Sudha at 10 is having the time of her life on stage as she gets to play her favourite music instrument. Not the guitar or drums, but a small used can of a soft drink with rice grains filled in it. She is a band member of ‘Dharavi Rocks’, who occasionally sing along with 35 other kids, all hailing from Dharavi, Mumbai, one of the largest slums in the world.
Calling their genre of music Junk Percussion, here is a band whose music is self-made in every sense. Apart from writing and composing their own music, the band even creates their own musical instruments.
From drum barrels to coffee shakers, paint cans, plastic boxes, bottles and every other kind of junk that can be found at Dharavi, the materials are used to create musical instruments, bringing a very rustic feeling to their music. And giving a taste of this music to Hyderabad were 14 such kids led by their music teacher Abhijit Jejurikar, who performed at the Rotary South-Asia Summit 2013 on Sunday to a packed audience.
Dharavi Rocks was formed in 2011 as a joint educational project between blueFROG and an NGO Acorn Foundation, as part of the NGOs ‘Dharavi Project’. “All the members are underprivileged children between the age of eight and 16, mainly rag pickers who have no access to most of life’s comforts. The main aim of this project is to get children off the streets,” informed Vinod Shetty, director, Acorn Foundation. “Through these performances, the band wants to spread the message of recycle, reuse and respect,” he said.
With about 50 shows to their credit, the band now boasts of over 16 different kinds of instruments. “We want children to realise the hidden musical talent in them and make them skilled, which will further their future prospects. Through this learning, it also inculcates the learning discipline and will help them find a sustainable livelihood,” informed Abhijit Jejurikar., adding, “The concept is very similar to the music in the 70s. It's the sound of struggle which these kids relate to and music is their outlet. This is also a healing process for them and for me as a teacher. We are helping create happy childhood memories.”
Their two original numbers called ‘Khulke Bol, Dil Se Bol’ and one other folk number are very popular among the audience. “The kind of music we create is very upbeat and fun, which is what makes them, stick to the band. Kids in these areas will start showing interest only when they enjoying it. We have a lot of fun in our classes,” Abhijit shared.
A few international artists and bands like Kwak (from France), Under Kontrol, a group of beat boxers, Soweto Kinch, a British rapper, among others have conducted many workshops for them.
The volunteers at Acorn also teach the kids Math, Science, Computers and music. The children also get trained in various genres of music such as hip-hop and jazz. But, with many of them being the bread winners at their homes, it made it difficult for the NGO to convince parents to let them learn music. “There were times, when these kids would not get a leave from their workplace. Some work in the plaster of paris business, while some at construction sites for daily-wages. So it was a challenge convincing parents to let their children go. Some were happy about the idea, while some kids were appointed in a few offices by a few friends where they could get a leave easily. But, at some places we had to assure the parents that their kid will earn more after they are 16, if they are skilled,” Shetty said.
Dharavi Rocks has performed at various college events, city festivals, fund raising concerts and social rallies.
You can learn more about the band on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dharavirocks or log on to www.bluefrog.co.in/dharavi-rocks.