RJ Rafiq — How Radio’s ‘Ranveer Singh’ inspires youth in the Valley

 Written By: Peer Viqar Ul Aslam | Peerzada Muzammil

SRINAGAR: Within a very short period, RJ Rafiq’s name has shot to prominence in the radio industry. The popular radio personality has been broadcasting on high-profile entertainment shows for years and has built up a wide fan base along the way. Apart from being critically acclaimed Radio Jockey, Rafiq’s multiverse bank of talent has enabled him to earn him a multitude of fans across the Jammu and Kashmir.

Mohammad Rafiq Pir (28), known by alias RJ Rafiq, hails from Handwara town of Kupwara district in Kashmir. Rafiq despite facing severe hardships in his childhood managed through his hard work and perseverance to ascend the ladder of success at a very young age, owing to which he has become a timely inspiration for youth.

Perhaps one of the reasons that the radio jockey has a knack for connecting with fans is that he comes from a humble background and knows what it’s like to be on the other side of the broadcast. Growing up Rafiq was usually found playing with a toy microphone pretending to be an RJ. Even at that young age, he had a knack for making people smile and was able to keep his ongoing radio shows entertaining through the force of his personality.

After losing his father at a tender age, Rafiq had to spend a major chunk of his early life in a boarding facility. After leaving the boarding facility, he was both jobless and homeless in a city that threw a cascading spate of challenges at him daily.

“For days I went without proper meals but kept trying my luck and finally managed to land in a small job at a local TV channel as a transmission expert, with a promise of enough food and a roof over my head,” says Rafiq. Rafiq worked at the channel for a few years before finding his way back to Radio— his first love.

This drive and desire eventually manifested into a professional endeavor. The earliest example of this was his first foray into radio through a talk show and he was awarded a small role at the Radio Kashmir's narration desk. He was guided by some of the well-known radio personalities like Merajuddin Ahmad, G.R. Akhoon, Talha Jahangir, and Sunil Dhar. Showing a natural aptitude for the work, he was subsequently given a spot overnight on the weekend where he could regularly broadcast.

After incessant strife through the trying circumstances, Rafiq’s hard work finally paid off. “When people ask me about my struggle, I have nothing to tell than the fact that once you are dedicated, you will eventually grow. Nevertheless, life is a rollercoaster ride,” says Rafiq.

Eventually, the radio host decided to try his luck on a bigger stage and made his way Red FM to see if he could make it into the entertainment industry on a bigger scale. The answer to that question turned out to be a resounding yes. Early career successes saw him hosting a variety of shows including various non-traditional shows like Vellapanti and Badasbox at the Red FM.

However, some of his most notable work may be how he’s able to connect his fans to the social causes and guide youth towards positivity. Through interviews, social media interactions, and daily life, RJ Rafiq has long shown himself capable of bringing us a closer look at happenings that go unnoticed, he tells it all from social issues, the struggle of artists to the emerging music industry in Kashmir.

Amid the pandemic, wherein every stone has been left unturned by the deadly novel-coronavirus, the awareness campaigning among the masses is indispensable. RJ Rafiq has been one of the key-role players in spreading awareness among the people through his Radio Jockeying on Red FM.

“We do not only talk about the necessary measures that an ordinary man has to take to stay safe, but we also manage to help patients who are in dire need of plasma,” says Rafiq.

“These circumstances are extremely trying, and the overwhelming rise in the COVID-19 cases in the valley is making it equally difficult. One of the vital things we have been doing is to connect the plasma donors with the patients who are in need,” he adds.

Besides Jockeying, Rafiq has been actively taking part in artistic endeavors like acting. He recently appeared as a male lead in one of the songs of Jan Nisar Lone, ‘Rouvmut Dildar’. The song was not only critically well-received, but Rafiq’s acting finesse also earned him, even more, love and respect from the viewers.

Nonetheless, RJ Rafiq carries on his legacy to inspire youth to take up things they love and appears to be a perfect role model for them to chase their dreams.