I think we’ve all seen the scene where a lone musician stands on a rain-slicked cobblestone street or a bustling subway station, their case open, their music filling the gap between the hurried footsteps of strangers. Cinema has long romanticised the busker as the ultimate symbol of “art for art’s sake.” We watch these characters on screen and feel a certain pang of envy for that level of creative freedom, the ability to turn a public sidewalk into a private concert hall and find a connection with a city through nothing but music. It represents a raw, unscripted beauty that many of us wish we could witness more often in our daily lives.
In India, that culture has often felt like a distant concept, or perhaps something reserved for the bohemian corners of the world. While we have our share of street performers, the idea of a professional musician busking as a respected and supported career path has been rare. That is, until you find yourself strolling through the streets of Meghalaya and suddenly witness high-fidelity acoustics drifting through the air, merging with the whispers of the hills. It’s a moment that feels like a dream, but the reality behind it is even more impressive: it is a meticulously supported government initiative.
For those of us from places where the term “independent artist” is often synonymous with “struggling artist,” seeing a state government actively curate and fund the local music scene is a massive point of admiration. It makes you a little envious, honestly, considering how incredibly difficult it is to sustain a creative career independently in most parts of the country. In Meghalaya, they have turned this challenge on its head through the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Program (earlier known as Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project). Launched on April 26, 2022, by Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Conrad K. Sangma, the initiative has evolved from a modest project to a powerful system that supports local talent sincerely. “We introduced the Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project in 2022, with a simple yet ambitious goal: to turn the raw energy of our hills into a real and sustainable opportunity,” the CM stated earlier. By partnering with local business outlets for café gigs and organising street performances in hubs like Shillong, Sohra, Jowai, and Tura, the initiative has taken the first Government-aided steps towards normalising music as a serious professional pathway.
Former Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh too has been a key driver in this expansion, while emphasising that “Music is Meghalaya’s gift to the world” and that the state’s mission is to ensure that local artists get a platform to showcase their full potential.
By formalising busking and cafe gigs, the Meghalaya government is giving musicians the much-deserved dignity of professionals who contribute to the state’s economy of tourism. Speaking of the initiative, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who has often spoken of his own personal connection to music stated“I want every young artist in our state to feel seen, heard, and empowered to chase their dreams, with access to the right tools, training, and a stage,” His vision highlights a fundamental shift in how we view the arts. Instead of seeing music as a hobby to be pursued after a “real” job, the CMMGMP treats it as the job itself.
The initiative has been helping artists of Meghalaya by creating a bridge between their work and an audience. Speaking of the experience, musician brothers Dan Wahlang and Zac Wahlang share, “MGMP has been a very special part of our journey, giving us a platform to grow not just as singers but as individuals. It is through this program that we were able to showcase our talent and share our music with people.” Winners of the Statewide Fan Favourite award in the MGMP awards 2025, they continue, “Over time, we started believing more in ourselves, in our voices, and in the original songs our mother wrote for us. This experience has shaped us in the best way and helped us understand what it truly means to be an artist.“
This sentiment is echoed across genres. Country artist Jovial Mawrie highlights the practical benefits and says, “CMMGMP is a platform where you can showcase your talents. And not just that, you earn money through each performance. So, as a country artist, this project has helped me a lot,”. “I also would like to encourage other talented musicians out there to register and promote yourself, especially the budding artists,” he adds.
Momo Gajan Basumatary, the bassist of the band Bending Waves who won the Best Performing Band at the MGMP awards the previous year, further substantiated the ripple effect and says, “Over time, we managed to get gigs and that’s how we saved up from all of those gigs and were able to fund our music videos and everything.”
CMMGMP supports not only musicians but the entire musical ecosystem, creating 100+ salaried jobs including sound technicians, light engineers, and stage crews alongside the performers themselves. Gino Arnold, an Artist Manager, recalls the immediate emotional impact on artists: “I recall this one artist saying, ‘Oh MGMP, where have you been all my life?’. Another artist stated, ‘Music is therapy and Meghalaya has taken an interest in it.’”
Additionally, the initiative has also helped the hospitality industry and the local music scene create a synergy of mutual support. As Manager of Orchid Lake Resort stated earlier,“Musical evenings organised by MGMP create a warm and cozy atmosphere and add good vibes to the restaurant ambiance with local artists performing and showcasing their talent which is much appreciated by all the guests visiting our resort, as a result it has enhanced the overall service and is highly recommended.”
CMMGMP uses a registration system to identify and support talent at all levels. “We cater to the amateurs more since they will be the future someday,” Arnold explains. “When it comes to the experienced musicians, we do our best to give them the recognition they deserve,” he adds.
What truly sets this apart is the scale. With a budget that has surged to ₹69 crore in its latest phase and has supported over 5400 local artists, the initiative is shifting from a small-scale project into a cultural revolution that also boosts the tourism industry. This includes plans of new initiatives to provide recording studios, high quality instruments, and equipment to artists, a subject of admiration in a country where music as a career is often scoffed at.
As Gino Arnold concludes, he says,“Our primary goal is to empower the state through music and tourism. Music is so much bigger than we know. Imagine what we can discover if everybody gets a shot with their music” hinting at plans for international collaboration in the future.
Now in its fourth year, the initiative has matured into a cultural phenomenon that transcends simple performance. For the rest of India, Meghalaya stands as a lighthouse. It proves that when art is treated as infrastructure rather than a luxury, the entire community benefits. Today, as you walk through the streets where melodies of the Duitara and guitar mingle, know that the music you hear is a symphony of the hard work of artists and the sound of a state investing in its own identity, giving its musicians a future where their talent is the most valuable currency they own.
Note: All photo credits belong to @megh.grassroots.music.program
