Srinagar
Humaira Jan, a ninth grader at Army Goodwill School, Kangan in north Kashmir, has made a rap song about women’s lives that is going viral. She had taken to rap seriously after she won an intra-district rap contest last year.
Humaira’s recent rap is about women and how to improve and make their lives more meaningful. She has appropriately named it Women. She questions society’s traditional thoughts on women and that only with the changed societal outlook, the destiny of women will change.
Humaira Jan says that she raps to bring about a change in society and not just for the sake of gaining fame and respect.
“I want to reform society. I rap on topics to highlight abuse and harshness toward women.” Her rap songs have brought her fame not only in Kashmir Valley and beyond.
In 2015, when Humaira Jan was a second grader, her father managed to arrange for her to meet the famous rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh.
She was very impressed with Honey Singh. After that, she started raping seriously and also performing in the style of Yo Yo Honey Singh. "I started following hip hop artists and singing their songs," she says. “Although I didn't take my rap seriously at first, I just kept singing. In August 2021, there was a rap contest in Ganderbal district where I took part.”
This competition changed her life.
She was informed about the coming rap competition by her teachers. She did some rehearsing of her songs for it. At home, her parents helped her and also encouraged her.
When Humaira Jan arrived for the rap competition, she realized that was the only girl there. There were 15 male artists and some of them were professional rappers. She says that the first reaction of the audience was how a young girl could rap. “They started laughing at me and making fun of me. When the result of the competition came, Humaira Jan came first by defeating 15 male artists.”
Humaira's story has been aired on several television channels and is also the subject of a recently released short film about a girl who grew up in the Valley and takes her life as a rapper to the audience.
Many years ago, Humaira was selected as one of the main characters in Salman Khan's Bajrangi Bhai Jan for Shahida. But she decided against acting.
Her favorite hip-hop artists include MC Bella from India and CION from Hollywood. She admires other artists in India, especially their speed. “Meeting them is my dream and I hope someone will introduce me to them,” says Humaira.
Humaira Jan understands that the way forward will not be easy and yet she is determined to meet the challenges.
She has a piece of advice for young girls like her who want to fulfill their dreams: “There will be many people to pull you down. Don't let their words overwhelm you, otherwise, you will feel sad and frustrated. I am not an ideal person or a celebrity, but I have been the victim of trolls and negative comments.”
I just keep thinking positive and moving on. Life comes only once, I have no time to regret it.
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.webp "Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Usha Krishna")
