Devotional Bhojpuri songs at Mumbai stations trigger row

Earlier this week, commuters on Mumbai’s Western and Central lines reported hearing devotional Bhojpuri songs broadcast over the station public address systems. The tracks, which are traditionally associated with religious festivals in the Bhojpuri‑speaking regions of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, were played during peak hours, prompting a mixture of surprise, appreciation and irritation among passengers. Several commuter groups lodged formal complaints with the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation, arguing that the language and religious tone did not reflect the city’s multicultural environment. Railway officials confirmed that the audio feed was part of a pilot program intended to promote regional culture.

Bhojpuri is one of the many languages spoken by migrants who have moved to Mumbai in search of work, and devotional music in that language often carries deep personal meaning for those listeners. At the same time, Mumbai hosts a wide array of linguistic and religious communities, and public spaces such as railway stations are expected to remain neutral. Critics of the broadcast argued that the songs could alienate non‑Bhojpuri speakers and that the religious content might be perceived as endorsement of a particular faith, which is not permissible under the city’s secular guidelines for public services.

The controversy matters to readers across India because it highlights the tension between cultural representation and the need for inclusive public policy in a densely populated urban centre. If the railway authority decides to limit language‑specific content, it could set a precedent for other cities dealing with similar diversity challenges. Conversely, a decision to continue such broadcasts may encourage other regional groups to seek greater visibility in public domains, reshaping how cultural expression is managed in shared spaces.