TajWoolcock75 at 07:27, 28 October 2025

2025-10-28T07:27:50Z

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{{short description|Music made by Dalit people in India}}
'''Dalit music''' or '''Bahujan music''' is [[music]] created, produced, or inspired by [[Bahujan]]s and [[Dalit]]s, people often discriminated against on the basis of [[Caste system in India|caste]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hyperallergic.com/528733/dalit-musicians-are-playing-a-new-tune/|title=Dalit Musicians Are Playing A New Tune|date=2019-12-12|website=Hyperallergic|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> including '''''Dalit rock''''',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/magazine/844792/from-dnyaneshwari-to-dalit-rock-the-evolution-of-maharashtras-revolutionary-music|title=From Dnyaneshwari to Dalit rock: The evolution of Maharashtra's revolutionary music|last=Chanda-Vaz|first=Urmi|website=Scroll.in|date=2 August 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> '''''Bhim rap'''''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/bhim-rap-to-dalit-pop/articleshow/67211247.cms|title=Bhim rap to Dalit pop: How the music of protest is thriving|website=The Times of India|date=23 December 2018 |access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> and '''''Dalit pop'''''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/An-equal-music/article14580390.ece|title=An equal music|last=Gaikwad|first=Rahi|date=2016-08-20|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-02-05|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> as well as the [[music genre]]s of the [[Ravidassia religion|Ravidasi]]s, including ''[[Chamar]] pop'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyo.in/variety/ginni-mahi-dalit-chamar-rap-ambedkar-ravidass-punjab/story/1/12902.html|title=Ginni Mahi, queen of Chamar pop, is more than a Dalit icon|website=Dailyo.in|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> ''Bhim Palana'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsclick.in/dalit-women-active-participants-ambedkarite-movement|title=Dalit Women as Active Participants in Ambedkarite Movement|date=2020-01-09|website=NewsClick|language=en|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> ''Bhim geet''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/these-arrows-dont-miss-their-mark/296965|title=These Arrows Don't Miss Their Mark|website=Outlook India Magazine|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> and [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] [[Ambedkarism|Ambedkarite]] music.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/ginni-mahis-fresh-take-on-punjabi-music/article30692064.ece|title=Ginni Mahi's fresh take on Punjabi music|last=Sahai|first=Shrinkhla|date=2020-01-30|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-02-05|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Background==
Music is espcially important to Dalits as it is an expression of their protest, folk tales and assertion. In [[Maharashtra]], ''Dalit shahirs'' the singers and writers mostly creating content of Ambedkarite ideology and against caste oppression.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsclick.in/why-songs-are-sabotaged-dalits-and-their-music|title=Why Songs Are Sabotaged: Dalits and their Music|date=2019-10-30|website=NewsClick|language=en|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/long-reads/dalit-shahirs-of-maharashtra-bhimrao-kardaks-jalsa-against-caste-4479325.html|title=Dalit shahirs of Maharashtra: Bhimrao Kardak's jalsa against caste|website=Firstpost|date=23 May 2018 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/magazine/878456/in-the-verses-of-dalit-shahirs-you-can-hear-the-history-of-indias-anti-caste-movement|title=In the verses of Dalit shahirs, you can hear the history of India's anti-caste movement|last=Maitreya|first=Yogesh|website=Scroll.in|date=9 June 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref>

In [[Nepal]], Dalit musicians are known as ''[[Naumati Baaja]] musicians''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/caste/nepali-dalits-gorkha-casteism-culture|title='They Like Our Music, Not Us': Nepali Dalits Unite to Fight Prejudice|website=The Wire|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> In [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], ''Chamar pop'' movement was started by [[Kanshi Ram]] to popularize the [[BAMCEF]] launched in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/know/chartbustin-chamars/article9246140.ece|title=Chartbustin' Chamars|last=Andre|first=Abhimanyu Kumar & amp & Aletta|website=The Hindi Business Line|date=21 October 2016 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> In [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Parai]]s are used by dalits to express through music.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/music/resistance-and-identity-through-music-parai-dalit|title=Resistance and identity through music|website=National Herald|date=11 February 2018 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref>

