Qomewhere in the Canadian Far North lives a happy man determined to transmit joy to the whole world. To achieve this great salutary work, this benefactor of humanity does not hesitate to brave not only the cold and the snow, but also pessimism, cynicism, and even international diplomatic tensions. In a simple lumberjack shirt and orange turban, Gurdeep Pandher chose to leave his modest wooden hut located in Whitehorse (Yukon) to turn on a light in the universe. Or simply prevent it from turning off. In the open air, there he raises his knees high. Right leg, left leg. “One, two, three, and don’t forget to smile!” » : never forget to smile, that is his mantra.
Gurdeep Pandher’s infallible method for warming hearts and bodies is bhangra dance (and a YouTube channel, Of course). This prominent member of the Sikh diaspora in Canada, estimated at some 700,000 members, became known during confinement. His tutorials describe in detail this folk art originating from the region of historic Punjab (now straddling the territories of India and Pakistan) and which would find its ancient source in the harvest festivals.
In the 20the century, the bhangra style gradually left peasant circles to conquer weddings and all kinds of celebrations. He also set out to discover the world and more disco or dance sounds, but always with a strongly syncopated rhythm. Traveling in the baggage of communities from the Indian subcontinent in the great adventure of globalization, he hybridized in London, without ever losing his good humor or his communicative energy.
Planetary atmosphere agent
However, there would have been enough, many times. The cold and brutal logic of the struggle between powers, the internal rivalries between sister nations, the divisions between rival nationalisms, sectarianism and religious fanaticism: the punjabi bhangra is well placed to know that there will always be in the whirlwind of samsara – the infinite cycle of reincarnations – some twist of fate, some dark importunate ready to strike down the good atmosphere. Thus peaceful relations between India and Canada, recently turned upside down by the murder of a Sikh independence leader in British Columbia. Murder for which the Canadian Prime Minister blamed the Indian secret services. Since then, the rag has been burning, as they say, between Ottawa and New Delhi.
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