I Protest

"I Protest" is a rap song by a Kashmiri singer MC Kash, that he sang in 2010. The song that is about the 2010 Kashmir Uprising and Human rights abuses in Kashmir and failures by Kashmiri politicians including the separatists.[1][2][3] It became an immediate hit in the valley and outside.[4] The song was sung during protests.[5] The studio where the song was recorded was raided by the local police after the song was released[6] and the staff was questioned about involvement of any separatist leader. Kash, who was emotionally disturbed by the deaths of youth, including his friend, in the unrest, wrote the song. According to Kash, he wrote this in English to spread awareness about the situation in Kashmir.[7] Kash faced hard time in recording his songs after this song was released as most of the studios denied facilitating him[6] and he felt considerable pressure to stop raising such issues in his songs after people close to him showed concern about his security.[8]

"I Protest"
Song by MC Kash
LanguageEnglish
ReleasedSeptember 2010 (2010-09)
GenreHip hop music
Songwriter(s)MC Kash
Human rights abuses
in Jammu and Kashmir
Notes
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1995 kidnapping of Western tourists in Kashmir
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Background

2010 Kashmir unrest was a series of violent clashes in Jammu and Kashmir between the state and the locals, who took to streets protesting against the killing of three locals in the state. 110 people were killed in protests by the Indian forces, during this protest.[7]

Composition

The lyrics to the song are graphic.[6] The song's video begin with news clippings about the protests during the 2010 protest.[9] Kash challenges the Indian occupation in the song by saying, "Tales from the dark side of a murderous regime, an endless occupation of our land an' our dreams", which is considered sedition according to Indian law, where no one can question India's claim over Kashmir.[7] He also criticizes the local media of not fully covering the human right violations in the region by saying "sponsored media who hide this genocide".[3] The song ends with the names of those 65 people who died during the struggle in 2010, up until September.[7]

Influence

The song made Kash a popular among the people of the valley[10] and it became a protest anthem for the Kashmiris who were protesting against the state.[5] Kashmiri youth express their protest against the Indian forces, by displaying "I Protest" banners in blogs, social networking sites, etc.[11] Those who didn't come out of their homes usually also put "I Protest" as their status on social networking sites.[2] Groups by the name of "I Protest" were also started on Facebook that was updated with the deeds of Indian security forces against the civilians by posting stories, pictures and videos.[12] Kash influenced many other Kashmiri youngsters to express their feelings through the art of singing.[7] A verse from this song (I Protest, Until My Freedom Has Come) became the title of the book Until My Freedom Has Come, a collection of essays on Kashmir, edited by Sanjay Kak.[13]

References
  1. "Kashmir protest reaches social networks". Times of India. Aug 6, 2010. Archived from the original on August 12, 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  2. Wasim Bhat (30 June 2011). "Captive City". In Sanjay Kak (ed.). Until My Freedom Has Come: The New Intifada in Kashmir. Penguin Books. p. 105. ISBN 978-0143416470. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  3. Dilnaz Boga (27 May 2011). "A struggle to speak and be heard". Dawn. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  4. Navinta Chadha Behera (27 January 2012). A Perception Survey of Media Impact on the Kashmiri Youth (PDF) (Report). Institute for Research on India and International Studies. p. 40. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  5. Gayatri Parameswaran (28 June 2012). "Rap in Kashmir: to protest or not?". Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  6. "MC Kash raps for Kashmir protest victims". BBC. 20 December 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  7. Aijaz Hussain (30 June 2011). "Kashmir Rapper uses Rhymes to Protest Indian Rule". In Sanjay Kak (ed.). Until My Freedom Has Come: The New Intifada in Kashmir. Penguin Books. pp. 113–115. ISBN 978-0143416470. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  8. "Valley's first rapper attracts youth by singing about turmoil". Hindustan Times. Srinagar. 14 November 2010. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  9. Naseer Ganai (20 June 2011). "Kashmir Valley gives peace a chance with music concerts". India Today. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  10. Harris Zargar (18 September 2011). "Rock Music Finds a Following in Jammu and Kashmir". Outlook India. New Delhi. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  11. Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal (28 September 2010). "Indian Policies Making Youth in Kashmir More Defiant and Fearless". Newsline. Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  12. Caelainn Hogan (21 February 2011). "Revolutionising the Revolution". The University Times. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  13. Nitasha Kaul (August 2011). Kejriwal, Pritha (ed.). "MC Kash: That bayonet of a voice" (PDF). Kindle. India: Ink Publications. 2 (5): 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2012.

Further reading
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