A video surfaced showing a police officer laughing callously after Kandula was struck by a Seattle Police officer’s speeding vehicle, has sparked outrage across the internet
US-based musician Sid Sriram has used his social media platform to express his deep sorrow over the tragic death of Jaanhavi Kandula, a young Indian student who lost her life in Seattle. The incident, which gained widespread attention after a video surfaced showing a police officer laughing callously after Kandula was struck by a Seattle Police officer’s speeding vehicle, has sparked outrage across the internet.
Sriram, who grew up in the US, shared an emotional message on his social media account, shedding light on the challenges faced by ‘brown folks’ in the US and their constrained status as the so-called ‘model minority.’ This term often implies that individuals of South Asian descent are expected to maintain a quiet, passive demeanor, excel professionally, and avoid causing any disruptions.
In his heartfelt post, Sriram stated, “I’ve been quiet on here the past couple of days; the Jaahnavi Kandula news fuc*** me up. Many brown folk who immigrated to the US in the late 8o’s, early 9o’s or later have unconsciously fit into a construct that was created for us called the ‘model minority.’ The expectation is that we are to be a quiet, passive and well-behaved bunch who keep their heads down, do exemplary work and not ruffle any feathers.”
Sriram concluded his message with a call to action, urging individuals to challenge the model minority stereotype, reject passivity, and boldly assert their individual identities without apology. He stressed the immense power of their inherent value and offered genuine condolences to Jaanhavi Kandula’s grieving family
Jaanhavi Kandula’s tragic demise occurred in January of this year when she was struck by a speeding police vehicle. Recently, a bodycam video from the incident revealed a shocking comment made by the police officer involved, who callously remarked, “Yeah, just write a cheque. USD 11,000. She was 26 anyway, she had limited value.”
Sriram strongly condemned the insensitive remarks made by the police officer and emphasized that such comments reflect the unfortunate perceptions some hold of the South Asian population in the United States.
The musician continued, “Now, while I do understand that this position is still one of privilege and that there are various groups of people around the world who face realities far, far graver, this instance/context is still one that must be spoken about. The ‘value’ that disgusting cop spoke about and the flippancy with which he said this is a direct reflection of how we as a population are viewed by many here.”
He concluded his message with a call to action, urging individuals to challenge the model minority stereotype, reject passivity, and boldly assert their individual identities without apology. He stressed the immense power of their inherent value and offered genuine condolences to Jaanhavi Kandula’s grieving family.
Sriram, known for his musical contributions in various languages including Malayalam and Telugu, has also lent his voice to songs in Bollywood, including those for the Amitabh Bachchan starrer “Jhund.”
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