MUMBAI: The Dharavi Project and Mumbai University have collectively introduced a Student Exchange programme for a Hip – Hop certification course which will enable students to learn beyond classroom sessions. The 15 week course has especially been curated to ensure that students from both the institutions learn and receive maximum exposure.

This one of its kind initiative makes a great opportunity for budding artists of the Hip-Hop community to get, support and mentorship in a surrounding, where music and education will collaborate, allowing students to analyse the social and historic roots of Hip-Hop.

The idea has been conceptualised by Prof. Yatindra Ingle, who has been actively involved in building the curriculum in tandem with The Dharavi Project Programme Head Dolly Rateshwar. The duo addressed the audiences and inaugurated the course which will help students explore the origin and roots of hip-hop. It will also give them the chance to receive exposure beyond the class room walls and learn as a team.

The Dharavi Project Trustee and Qyuki Digital Media Pvt Ltd CEO and MD Samir Bangara says, “Inspired by the impact we can create, Qyuki and Universal Music have worked relentlessly behind the scenes to give birth to India’s first Hip-Hop as an art form. The partnership with Mumbai University is the next big step in making hip-hop official curriculum and encourages student exchange from and to the true birthplace of hip-hop in India- Dharavi.”

The Dharavi Project Programme Head Dolly Rateshwar shares, “This one of a kind initiative makes a great opportunity for budding artists of the Hip-hop community to get both exposure and mentorship in a surrounding where Music and Education will collaborate allowing students to analyse the social and historic roots of Hip-hop.’’

"We have constantly endeavored to bring new ideas, look up fresh areas, explore possibilities in the sectors so that we abreast of the present and prepared future. As a part of this exploration this short term course in hip-hop has been proposed that will be offered in the department. Needlessly, to say this course is imaginative, innovative and ambitious and explores a wide range of exploring a wide range of emerging realities. We have kept the fees minimum, just so we can recover administrative costs. We are a public University and making profits it's not our purpose," adds University of Mumbai Head communication and journalism department Dr. Sanjay Ranade.

Professor Yatindra Ingle from Mumbai University shares, “We wanted to propose a course for the music genres wherein communication and media would play a vital part as we have been associated with communications and journalism. Fortunately now we have a course wherein the roots of the Hip-hop genre can be studies and the students can have an experience of infield hip-hop culture as well as theoretical aspects for the same. And now we have The Dharavi Project to build in the practical experience of the Hip-hop culture."

The course was introduced on 8 September 2018 at Mumbai University. The University of Mumbai and the Dharavi project together will be nourishing talent and creating a space for those who are keen on learning this art form.