Don't steel yourself, progress!
The proposed steel flyover in the city has become a subject for songs for many city musicians.
A promise was made ahead of the 2013 elections by the present Karnataka government and they are ‘honestly’ trying to keep-up to that promise of building the flyover/bridge which would help reduce the traffic jams on the way to the airport. But at what cost? Spending an exorbitant Rs 1,791 crore for a mere 6.7 km flyover and cutting down 812 trees! Shame. Okay, I assume that the promise might’ve been a mistake made in a wrong (or right) situation. We all make mistakes, but wiser is the one who learns from that and moves in the right direction.
As a band Swarathma has always believed that music is more than mere entertainment; music has a voice that can reach out to minds and hearts of the listener in a way that can’t be explained. Music by itself is a message and when we can add more meaningful thoughts and concerns which are socially relevant, why not? Swarathma is not shy of being tagged as a ‘socially conscious’ band.
Yes, we do have songs like Pyaasi, Patte Saare and Yeshu Allah aur Krishna which talk about the river Cauvery, urbanisation and religious hypocrisy respectively. We also have songs which are just for the sake of fun and music. But at times like these, we are known for the former.
I am from Mysuru and came to Bengaluru 10 years ago in search of what I want to do as a musician and I am sure there are many with their own intentions, those who have found a home here. I have found a home – this city, and I will stand up for it every time it is in danger.
The National Green Tribunal has suspended all plans related to construction of the Flyover, so there is something really wrong about it. I probably don’t understand the rules of the game (politically) but I do understand and believe in the rules of nature; we are nature, not above or below it. So we have to stand up for ourselves. I urge and stand by all citizens of Bengaluru to stay strong to protect our trees and city and let us not get carried away in the name of development and convenience. Home is where the heart is and may the heart be in the right place.
– Vasu Dixit and Swarathma recently jammed at the #SteelFlyoverBeda protest at Freedom Park.