08th November, 2024
07th May, 20243rd May, 2024 marked one year of the ongoing war in Manipur and still things are not back to normal. There is chaos in every corner of the state despite the National Media showing otherwise.
Rapper Thiyam James who goes by the moniker Yelhomie, claims himself to be the voice of the people in the eastside, and this is how the song Is India My Home? came about. Is India My Home? speaks about the systemic oppression that the northeast people face throughout their life. It raises questions about how this war was made to be fought between two communities, creating a smokescreen by the orchestrators. It also raises questions about women’s safety in India, Job security in the Northeast, unemployment, safety for Muslim brethren and sisters and also tells us why the insurgency has grown, why drugs are flooded on the streets to dumb down the voices of the youth and a lot more.
Is India My Home? is but a question that is made to ask to one’s mind especially the people in Manipur during this conflict who are made to feel less of an Indian by the negligence of the central government. Based in the Northeast, residing in the capital of the state of Manipur, Imphal, Thiyam James is an independent bi-lingual rapper who goes by the moniker of Yelhomie working under his independent label, Naava Records where he has curated rappers and producers under the same.
Having brought up in a neighbourhood that is violent, non-systematic and oppressed in many ways, he is more focused on bringing peace, love and sharing knowledge to his people of the environment. His catalog vastly consists of conscious rap and also party joints. Following the meaning of his name, Yelhomie which is derived from word Yelhoumee (indigenous people), with a hint of street rep, he claims to be the voice of the Northeastern people of India. out on all streaming platforms and music video is out on YouTube. Song Credits: Written and performed by Yelhomie Produced by Skar Mixed by Skar Mastered by Skar
Click on the link below to watch the music video of ‘Is India My Home?’
