The Baaz Podcast

How do we make sense of Deep Sidhu's legacy, and the fight he was leading before his untimely death. Shamsher Singh joins Shabd Singh to discuss.  You can read Shamsher Singh's piece for Baaz here.  This podcast is brought to you in part by Chutneys Indian Grill, and Canada VisaNow (778.989.1144 | 437.9711.770).

After Beau van Erven Dorens and Timur Perlin mocked the Mool Mantar on national Dutch television, the Dutch Sikh Association and the local community mobilized to get an apology and time on the very same show to talk about Sikhs in the Netherlands and Sikhi in general. With an impressive advocacy campaign and outreach, the DSA pulled it off. Members of the organization join Shabd Singh to talk about the local community and how they found their voice. Read the Baaz article about this here. This podcast is brought to you in part by Chutneys Indian Grill, and Canada VisaNow (778.989.1144 | 437.9711.770).

Amrit Kaur joins Shabd Singh to speak about her experience as an Amritdhari Sikh fleeing Quebec to BC in order to teach while maintaining her turban and other Sikh articles of faith. Religious symbols, such as turbans and hijabs, have been banned for teachers and some other public sector employees in Quebec due to the discriminatory Bill 21.  You can read her op-ed for baaz here.

2021 was a year to remember for the Sikh and Punjabi world. Jaskaran Sandhu joins Shabd Singh to break it all down and highlight some of the major stories and lessons from the year.  This is the final episode for 2021, we will be back in mid-January of 2022!  Thank you for all the support over the past year. If you enjoy what you read, watch, and listen to at Baaz, please consider becoming a paid subscriber!

Mansi Kaur joins Shabd Singh to discuss Benjamin Strick's recent report on Indian disinfo campaigns unleashed on social media against Sikhs and the Farmers' Protest. Mansi Kaur also discusses her experience investigating the BJP IT Cell and the people behind these fake accounts spreading disinfo, hate, and state propaganda. You can read Mansi Kaur's piece here, and about Benjamin's Sticks report here.

Manvinder Kaur joins Shabd Singh this week to speak about alcohol use in the Punjabi community, how do we address issues around it, and how do we look critically at what we understand as culture. You can read her co-authored piece on the issue here. 

Sandeep Singh visits Punjabi Lane, in Shillong, Meghalaya where Sikhs are being pushed out of their homes in a forced relocation.  Dalit Sikhs have called the Lane home for over 150 years. However, the Meghalaya government and the Shillong Municipal Board have signed a contentious agreement with the Syiem of Mylliem to transfer the land to the state. Sandeep speaks with locals about what is happening and how they plan to fight back.  You can read Sandeep's in-depth written piece here. 

Sandeep Singh guests in this week's episode to discuss the Lakhimpur Kheri Massacre. The son of a BJP minister is alleged to have driven the vehicle that mowed down farmers peacefully protesting in the district and was subsequently arrested. Sandeep Singh covered the massacre on the ground for Baaz. You can read his pieces on the incident and those killed in the attack here, here, and here.

Mankamal Singh joins Shabd Singh to speak about UK-India relations and how it shapes the experiences of Sikhs in the UK and elsewhere - from #FreeJaggiNow to the #WestMidlands3. Read Mankamal's piece, The Extraordinary Case Of The West Midlands Three, here. Support us by becoming a subscriber. 

Sandeep Singh joins Shabd Singh to speak about Modi's three farm laws, which passed one year ago and triggered the ongoing Farmers' Protest as we know it, and where we are now in the fight against them.

Amandeep Madra, Founder of the UK Punjab Heritage Association, guests in this week's Baaz Podcast to speak with Shabd Singh about the history of Jallianwala Bagh and the much-derided and crass renovations to the site by the Indian government.

Harman Kandola joins Shabd Singh to discuss what Navdeep Bains' political career and history on Sikh issues tell us about the limitations of representative politics for Sikhs in countries like Canada, which is also currently in a federal election. You can read Harman Kandola’s piece “Navdeep Bains, Disinfo Campaigns, And A Valuable Lesson For Sikh Politicians Around The World” here.

Monika Kaur joins Shabd Singh to discuss how international students are experiencing unique pressures and exploitation in Canada. This conversation comes in light of recent suicides as a result of a mental health crisis, and unprecedented protests outside the home of an employer allegedly engaged in wage theft. You can read Monika Sidhu’s Baaz articles on these topics here, and here.

Joti Kaur Rekhi joins Shabd Singh to discuss the recent Pegasus Project revelations rocking India and what the spyware and its potential targets, including Sikh journalists, all means. She also shares her thought on new social media rules in India which have been censoring dissent from Sikh accounts.

Baaz contributor Pali Kaur joins Shabd Singh today to speak about her coverage of the Punjabi entertainment industry, and how it exposes deeper conversations and trends across topics, such as the Farmers' Protest, domestic violence, and the Government of India's attempts to censor dissent from Sikhs. 

Today’s guest, for our inaugural episode, is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of Baaz, Jaskaran Sandhu. We talk about the founding of the news organization, its purpose, its editorial process, and how Baaz is already making waves since launching six months ago.