'Chamar Pop': Dalit Politics Of Doab
19-year-old Ginny Mahi sings 'Danger Chamar' and becomes a national sensation. She's the latest in a series of singers from Punjab like Rajni Thakkarwal who say they are from the 'Chamar gharana' of music. While nationally these singers are being hailed as bold icons of Dalit assertion, within Punjab, their songs have led to a contentious debate with many reputed Dalit activists and people from the community saying that these caste-laced lyrics reflect a growing sectarianism that fragments Dalit unity. In India Matters, we explore this debate - that intensifies with elections approaching - from the Doab region of Punjab, which has a Dalit population of 40%, the highest anywhere in the country.
