Protest poetry becomes symbol of resistance

Neha Saini

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 20

Protest poetry has been making headlines as farmers continue their peaceful struggle against the Centre for introducing new farm laws.

The creative side of the community has become a strong voice of resistance through poetry. Dr Sarabjot Singh Behal, a city-based poet, has penned down a series of poetry inspired by the farmers’ stir.

Using Punjabi folk poems to raise contemporary issues, Behal’s poetry is relatable while it reflects poet’s anguish on watching a farmer struggle with such determination. His poems titled “Jugni” and “Mirza”, among others, have been released on digital portals by his students. Behal said the farmers’ agitation has become an opportunity to reinvent protest poetry.

“We had a tradition of protest poetry. Baba Nanak wrote ‘Babur Bani’, which had hymns related to Babur’s invasion. We had Baba Farid, Kabir and Baba Bulleh Shah, who reflected upon the struggles. Dulla Bhatti, another popular folk rendition is also a form of protest poetry against Akbar’s regime. I have penned down my version of ‘Sundar Mundariye’ in the present context.” He said, “The kind of literary work inspired by these protests is being done by young as well as senior artists. Protest poetry will definitely be documented in chapters of history.”