Happy Day After Martin Luther King Day!  I celebrated Javed’s day a day late, and now I am celebrating Martin’s day a day late too.

To celebrate, I’m going to post some of the protest and social justice songs that have made their way from south asia to the internet.  Brace yourself, they are all really good and really inspiring.  By the end, you will be in tears and also angry about the state of the world.   The proper holiday spirit!  At least, for this holiday.

(Or, you can skip this post and only read the fun stuff, I won’t judge.  I’m actually expecting almost no views, but I still felt like I should put it up.)

Breakthrough is a wonderful organization that works on various social issues in India, and through out the world.  And it posts amazing videos to youtube, in an effort to change minds about these issues, occasionally roping in familiar figures from the film industry to help them.

(At least it has a triumphal ending?)

(not quite as happy)

(Okay, I think that is enough on women’s issues. Time for a change of pace!)

(Communal issues!  Always a good time)

And then, as a slight cheery note (or at least, cheerier), some diasporic pain.

And then there’s one from Kashmir that I won’t imbed, but instead leave up to you if you want to follow the link (and that’s just the all lyrics version, I didn’t dare link to some of the videos that added images)

And see, all of these things happening, is why I love this song.  Which says that on top of all that injustice and violence, something wonderful and innocent and beautiful can still blossom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwfCMvo19s8