Introduction: Sahib is a Punjabi German who studied Economics and is now a Paralegal. He describes himself as a socialist who is fond of Punjabi pind (village) lifestyle and passionate about dance, everything from Bhangra to Hip-hop. In our chat we cover a broad range of sensitive subjects, hence the lack of depth at times (there is a lot cover). We talk about Sikhi, religion, South Asian & Punjabi culture, identity and freedom amongst other topics. Another diverse addition to the series ‘Talking to London’, emphasising the experiences of Londoners. Let us and Sahib know what you think. Enjoy. Peace & Love.

Audio interview is below, accompanied by photographs and selected quotes;

Sahib – Inquilab Youtube Channel
Sahib – Instagram

07 – Talking to London – Sahib by Hark1karan on Mixcloud

Interview Highlights

10 seconds: Hi! How’s it going? My name is Sahib from London. I run a Youtube channel called Inquilab channel. Which basically deals with social topics, social issues that I find are affecting our society today…. It looks at things from a South Asian perspective and a Sikh perspective.

48 seconds: I was actually born in Germany, in a sma­­ll town near Munich…. Lived there until the age of 16. At which point I moved to the UK, to a lovely place called Slough. Where I’m still living now.

1:20 min: I went to Leicester University to study economics for about 3 years, done a lot bhangra dancing over there. And then worked for 2 years in the corporate world. Decided it wasn’t for me. Went into law instead. I’m working as a paralegal in immigration & family law now.

2:06 min: I think the area I’ve grown up in Slough has affected me, both because there is a big South Asian community, my own culture group which I’ve been able to look at and analyse, and then just generally the area that I live in, which is a pretty multicultural area.

3:12 min: I went for religion and culture first because that’s what I’m most surrounded by. Most of my friends and family are Sikh, Punjabi. So the things I thought that were wrong about are society is what I wanted to pick up on.

5:25 min: I was just putting my view out there and it was interesting to see that people actually feeling personally attached or personally offended, were it was just a general open view. It kind of showed to me that my message or what I wanted to talk about can resonate with people from two angles.

6:15 min: It’s great that you meet likeminded people… but I would definitely say that I do make a conscious effort… I’ll be honest my views to some of my friends, my really close friends that I’ve grown up with have changed. They don’t necessarily agree with me, and I might now actually get along with them so much in their company, as we have so many opposing opinions. But I still choose to stay friends with them. I still hang around with them consciously because I still feel… Just because we have different views I inspire them, maybe by talking to them, or just having that conversation we can find middle ground. I can change, they can change, and go on that journey together.  Whereas I feel like it’d be less affective if I were to just leave people that I don’t get along with behind to join a group of likeminded people. Because all that’s doing is moving people from end to another, rather than people having a certain idea, staying around the dirt per se and actually trying to clean up that area. We’ll clean ourselves up and go to a clean area. Whereas I believe that we should stay where we are, keep connected to the people you’re around and then just try to maybe bring a change around there.

8:30 min: I get that sense of freedom of free thinking from Sikhi, I do get it a lot from there, it inspires me a lot. Also what I get from Sikhi is being told that at all times I’m meant to think and not take word as gospel. Challenge everything. From Sikhi it’s given me the idea to challenge and the concept of challenging things, which has then lead me to things like communism, socialism, a massive fan of Bhagat Singh.

9:18 min: So the Inquilab is Hindi word or a Urdu word, it actually means revolt or uprising. It kind of goes in line with the whole communist view and the view Phagat Singh had… Promoting the freedom of thought and revolution to the people. The way I’ve discovered that is through Sikh principles. Find out, learn and question. So there, Sikhi led me to that in a way.

10:53 min: Because the whole world is coming together, so we’re all starting to think the same way. Even the idea of spirituality or the concept of religion, everyone interprets that the same way now.

11:23 min: To me Sikhi is not rule based. So when people are making it rule based, it’s actually an issue for me. For me it’s an open book, which is open for interpretation in terms of concept, where you are, what you’re doing right now. It could be a totally different outcome at all times. Sikhi for me can never literally be the word, it’s an open word, to which I can add to I can interpret and I can make mine.

