Asian Network

New voices and new sounds from the Asian Network. Beant explores the mystical and conscious music of Panjab. From Hinduism, Sikhi and Sufism to the folk traditions and poetry that have shaped generations, Beant explores how music has carried Panjabi spirituality, history and philosophy through the ages. Featuring artists including Gurdas Maan, Kuldeep Manak, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Surinder Kaur and Chamkila and Amarjyot, the show moves through songs about love, honour, separation, sacrifice and the search for something beyond the material world. Beant looks at the poetry of figures such as Bulleh Shah and Shah Hussain, and the way centuries-old stories and verses continue to live through music today. He also explores the history of Panjab, from tales of its folk heroes to songs reflecting on Partition and colonialism. In his Moment That Made Me, Beant shares how discovering Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan while studying for his GCSEs opened the door to Sufi poetry and a deeper fascination with the spiritual traditions of the region. A journey through music, memory, spirituality and history, this show celebrates a tradition where ancient stories and ideas continue to find a voice in the present. Produced in Birmingham by Solis Productions for BBC Asian Network.