Watch: Sofia Ashraf Raps For The Justice Of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Victims

Raptivst Sofia Ashraf already made waves once with her video ‘Kodaikanal Won’t,’ impactfully addressing Unilever’s unwillingness to compensate families that had been affected by their factory’s toxic waste. This video highlighted the plight of the hundreds suffering from Mercury poisoning and its virality was, in fact, a major factor behind Unilever finally admitting to their crimes and paying the victims.

Earlier this week, she announced her new cause and with it, a new video--this time focussing her lyrical sensibilities on the victims of the Bhopal Gas tragedy. In May this year, a petition was started calling on the US Department of Justice to serve a court notice to DOW chemicals (which was originally Union Carbide) holding them accountable for the 5 lakh people who were affected by the incident.

When methyl-isocyanate from the Bhopal plant saturated the surroundings the area was changed forever and even today, third-generation residents are still suffering the consequences.

As someone who has fought her way to the top in the face of multiple obstacles, Sofia is now using her work to try to renew awareness about the tragedy as she believes people have become complacent and that needs to change.

‘The internet is an incredibly volatile medium, and rap is a means, and not an end’ says Sofia. In this case, the end is 1,00,000 signatures on the petition that will force the erstwhile Union Carbide to acknowledge the manslaughter charges brought against them by the government of India. Until now the multiple notices sent to the Department of Justice have gone unnoticed and DOW chemicals has refused to appear at the trial.

The video shows Sofia arguing both sides of the case, as the angered people of Bhopal and the apathetic DOW. She urges the Department of Justice to pick a side and take a final stand in this issue that has been raging for over three decades.

The most striking image in the video is of Sofia as the Bhopal victims with a noose around her neck symbolising the 32 years they have spent hoping for justice.

Although this video is already gaining a lot of attention, there is a deadline to meet. The only way this movement will succeed is if they meet the necessary 1,00,000 signatures by 14 June. Sofia hopes that her contribution to the cause will be as successful as her previous campaigns and that the people of Bhopal will finally get the result that they’ve been hoping for all these long years.

Take a look at Ashraf’s inspirational appeal and if you want to be a part of the campaign, you can sign the petition here