Assam-based social organisations seek ban on ‘Namami Brahmaputra’ theme song

GUWAHATI, March 22 2017: While section of the society is equally captivated by the Namami Brahmaputra theme song, the other half is dishearten and has sought a ban on the song justifying their stance stating that there was no representation of Assam's indigenous culture in the song.

This demand came a day after Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal released the theme song of the Namami Brahmaputra Festival scheduled to start from March 31 to April 4.

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In a statement, the All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS), an organisation of various ethnic communities of the state, remarked that the theme song does not showcase the ethnic heritage of the state adding that the song only portrays the geographical aspects of the mighty river but does not represent the Ethnic tunes of Assam, such as oinitom (Mising traditional song), tunes of Bodos and Ahoms, etc.

Aditya Khakhlari, general secretary of the Sangha demanded ban on the song stating that if anyone can pronounce the word Brahmaputra, it does not mean he or she is well versed in the history, identity and glory of the Brahmaputra and its contribution towards the civilisation's development.

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The Sangha and various other tribal organisations will submit a joint memorandum to the chief minister tomorrow, demanding a review of the song. The forums will urge the chief minister to take steps so that the song is rewritten and recomposed, added Khakhlari.

Meanwhile, Lurinjyoti Gogoi, general secretary of the All Assam Students' Union, said "The Brahmaputra is our lifeline. Therefore, when a song is composed about the river, Assamese society should be represented in it. Since the Brahmaputra creates our heritage, we should be careful about the dignity of Assamese society."

Sonowal released the Hindi and Assamese versions of the song at a function at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra. The song, which is now available on YouTube, has been penned by Swanand Kirkire in Hindi and Manmath Baishya in Assamese. Assamese singer Angaraag Mahanta, popularly known as Papon, composed both the versions.

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Singers such as Shankar Mahadevan, Arijit Singh, Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Shaan, Kailash Kher, Pulak Banerjee, Kalpana Patowary, Mayukh Hazarika and others, along with actor Amitabh Bachchan, have lent their voices to the song.

TNT News with inputs from Assam Tribune and GPlus