Here's the scene: a street performance in Dang, western Nepal. The loud music, the bright colors. Euphoria fills the air, with clapping and laughter. And on stage, surrounded by a cheering crowd, a group of policemen and policewomen, along with the citizens, are singing their hearts out.Police personnel and citizens gathered for a creative song and dance face-off in Dang. The program organized by Search for Common Ground (SFCG), in partnership with Nepal Police under UKAID funded Pahunch project, was designed to improve relations between the police and citizens in Nepal. Police officers and civilian representatives faced each other in a singing dialogue competition, in front of hundreds of surprised and amused people.
The performance was carried out in a style called dohori, a dialogue between two parties who make their arguments through songs and rhymes (and the occasional dance move!). "I have never seen anything like this", said Sita, a 62-year-old woman in the crowd. For her and many others attending, seeing a police officer's singing performance was an absolute first. For Search for Common Ground (SFCG), it was yet another demonstration that culture and music can bridge the toughest divides.
In communities across the country, the relationship between the police and civilians is affected by mistrust and low cooperation. The results are poor access to justice and a decreased standard of living for everybody—the civilians, who don't feel safe, and the police, who feel isolated from the people that they're supposed to serve. With Pahunch, SFCG is creating occasions for the two groups to get to know each other and cooperate. Creative outreach campaigns are a big part of this process. With the dohori festival in Dang, we captured the attention of a huge audience at once, easing social tensions that run deep.
The team of civilians started the debate with a playful question. "Where are you these days / we don't see you in our village. / Hope you're working hard and not indulging in merrymaking..." they sang. The police personnel replied quickly, picking up the rhyme: "We've been busy taking care of you! No time for merrymaking, / we're busy keeping you safe. / Gift us with a smile, / and we'll serve you with all of our hearts!" Their response was met with thunderous clapping by the audience and the team of civilians themselves.
They went on to discuss serious security issues, such as drug abuse and gender violence, while tossing teasing questions at each other in the form of song (and showing an unsuspected talent for finding the right rhyme very quickly). What emerged from the dohori debate is that the police cannot function in isolation. Both parties agreed that they needed to support each other. The police needs to be trusted by the public in order to function well; the public should be able to share grievances with the police, in order to ensure accountability and smooth service delivery.
After the dohori ended and the performers caught their breath, the police facilitated question and answer session for the audience. It was a precious occasion for both groups to voice their concerns and opinions. The reactions of the citizens and the officers alike were overwhelmingly positive.
"This creative dialogue has given us an opportunity to know the police better. We had many misconceptions about them. After hearing the police we feel empathetic towards them, and we also realize that they can work better if they have the public support," opined a spectator. Twenty-four-year-old Swatantra said that he was mesmerized by the down-to-earth character of the police personnel. "I have always feared the police. I used to think of them as a symbol of fear," he said. "But my perception of them has changed drastically. They sing, dance and have a good time like we do. They are no different."
Kuber Kadayat, Superintendent of Police for Dang district, said, "This program is very refreshing. I see the public complaining about the police all the time, but we never had a chance to clear things out so publicly. This program has helped bring the police and the public together." He also stressed that his agency would explore meaningful ways to ensure citizens are satisfied with justice and security services.
Some divides look impossible to bridge, until we take a close look at each other and realize that we want the same things—peace, harmony, prosperity. When we humanize the other, barriers that seemed insurmountable crumble. This time, it was music and dance that helped create a connection stronger than mistrust and fear. With continued support, it will turn the future of hope that the people want into a reality.
Joshi is Communications and Outreach Coordinator and Adhikari is Field Coordinator at Search for Common Ground (SFCG) Nepal
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