Recently, my sister recounted an incident from my nephew’s school multicultural celebration that left me deeply unsettled. In a community with a significant South Asian population, predominantly non-Punjabi Hindus, the school decided to showcase ‘India’s hip-hop’ dance. To our dismay, this turned out to be bhangra dance. As the dhol drums began to play, a group of non-Punjabi dancers took the stage, attempting a Bollywood-esque version of bhangra. Watching this unfold, or rather hearing about it, sparked a feeling of profound disappointment and cultural misrepresentation. It wasn’t about who was performing bhangra dance, but how it was being presented. It was a disservice to the rich heritage of Bhangra Dance Bhangra Dance.
This situation echoed a similar experience with the dance group Bhangra Empire on America’s Got Talent. To provide context for a wider audience, the captain of Bhangra Empire described their performance as an ‘Indian dance.’ While understandable in its intent to connect with viewers, this simplification felt disingenuous. Bhangra, fundamentally, is not just an ‘Indian dance’; it is distinctly a Punjabi dance. Attributing it solely to India dilutes its specific cultural origins and meaning.
This issue of cultural appropriation extends beyond dance. A trip to Himachal Pradesh, a region with historical ties to Punjab, further highlighted this. Observing the prevalence of kadas (steel bracelets) among the predominantly Hindu population there raised questions. Is this adoption of a Sikh symbol a genuine understanding and respect for the Khalsa panth and Guru Gobind Singh’s philosophy? Or is it a superficial embrace of Punjabi Sikh identity simply because it’s become fashionable? Much like the bhangra dance misrepresentation, it feels like a dilution, a cultural whitewashing. It’s convenient to adopt symbols of minority cultures when they are perceived as ‘cool,’ yet the deeper commitment to understanding and supporting those cultures often remains absent. When the need arises to defend Sikh or Punjabi rights, these appropriated symbols are readily discarded, allowing individuals to revert to their primary identity without consequence.
This isn’t about animosity or division. It’s about honesty and respect in cultural exchange. If you are not Sikh or Punjabi and engage with elements of our culture, ask yourself why. Why not acknowledge the origins? Why not present bhangra dance as a tribute to Punjabi tradition, rather than labeling it generically as ‘Indian hip-hop’? This also calls for introspection within our own community. Do we, as Punjabis and Sikhs, challenge the cultural co-option by other South Asian groups? Equally importantly, do we address instances within our own community where Punjabi Sikhs downplay their distinct heritage to assimilate into a broader ‘Indian’ identity?
Authentic cultural exchange is built on respect and understanding. However, when there is a power imbalance, it becomes problematic when a dominant group misrepresents and appropriates the cultural symbols and traditions of minority groups without giving due recognition or respect to their origins.
The emcee who introduced bhangra dance as ‘India’s hip-hop’ and the Bhangra Empire captain who broadly termed it ‘Indian dance’ missed an opportunity for cultural education. Fame and visibility should come with a responsibility to accurately represent the cultural heritage that underpins these platforms. To the people of Himachal Pradesh, understanding your history is crucial; wearing a kara should be more than just an aesthetic choice. It’s a symbol of Sikhi, not merely Punjabiyat, a distinction that needs to be understood. The confusion around this in Himachal Pradesh exemplifies the broader issue: the selective adoption of Sikh and Punjabi culture when convenient, coupled with a lack of genuine acknowledgment or understanding. This cultural appropriation needs to be recognized and called out. For Sikhs and Punjabis, it’s imperative to speak up and reclaim the narrative surrounding our cultural identity and traditions like bhangra dance bhangra dance.
