JNU student’s rap against seat cuts goes viral
“Sir, you are incompetent.” That’s the message to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vice-chancellor from a student, who has composed a rap song against the seat cuts in research courses under the new admission policy.
Two months ago, when JNU announced its admission notice with substantially lesser number of seats than earlier, dreams of hundreds of students who were planning to get into research courses were shattered.
One of those students is 22-year-old Rahul Rajkhowa, a JNU student and a musician, whose 2.55 minute long rap song has become viral on social media.
Rajkhowa, who just finished his Masters in International Relations, said he isn’t alone with an uncertain future. His said his rap song is an attempt to give voice to hundreds of his classmates and thousands of students who apply for admission to research courses at JNU.
“I am not the only one suffering. My entire batch has nowhere to go. We came here for Masters and thought we will complete our PhD from here but suddenly there are no seats. In my college, now there are only two seats for MPhil/PhD. Where will all the existing students go?” he asked.
Rajkhowa said that most students in the university are from financially poor background and JNU is their only chance to an affordable education. “But this VC has snatched this chance from them,” he said.
The musician from Assam, who studied History at Stephen’s college, asks the VC in the video about “one good thing he has done since he landed foot on the campus” and also warns the VC that ‘Karma’ will “catch up” on him.
“Why do you call it 24*7 when you shut it at 11? Oh you’re afraid, cause JNUites are rebellious. And they might be plotting against you. They are so notorious, at a place where they serve food. Sir, you know, that just makes you a paranoid fascist leader. People will rise up against you, that is your fear,” are some of the lyrics from the rap song.
The rap is mostly about the seat cut. However, Rajkhowa has also touched up on issues like missing of Najeeb Ahmad and branding of JNU students as anti-nationals.
This isn’t the first time when Rajkhowa has rapped on an issue related to the university. His last rap was against discrimination faced by students from the northeastern states.