Bant Singh is a lower caste Mazhabi, Dalit Sikh farmer and singer from the Jhabhar village in the Mansa district (Punjab, India), who
has become an agricultural labour activist, fighting against the power of the local landowner. Described by Amit Sengupta as “an icon of Dalit resistance”* he has been active in organizing poor, agricultural workers. Activism that continues despite a 2006 attack that cost him “both of his lower arms and his left leg.”*
“Bant Singh – Word Sound & Power” is a short film attempting to showcase Singh’s songs of rebellion, inter-cast conflict and violence.
Word, Sound & Power or The Bant Singh project wants to spread Singh’s social critical message to the masses using dancehall, dubstep, ragga and poetry, produced by Chris McGuinness in collaboration with dancehall artist Delhi Sultanate.
Thus we see, activism, music and documentary collide in this 12 minute piece.
* Amit Sengupta, The Dalit sword of Mansa, Himāl Southasian, October 2006. Accessible online.
