Saturday, June 30, 2012

How remote Indian state of Manipur uses rock music against mainstream Indian culture...

In the far north-east of India, cut off from the rest of the country except via a narrow land bridge, perhaps the only way to make yourself heard is loud, really loud, rock music.

For White Fire's drummer Elangbam Kumar, that explains why their cover version of the Guns N'Roses song "Welcome To The Jungle" has become an anthem for the band and a big hit with their fans in the remote state of Manipur.

The state, which is 1,000 miles (1,700 kilometers) from the capital New Delhi, borders on Myanmar and has struggled for decades with separatist violence, a society divided among competing tribes and grinding poverty.

It is also an unlikely hub for rock and heavy metal music, boasting a burgeoning festival scene and local stars who have defied social and cultural boundaries to pursue their music. Full story...

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  2. Irom Sharmila and Manipur: a long battle against Indian 'army impunity'
  3. Irom Sharmila:11-year hunger strike against military violence largely ignored...
  4. My hero: Irom Chanu Sharmila...
  5. Women in Kashmir...
  6. Tell the government of India to stop burning the homes of the indigenous...
  7. Don’t look away from Kashmir’s mass graves and people’s struggle...
  8. A rock concert in Kabul, Afghanistan...

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