12:02 min: I live the way I live and I think I am a Sikh. To be fair all Sikh means to me is a learner.

13:32 min: Also the issue is when cultures and religions mix. It’s difficult for me to say, I’m actually in that predicament where I am Sikh, but way the Sikhism is at the moment it’s influenced by Punjabi culture. I’m also Punjabi. I’m also very culturally Punjabi. So I can see why there’s that blurred line that you don’t know what is culture and what is religion. I’m living that right now and I get confused.

13: 15 min: … I did call myself an atheist, I don’t believe in god. Which then changed to agnostic. Now I’m back again where I’m like, thinking maybe there is a higher spiritual power, or whatever.

14:25 min: I stepped back from religion because I wanted to make that distinction (culture & religion). I realised that Sikhi is not the same as Punjabi culture.

14:30 min: During the time where I stepped away from Sikhi, were I was going through my atheist phase, I was connecting more with my culture. So I actually saw the separation were I started thinking about being Punjabi, Punjabi, Punjab homeland, the idea of how Punjab was back in the when it was a melting pot of different cultures, languages and religions. Now I can come back towards Sikhi in a way, feel related to it and have the separation.

16:58 min: The things that you are told and that everyone learns are generally the popular things. Majority rules, that’s what the majority does, that’s what’s right.

18:44 min: I would even go as far and say that it’s not me as Sikh connecting with people, Sikhi has just given me the tool. I’m just a normal dude. I’m just any dude that feels connected to Punjab… Sikhi doesn’t make me, it helps me to make myself… I’m just connecting with people. Anyone. Wherever there from, it doesn’t matter. I’m just connecting with people. I’m just a person connecting with people… Sikhi is one of those tools that has helped me to do that (connect with people).

20:40 min: I interpret prayer very differently. People wake up pray and think about god. My way of connecting is that I wake up in the morning and do bhangra. That’s my way of calming my mind and being free… I wake up, put on a tune and start dancing.

22:05 min: Everything’s just a motion, everything’s a stage, a tick box… and you have to go through the motion. But we forget that times change… Now I can’t even get on the housing market. I’m struggling to become a solicitor. It’s hard out there. So I have to do certain things to make ends meet. So I’m in no position to get married, start a family and have kids.

23:06 min: Love is measured by things… The size of the ring will define how much I love someone for example.

24 min: My surroundings I’d say, that sparked my initial interest. Why are certain things the way they are. So I just started to research….. that opens up so many doors that lead to activism.

26 min: People have all come from the same place, the same frustrations, they all want something better for themselves. But that gets broken down into separate fights…. We should come together because in the end we want the same thing.

26:43 min: Let’s say we want the same thing, we join forces and we take down the problem, now who’s gonna head up the solution? Is it gonna be me or you? And that’s where the ego comes in. Really it should be a collective decision on who’s the best man for the job.

27:32 min: Everyones the same. But people are all fighting for selfish reasons. We’re not…quoting back to Sikhi, we’re one. We pretend we’re one, but we’re not one. We’re not acting like we’re one.

28:20 min: When people say it’s not gonna work, that’s the problem right there. You’re not even giving anything a chance. Before you start anything you need to have faith in it and be supportive of it. And actually want to make it work.

30 min: There is that historical thing were woman aren’t seen as equal and that’s basically fed through culture. It’s ironic because if you go via religions, women are equal. Especially in the Sikh religion. Like 100%.

31:19 min: I identify myself a lot with Sikh people and the Sikh cause…. I’m all for freedom movements. But my point is, as a human I should be supporting the freedom movement wherever it is. Joining forces with whoever.

32:05 min: The only thing I could say to someone that’s saying that I’m a liberal, and this is this, I wouldn’t actually say anything to him. I would try convince him, hence why I’m trying to do videos.

33 min: I actually think as long as someone makes an informed decision on a balanced view, and whatever way they go, I respect that. Even if it’s not the way I see. But at least someone went through the effort of looking at both sides, and not just one.

Talking to London 1 – Lee
Talking to London 2 – Mahtab
Talking to London 3 – Mayur
Talking to London 4 – Alec
Talking to London 5 – James
Talking to London 6 – Georgie (Drumz of the South)