In the heart of violence-struck Manipur, a powerful story of hope is unfolding. A group of tribal school children from the remote hill region of Kangpokpi have found a way to heal - through music.

These teens, part of the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, started The Friendship Band after their lives were disrupted by ethnic conflict. Many of them had lost their homes and loved ones. They had no musical training, no professional teachers - just pain, hope, and borrowed instruments.

Yet, they taught themselves to play drums, guitars, and keyboards. Their songs echo the trauma they’ve lived, but also the courage they’ve discovered. Music became their therapy, their resistance, and their voice.

Today, their tunes resonate far beyond the hills. They symbolize unity in a divided land and show that even in the darkest situations, young hearts can create light - and healing - through music.

In a place where gunshots once echoed, guitars now strum stories of peace.