Musicians in protest: A brief summary of musician involvement in the Indian farmers’ protests

Abstract

ABSTRACT Punjabi singers produced music in support of the farmers and took on-the-ground initiatives to join the protests alongside protesters at the Delhi border and in local protests. This paper analyzes Punjabi Sikh uses of music throughout history and compares them to the music that emerged in the Farmers' Protests. This paper uses Serge Denisoff's criteria for protest music to cross-examine Punjabi protest music produced in various time periods. The Farmers' protest music and musician involvement in the protests is then scrutinized to understand its significance to the protests and to understand the relationship between Punjabi singers and their audiences.