In a blend of compassion and music, there exists a band whose goal is to give back to their motherland. AllGoRhythms, a Bollywood music performing band, has found a way to combine talent with this goal. Originally from India, the band wants to help alleviate poverty in India and eradicate this growing problem in their homeland. By collaborating with a local charity, they have done exactly that. Here’s how.

Who Are They?

AllGoRhythms consists of about 13 talented musicians, all from India. They have seven lead singers, two guitarists, one pianist and three percussionists. Most came to the U.S. for employment opportunities and settled down in Seattle. Band manager and singer Sangeeta Nair spoke with The Borgen Project, saying, “It [AllGoRhythms] is our home away from home. Leaving behind our culture, way of life and traditions was so unimaginably hard for all of us. But this band gave us a space to celebrate our roots even being across the world from home.” The band was founded in 1999 by Amol Kelkar and Sumedh Barde. The founders met at their place of employment and started discussing their shared love for music. This sparked their idea to start a band. The band has been growing its audience and performing for over 20 years.

What Cause Are They Helping?

AllGoRhythms aims to help alleviate poverty in India. India grapples with the persistent issue of poverty, which impacts a significant portion of its population. Rural areas need help with agricultural issues such as land availability and climate problems. On the other hand, urban areas struggle with issues accompanying many migrants, such as job availability and low wages. India uses 10 indicators to measure multidimensional poverty, including nutrition, youth mortality, drinking water, electricity, housing, sanitation, access to cooking fuels, school attendance, years of schooling and ownership of assets. According to the National Multidimensional Poverty Index, 14.96% of India’s population is multidimensionally poor. Considering India accounts for almost a fifth of the global population, this is a significant number.

Several factors contribute to this issue. However, the major factor is overpopulation. The country’s rapidly growing population puts pressure on resources and the job market. With its current population estimated to be around 1.4 billion, unemployment and low job security have deeply contributed to the nation’s poverty level. Another contributing factor is the inadequate education system. As of 2022, there were more than 281 million illiterate people in India. This lack of sufficient education leaves many without the skills to find jobs and be able to provide for themselves. A third factor is income inequality. Primarily due to caste-based discrimination, a majority of India’s wealth is held by a tiny percentage of the population. Oxfam, an international organization dedicated to alleviating poverty, published a report in 2017 with findings showing that the top 10% of India’s population controls nearly 80% of its wealth.

What Are They Doing?

To help alleviate poverty in India, AllGoRhythms performs at various venues across Washington several times a year. During these shows, the band covers popular Bollywood songs. In addition to this, they have a separate team of writers and actors who perform a skit. While the skit is being performed, the band plays music, making themselves the center of focus. The fusion of theatre and music captivates large audiences.

Profit is made from tickets to these shows, food bought at the shows and extra donations. During each show, the band plays an educational video about poverty in India and how they plan to help, encouraging the audience to pledge additional contributions. In addition to their shows, AllGoRhythms also plays at private events such as birthday parties, weddings, etc., to increase their revenue. The initiative collaborates with two charities, Asha and CRY (Child Rights and You) and donates their proceeds to both charities.

Final Remark

AllGoRhythms is an admirable example of seemingly ordinary individuals utilizing their talent to make a positive difference. Individuals play a pivotal role in addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by impoverished communities. By actively making efforts that promote the improvement of education, health care and economic opportunities, AllGoRhythms is contributing to breaking the cycle of poverty.

– Trisha Borde
Photo: Flickr