IncInk was created as a platform to encourage inclusivity (Inc) through art, which is denoted by the word (Ink). In 2019, IncInk pledged to make music accessible to the Deaf community and have kickstarted this promise by sharing music with them through Indian Sign Language (ISL). Their first ISL video of rapper/poet Spitfire’s Vartalap from his debut 4 track EP ‘Paathshala’ released last summer is out now. 

The video has been translated and signed by Deaf ISL interpreter Hardeep Singh. “Hai janam ye bas ek hi, Din ye kam karam anek hai, Nigaah to mili hai sab ko hi, Par ye mann se na hai dekhte”.

In his song Vartalap (which means conversation), Spitfire talks about having only one life to fulfil our wishes and open our minds and hearts to perceive beyond what is visible to the naked eye. Using our platform and the voice IncInk offers us, we want to take this opportunity to open up a conversation with the 10 million+ Deaf people India. 

The Vartalap ISL music video was created in collaboration with AccioMango – a community-based start-up, managed and operated by Deaf professionals and founded by deaf expert Dr Alim Chandani. It advocates and aims to create equal opportunities for the Indian Deaf Community in compliance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016. Dr Alim Chandani is also the CEO of Access Mantra Foundation (AMF), a non-profit organization that aims to create awareness among the Deaf community for information that is not easily accessible to them. 

For the song Vartalap, Dr Alim Chandani appointed Deaf signer Hardeep Singh who studied Spitfire’s lyrics for days to translate it in ISL."When I had the opportunity to interpret Spitfire’s lyrics for Vartalap, I could relate on multiple levels with his emotions and thoughts in this song. When I was interpreting this song, I immensely felt connected to it. Vartalap means “important conversation” and as a Deaf person myself, I have experienced the struggles of having a valuable conversation and conveying my thoughts and feelings to people. Two things that I value the most in my life are music and arts. Without these two essential needs, my life would have no meaning. We are now using music as a way to spread messages, and I feel people would listen more and become more empathetic to our needs.” 

Chandani through his years dealing with Deaf schools learnt that only 2% of Deaf children receive a quality education. As per his research covering 40 Deaf schools, 90% of the teachers did not even sign in Indian Sign Language. A true believer in using art and music to promote advocacy for a good cause, he jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with IncInk for this initiative. “India has been trying to promote the concept of “Inclusivity” by bridging the two communities together – PWDs (Person with Disabilities) and the Non-Disabled community. From my perspective as a Deaf expert, I see a window of opportunity to spread awareness on sign language through music. Seeing a Deaf interpreter interpreting the artist’s lyrics is one way of showing how we can create an inclusive community by inviting you (non-signers) to our world. With your support on the petition for making Indian Sign Language (ISL) become the 23rd official language of India, this will create a ripple effect on providing equal access across all areas from education to employment to entertainment to more than 10 million Deaf people in India.” 

IncInk co-founder Ranveer Singh says “We created IncInk as a platform to promote inclusivity through art, hence the name ‘IncInk’. Through our latest endeavour, we’re lending support to the cause of making Indian Sign Language the 23rd official language of India. I will be signing the official petition filed by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) India with support from the ‘Access Mantra Foundation’, who are working tirelessly to make this a reality. I urge my fellow Indians to join this cause and give it momentum by building awareness about it. We are also releasing our first sign language video on Spitfire’s track ‘Vartalap’ with the hope that the track will trigger more conversations on the issue”.

IncInk co-founder Navzar Eranee stated,  “Acceptance and access leads to independence. Independence and empowerment leads to technology and advancement. It's a long road from interpretation, to feeling music and then to hearing it. Technology all over the world is aiding people to transcend such limitations. This is a start, in a small way a big step”.

The entire country today is at somewhat of a standstill, supporting the measures taken by the Govnment to combat COVID-19. However, the Deaf community still does not have easy access to information and guidelines and relies on near and dear ones for basic information. If ISL was an official language, this would have significantly helped the Deaf community in dealing with this crisis, the way the rest of India is.