I wrote a short piece for Baaz about the concept of chardi kala I aim to instill in my music and activism. Except below and read the full piece here.
Chardi kala is a practice, a vision, and a call to action.
Often oversimplified as simply meaning “optimistic,” chardi kala is deeper than an individual’s positive mindset, it is a collective steadfast determination of Sikhs, a resilience, a yearning for justice, and the will to achieve it. When we look at Sikh history as well as the current ongoing protests led by millions of Punjabi Sikh farmers, we get a glimpse of the true chardi kala spirit…
My music does not have a set of strategic and tangible goals like that of an effective organizing campaign. We artists attempt to tap into the emotional, subconscious, and spiritual realms. With our sounds and visuals, I simply hope my work makes people feel something. We are living through desperate times and I hope my music becomes a place of solace for listeners. I hope my music helps listeners begin to envision the world they want to live in. Once we can imagine it, we have no choice but to act.
I am calling my album Chardi Kala because this is precisely what I hope to accomplish through my music - to lift our spirits and fuel our work for the liberation of people.