Music meets movement in Greenpeace India’s latest collaboration to bring the heatwave crisis into the mainstream.
India is heating up! , and not just the weather.
Temperatures across cities like Delhi are regularly breaching 45°C, turning streets into furnaces. But for millions of informal workers, from farmers to waste pickers, construction laborers to sanitation staff this isn’t just uncomfortable. It’s unbearable. It’s deadly.
And yet, their stories remain missing from public discourse.
That silence ends now.
Enter “Heatwave”, a powerful rap song by independent artist Mahi G, in collaboration with Greenpeace India.
This is not just a song. It’s a cry for justice. It’s a campaign in rhythm.
Voices From the Shadows
“It bhatto mein jalta, upar se dhoop mein khoon ubalta…” Burnt in brick kilns, blood boiling in the sun. These aren’t just powerful lyrics. They are lived experiences.
Each verse of Heatwave is rooted in the lives of people who power our cities: the ones who grow our food, sweep our streets, build our homes , often without protection, recognition, or rest. Mahi G channels these truths into urgent, unfiltered poetry.
Why Music? Why Now?
Because culture has reach. And music is its loudest megaphone.
Policy briefs don’t always move hearts. But rhythm does. At Greenpeace India, we’ve long believed that creative storytelling has the power to break through apathy. And with Heatwave, we’re using art to make the climate crisis visible, human, and personal.From visuals of workers sweating through toxic heat, the video for Heatwave tells a story too often ignored, through visuals and lyrics that stay with you long after the beat fades.
The Policy Gap
India experiences some of the deadliest heat waves in the world. Yet, shockingly, heatwaves are not officially recognised as a national disaster.
This means:
- No comprehensive national action plans
- No guaranteed relief funds
- No legal protections for millions of workers
In a country where over 80% of the workforce is informal, the lack of policy isn’t just an oversight. It’s a failure of justice.
We can’t keep treating heatwaves like seasonal inconveniences. They are public health emergencies. And our response must rise to meet the crisis.
What We’re Demanding
- Declare heatwaves a national disaster
- Mandate safety protocols (rest breaks, hydration, shaded workspaces)
- Strengthen early warning systems and climate risk communication
- Establish community cooling centers, especially in urban slums and rural areas
- Invest in heat-resilient infrastructure, with a focus on the poor and vulnerable
From the Artist
“Heatwaves aren’t just a weather update. They’re a daily reality for millions who work under the sun, with no protection, no spotlight. When Greenpeace India approached me with the idea, it struck a chord. This wasn’t about making a song. It was about amplifying voices that are constantly ignored.”
“Partnering with Greenpeace India gave me the space to explore activism through art. I wanted the lyrics to be raw, real, and reflect what’s actually happening around us. I’m hoping the track doesn’t just get heard. I hope it gets felt. Because only when we feel, we act.”
— Mahi G
Spread the word: Use hashtags
#HeatwaveAnthem #DelhiRising #ClimateJustice #GreenpeaceIndia
This World Environment Month, let’s listen to what the frontline workers are telling us , through sweat, song, and silence.
Let’s turn up the volume on climate justice.
Author
Gayani Chathurika Punchihewa is a communications professional working at the intersection of storytelling, public engagement, and climate advocacy. She currently serves as the Deputy Program Director for Engagement at Greenpeace South Asia.
