Silchar:
As the cases of the novel coronavirus shoots up with every passing day spiralling out of control, the mood of the nation has been grim as ever!
Inspite of all the devastation and negativity caused by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a few people who are trying to bring light into the dark atmosphere.
One such case is that of a singer from Assam, who is gaining popularity for singing songs to people over the phone in an effort to cheer them up.
Bikramjit Baulia, a folk singer from Silchar, was inspired to start his campaign by Bengali singer Lopamudra Mitra, and he announced it six days ago on social media. Despite the fact that many people chastised him for his "publicity stunt," Bikramjit believes that singing helps him to lift people's spirits.
According to reports, Bikramjit, a 33-year-old from the Malugram district, prefers to change his surname from Kar to Baulia because he adores Bauls (Bengali folk singers). Bikramjit, who is passionate about singing, supports himself by working at his father's pharmacy.
"I have since sung a variety of songs to about 250 people recovering from COVID-19 infection. I have also had to deviate from an array of Bengali folk songs to sing a few Hindi songs for some infected youth in Assam and people from Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Pune and elsewhere in India," he said.
Bikramjit has also received calls from a number of Bengali singers who have praised his initiative for helping so many people who are suffering from mental illness.
The singer revealed that he tested positive for covid last year and that fighting it was difficult for him. Bikramjit, like many others, has suffered with depression.
"Music is my passion and I gain positivity from music. With this campaign, I am getting a chance to connect with people and listening to their stories. This is making me more positive and optimistic," he said.
Bikramjit has spoken about one of his early experiences auditioning for the singing reality show Saregamapa Bengali. He didn't make it to the top 12 because of his folk accent. That hasn't dampened Bikramjit's spirits, and he continues to sing whenever he can.
"I sing Bengali folk songs mostly but people from other languages are also requesting me to sing in their languages. Music can be a therapy for people in distress. In this situation, we need to be kind towards each other. I am happy that people are responding," he said.
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