Popular rapper Emiway Bantai has once again come into the spotlight thanks to his latest track. His new single, 'Bol Raha Sadak,' is currently gaining popularity on social media. This song, inspired by the country's current education system, instances of leaked examination materials, and recent student demonstrations, serves not merely as a musical piece but as an anthem of protest, voicing the concerns of the youth.
At the time of writing this article, the song received a massive response from listeners, achieving over 1.1 million views in just two days after its release.
The track starts with an emotional and profound dialogue. First, the voice of a child is heard asking the former and late President of the country, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: 'What are the main strengths and weaknesses of our idea?' In response, Dr. Kalam's voice replies: 'Strengths of India? You guys...'. Immediately after this inspiring message, the song transitions into its main rhythm, making a strong impact on the listeners.
The central theme of 'Bol Raha Sadak' revolves around the problems facing the country's youth, student movements, constant instances of exam leaks, and the basic rights of students. Through this song, Emiway conveys to the youth the idea of expressing their opinions peacefully, without violence, and demanding changes in the existing system. Emiway Bantai himself wrote and sang this composition, while Memax prepared the music.
Emiway Bantai's real name is Bilal Sheikh, although many also know him by the pseudonym Shahrukh Sheikh. He is not only a rapper but also a singer, dancer, songwriter, editor, and composer. His fame on YouTube came through independent tracks such as 'Machayenge,' 'Skrrt Karenge,' and 'Free Verse Feast.' Today, he is a major figure in the Indian hip-hop community, and every one of his tracks garners millions, even billions, of views.
Previously, his song 'Asli Hip Hop' was very successful. Furthermore, he not only rapped but also demonstrated acting talent in the Bollywood film 'Gully Boy.' Emiway's early life was not easy. After enrolling in 11th grade, his interest shifted from studies to rapping, and he began listening to the famous American rapper Eminem. Due to inattention to his studies, he failed the 12th grade and fell into deep depression. Then, in 2014, he started shooting rap videos simply for entertainment. Initially, he rapped in English, but upon his father's advice, he started writing in Hindi so that people could better understand his messages.
As soon as his first Hindi rap, 'Aur Bantai,' was released in 2014, it instantly became a hit. Since then, Emiway has never stopped. Today, he owns his own studio and leads a luxurious lifestyle. His fan base on social media is enormous: he has over 6 million followers on Instagram and over 22 million on YouTube. His net worth is currently estimated in the billions.
A wave of discontent is observed across the country following the leak of examination materials. Protests are taking place in various cities, including Patna, Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai.
In Patna, students under the banner of AISA marched to Lok Bhavan, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The police blocked their path, and during a demonstration against alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam, the police used batons, leading to a tense situation.
In Delhi, protests related to CJP at Jantar Mantar led to increased security measures. Consequently, several metro stations, including Janpath, were temporarily closed, causing inconvenience for a large number of passengers. Upset passengers staged protests near Janpath station, demanding the prompt resumption of service.
In Chennai, activists from SFI and DYFI were preparing demonstrations against the material leak, but the police detained several participants before the event began. In Mumbai, students took to the streets of Shivaji Park, protesting against alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam and demanding an impartial investigation, while also opposing the education system and the central government.
A march was also held in Patna to Raj Bhavan under the AISA banner, where protesters demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, expressing disagreement with the police actions against CJP supporters.
In Surat, Congress activists held a demonstration against alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam and the detention of Congress leaders such as Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. During the protests, the police detained and removed many participants from the scene.
Protest actions by Congress members against the NEET-UG material leak also took place in Jammu. During these actions, they demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and opposed the central government.
During the 'Voice of Students' event held in Dehradun on Friday, Rahul Gandhi sharply criticized the central government, raising issues concerning youth, employment, government jobs, exam leaks, and the education system.
He asserted that the entire country's educational system is in crisis due to the leakage of examination materials, affecting 75 million students so far. Gandhi emphasized that this event is dedicated to discussing the problems and struggles of the youth, not being a political show. He stated that the main issue in India currently is the future of its children and youth.
According to Rahul, only 1 percent of people use money and connections to organize leaks, while the future of 99 percent of honest and poor students is at risk. He claimed that the level of leaks has reached such a point that there are 'menu cards' for various exams. He cited an example where, with millions of rupees, one can choose a desired exam from the menu card, which, in his words, reflects the current state of education in India.
The Congress leader noted that despite the constant occurrence of leak incidents, none of the culprits have received severe punishment yet. He reported that 75 million candidates have been affected by 152 leak incidents, yet no one has been found guilty or punished. Furthermore, he insisted that institutions like the National Testing Agency (NTA) and universities must be free from political influence and operate independently of any political party.
Rahul Gandhi also stated that four main avenues for youth employment in India are practically closed. He attributed this to the weakening of the manufacturing sector, difficulties in obtaining bank loans for entrepreneurship, the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the IT sector, and the growth of privatization in the public sector. In his assessment, government service remains the most significant option for the youth. However, he noted that while about 90 million young people prepare for government service, only about 600,000 find employment.
During the program, the father of NEET candidate Riya Tapa, who recently allegedly committed suicide, appeared on stage. He emotionally appealed to Rahul Gandhi to seek justice, noting that the government had shown no interest in his family's affairs. The father shared that his daughter was extremely dissatisfied with the system and the NTA. Speaking with students, Rahul Gandhi stated that millions of young people preparing for competitive exams face financial, psychological, and social pressure, and these issues must be resolved.
