.
Authorities have sounded alert was in most of the affected districts as the Brahmaputra river is flowing above danger level at some points - particularly in Dibrugarh and Jorhat districts and showing a rising trend at many places. Two youth - students of Doomdooma College in Tinsukia district were also drowned on Thursday as they w
Flood waves are back to wreak havoc. The situation has turned from bad to worse.Over ten lakh people have been affected in seven districts killing two youths in Tinsukia district and renders lakhs of people homeless. The government has also pressed into service the National Disaster Response Force to expedite relief and rescue.
The third special train for Bangalore left Guwahati on Thursday carrying altogether 1264 people back to the southern city. Amid tight security, the train left the Guwahati Railway station at 11 in the morning with the passengers, mostly, who left Bangalore at the height of rumours of attack on north east people. Earlier, two the Assam government arranged two special trains to carry hundreds of passengers back Bangalore who were willing to resume work or study.