Bollywood fan or not, it is hard to miss Shahrukh Khan and Kajol running through ‘Sarson ke khet’ (mustard fields) to the soundtrack of ‘Tujhe dekha toh yeh jaana sanam’ setting the precedent for lovesick Bollywood couples to run through fields of gladiolus plants proclaiming their love. But Punjab, the backdrop to Bollywood’s rural aesthetic, has been suffering for the past few years and the farmers’ protests are further proof of that. With Bollywood no longer in sight to speak up for Punjab, Brown History (an Instagram page re-telling and reclaiming South Asian history) in collaboration with Love Closely ( who create meaningful streetwear rooted in art, culture, and history) has come up with a gladiolus -inspired sweatshirt for The Punjab Collection to raise awareness as well as funds for The Sikh Awareness Foundation.
“Punjab is the breadbasket of India but she is hurting. Rising poverty, high suicide rates, and a declining agriculture sector have left families and communities broken and vulnerable. The Punjab collection – including these hoodies with the gladiolus flower embroidery – has been created in collaboration with @loveclosely - in order to raise proceeds for those in need of a helping hand. 100% of all profits will be donated to @safinternational (The Sikh Awareness Foundation),” said Brown History on their Instagram page.
Love blossoms in the fields of Punjab in cinema but the harsh reality demands that we stand in solidarity with the farmers and communities of Punjab that have had to face repercussions of the Green Revolution, bad agricultural policies, and poverty. The time to speak up is now.
You can shop from The Punjab Collection here.
To know more about Brown History, check out their Instagram here.
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