‘Delhi Chalo’: How Songs of Resistance by Punjab and Haryana’s Singers Helping Farmers Keep Their Morale High

New Delhi- As farmers from Punjab and Haryana are engaged in a battle with security forces at Ambala’s Shambhu border in a bid to march to New Delhi with a charter of demands, their tractors, installed with DJs, blare songs of rebellion, resistance and revolution.

Inspired by 13-month farmers’ agitation at Delhi border in 2020-21, singers from the two states churned out one number after another to give the movement a fodder to survive and ensure that morale of the fighting peasants continue to remain high.

The farmers at the Punjab-Haryana border have refused to budge from their decision to march towards the national capital. After their exhaustive late night talks with Central government representatives (Cabinet ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai) failed to reach consensus, they began rushing to Delhi as part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ call. 

They want a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP), pension benefits for those who are above 65, a complete farm loan waiver throughout the country, waiver of high electricity bills and withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill, among others.

The most common songs that are being heard from their tractors include two farmer anthems — one sung Ajay Hooda and the other by over 10 Punjabi singers led by Mankirt Aulakh. 

Another popular song that is being played out is ‘Jawani Zindabad’. Sung by popular singer Kanwar Grewal, who had been camping at the Tikri border since the previous agitation against now repealed three controversial farm laws began in June, 2020. 

The song served as an ode to the role played by the youth in this agitation and doing the same is the ongoing protest as well.

Grewal had earlier released another song titled ‘Pecha’ in collaboration with Harf Cheema. 

Songs such as ‘Kisan Andolan’ by Pinder Kahlon, ‘Baaghi Kisan’ aired by Smart-E, ‘Chup Karja Delhiye’ sung by G. Sandhu, Gagan Mallah’s ‘Sun Delhiye’ and ‘Delhi Fateh’ released by Rajvir Sidhu can also be heard amid loud music and fanfare.

‘Haq’ sung by Harbhajan Mann, an actor-turned singer, is also echoing in the air protest, piercing thunders of continued tear gas shelling and intermittent lathi charge. 

His other ‘Anndata’, which is also popular among many, is a soft soulful number, expressing gratitude to the farmer and his profession.

Haryanvi Singers Are Also Not Behind

Following the suit, songs and numbers sung by singers from Haryana in support of farmers too continue to ignite revolutionary fervour in the protesting farmers.

Released by Raju Punjabi, ‘Kisan’ is one among them.

‘Kisan Delhiye’ by Kelam Siwach is another popular song the protesters are playing out, unfazed by the brute force they are facing. The song states, “Hak lene aaya se kisan Dilliye, leven na tu humare imtihaan Dilliye (We are here to claim our rights, don’t test us too much, Delhi).”

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