For music lovers, and especially those who loves Pahadi cultural songs, whenever a talent comes to the front, the fan base starts rising. Similarly, Sonu Roy, a musical artist who hails from the Bhalessa area of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir, is hitting the bass across Himachal Pradesh. His new pahadi mashup in Bhaderwahi and Himachali languages shows how Pahadi culture joins the people of two regions.
Mandeep Singh, known as Sonu Roy on stage, a 20-year old boy from Pora Balla village of Gandoh (Bhalessa) tehsil in Doda district, who is pursuing a B.A from Amritsar, has collaborated with Rohini Dogra, a young Himachali folk singer. While Sonam Yangdol from Padder area of Kishtwar district’s performance as a Pahadi model has made the Pahadi mashup a perfect song showing the pahadi culture which joins the hearts of Pahadi people from different regions.
Talking exclusively to The Chenab Times, Sonu Roy said, “Our main motive is to promote our Pahadi culture to the world. As music touches the souls, we want our culture, whether it is Bhaderwahi, Padari or Himachali, to be on one platform.”
Despite of having Pahadi culture and historical traditions, it is pertinent to mention that the government of Jammu and Kashmir have not yet officially recognised the Chenab region as Pahadi and the people are also deprived of various benefits which comes on the name of Pahadi people. Various activists including Sadaket Malik from Bhalessa has been promoting the Pahadi status for Chenab region (in Jammu and Kashmir) movement.
Anzer Ayoob is the Founder and Chief Editor to The Chenab Times