RAPPING FOR CHANGE: ARTISTS RALLY CAMPUS FIRST-TIME VOTERS!
Young rappers at Delhi University are using beats, rhythms and reels to encourage students to ink their mark on May 25
Delhi is gearing up for the Lok Sabha elections on May 25, and according to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, the number of first-time voters in the Capital has surged to 2.43 lakh! This rise in youth voter registrations has ignited a spark among young rappers at Delhi University, who are using their rhythmic prowess to encourage first-time voters.
One shining example of this hip-hop democracy movement is Shubhangi Semwal, also known as Gloris. Her rap video, featuring the catchy chant Hum Layenge Kranti aims to empower first-time voters to change the world through the power of voting. The video has gained over 55.6k views on Instagram and features lyrics like, ‘Vidyarthi netra se dekh tu nyayalaya... Ghute gale mein bhi gayein ab kranti wale gaane!’
Semwal, who is a first-year student of BA (Hons) Sociology at Indraprastha College for Women (IPCW), explains, “This song is about expanding our horizons as students, moving beyond trivial politics, and using education to liberate ourselves from discrimination.”
She isn’t alone in her mission. Pratyush Ojha, a firstyear student of BA (Hons) Political Science at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, echoes the sentiment. “We shouldn’t wait for good things to happen to us; we need to step up and cast our vote to bring about change.”
Writing songs on democracy, political events, and the youth’s role in nationbuilding, Ojha is using rap to shed light on issues impacting youngsters. His song Vote Karo aims to inspire peers to exercise their voting rights. “Real art is about making the world a better place,” he shares, adding, “As a student of political science, I’m very aware of my role in democracy. My idea is to rap about what people think but can’t say!”
Influenced by films like Gully Boy (2019) and indie artists, these young rappers are driven by a common message — to promote awareness about the importance of voting.
Shashank Mishra, a second-year student of BA (Prog) at Sri Venkateswara College, reflects this sentiment in his lyrics: ‘Ek bola mujhe/ Ek hi vote se kya hota hai/ Badlav ki aas me lok tantra mera rota hai/ Krantikari yaha chup hai/ Neta tabhi chain se sota hai’. Mishra believes, “Hip hop has the power to unite us all. It has its roots in literature, and just like poetry and other songs, the spoken word has the power to change the world. It all starts with us.”
My song is about expanding our horizons as students, and using education to liberate ourselves. SHUBHANGI SEMWAL, Student at Indraprastha College for Women (
As a student of political science, I’m very aware of my role in democracy. My idea is to rap about what people think but can’t say. PRATYUSH OJHA, Student at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College
Hip hop has the power to unite us all...the spoken word has the power to change the world. SHASHANK MISHRA,
Student at Sri Venkateswara College