==Artists==
{{Main article|List of Dalits#Music}}

* [[The Casteless Collective]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/metrolife/metrolife-your-bond-with-bengaluru/not-all-musicians-shun-politics-751072.html|title=Not all musicians shun politics|date=2019-07-31|website=Deccan Herald|language=en|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref>
* [[Amar Singh Chamkila]], Punjabi singer, songwriter, musician, performer and composer.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Attri|first=Pardeep|title=Did caste kill 'Elvis of Punjab' - Amar Singh Chamkila?|url=https://roundtableindia.co.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8686:did-caste-kill-elvis-of-punjab-amar-singh-chamkila&catid=119:feature&Itemid=132|access-date=2020-09-21|website=Round Table India|language=en-gb}}</ref>
* [[Hans Raj Hans]], Punjabi folk and sufi singer, M.P of North West Delhi <ref>{{Cite news|title=Hans Raj Hans: BJP's new Dalit face is versatile in music as well as politics|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/hans-raj-hans-bjps-new-dalit-face-is-versatile-in-music-as-well-as-politics/articleshow/69029908.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2020-09-21}}</ref>
* [[Navraj Hans]], Punjabi singer, actor, entrepreneur and performer<ref>{{Cite news|title=Daler Mehndi's daughter gets engaged to Hans Raj Hans' son - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/Daler-Mehndis-daughter-gets-engaged-to-Hans-Raj-Hans-son/articleshow/20171869.cms|access-date=2020-09-21|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Yuvraj Hans]], Punjabi singer and actor
* [[Jitendra Haripal]], Sambalpuri folk singer<ref>{{Cite web|title=Paschim Odisha Dalit Surakshya Parishad seeks Rajya Sabha berth for Padma Shri Jitendra Haripal- The New Indian Express|url=http://cms.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2019/jun/21/paschim-odisha-dalit-surakshya-parishad-seeks-rajya-sabha-berth-for-padma-shri-jitendra-haripal-1993040.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121064958/http://cms.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2019/jun/21/paschim-odisha-dalit-surakshya-parishad-seeks-rajya-sabha-berth-for-padma-shri-jitendra-haripal-1993040.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 21, 2021|access-date=2020-09-21|website=cms.newindianexpress.com}}</ref>
* [[Kanth Kaler]], Punjabi folk singer<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fighter Chamars in Beghampura - Indian Express|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/fighter-chamars-in-beghampura/1088680/|access-date=2020-09-21|website=archive.indianexpress.com}}</ref>
* [[Kishore Kumar]] 'Pagla'<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Maya-plays-Dalit-identity-card/articleshow/3761330.cms|title=Maya plays Dalit identity card|last=Dash|first=Dipak Kumar|website=The Times of India|date=27 November 2008 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref>
* [[Ginni Mahi]], Punjabi folk singer, rapper and stage performer <ref>{{Cite web|last=Welle (www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche|title=Indian 'Chamar pop' singer challenges caste with music {{!}} DW {{!}} 03.10.2016|url=https://www.dw.com/en/indian-chamar-pop-singer-challenges-caste-with-music/a-35947703|access-date=2020-09-21|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[Mooralala Marwada]], Sufi folk singer<ref>{{Cite news|last=Srinivasan|first=Meera|date=2013-03-16|title=The poet of equality|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/the-poet-of-equality/article4512166.ece|access-date=2020-09-21|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
* [[Daler Mehndi]], Punjabi Dalit singer
* [[Mukund Nayak]], folk singer, songwriter and [[Jhumair]] dancer.
* [[Nandlal Nayak]], folk artist, music composer and Nagpuri film director.
* [[Miss Pooja]], Punjabi Bhangra artist and singer<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-12-16|title=Punjabi singer Miss Pooja joins BJP|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/punjabi-singer-miss-pooja-joins-bjp/story-gLXWrdy8YRS0azC1Q67BbO.html|access-date=2020-09-21|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Manjit Rupowalia]], Punjabi singer
* [[Sumeet Samos]], rapper and singer<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-05|title='A world without sorrow': Dalit musicians in India fight bias|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3021171/untouchable-caste-dalits-india-stand-their-rights-through|access-date=2020-09-21|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Sheetal Sathe]], folk singer, poet, and Dalit rights activist<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jai Bhim - The Beats of Dalit Resistance|url=https://www.arre.co.in/music/jai-bhim-dr-babasaheb-ambedkar-dalits-india-sheetal-sathe-sachin-mali-naxalites-songs-resistance-music/|access-date=2020-09-21|website=Arré|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Mirasi]]
* [[Dalit literature]]
* [[Chamar]]
* [[Black music]]
* [[Dalit]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Sherinian, Zoe C. ''Tamil Folk Music as Dalit Liberation Theology'' (2014)

[[Category:Music by ethnicity]]
[[Category:Musician castes]]
[[Category:Dalit culture]]
[[Category:Traditional music]]
[[Category:Popular music]]

Dalit music - Revision history

TajWoolcock75 at 07:27, 28 October 2025