Muslim Hindu Punk Rock Bands are Part of a New Movement

In Wayland, Massachusetts, members of a band called The Kominas are helping a small but growing music movement in America: South Asian and Middle Eastern punk rock. The Kominas are drawing attention from Muslim and Hindu immigrants as well as disdain from traditional Muslims, who claim the music is forbidden. The movement is a subculture stemming from conservative origins. “There are a lot of contradictions going on here,” says one member. Some band members’ musical background includes classical violin and traditional Punjab music. The members say their music allows them to deal with issues like American life, women’s rights, and the conflict between East versus West. “This is one way to deal with my identity as an Arab-American,” says the guitarist from another Muslim punk rock band, Al-Thawra.

The Middle Eastern punk rock movement is accredited to Michael Muhammad Knight and his novel “The Taqwacore.” The title comes from the English word ‘hardcore’ and the Arabic word ‘Taqwa,’ meaning piety or God-fearing. The book dreamed of Muslim punk rockers, and soon after its release, South Asian and Middle Eastern punk rock bands emerged. When Basim Usmani and Shahjehan Khan discovered the book, they were already forming The Kominas, which means “scoundrels,” and following the book’s dream. They contacted Knight, and in 2007 he helped them embark on a Muslim punk rock tour. At one venue, The Kominas upset many traditional Muslims, who thought the music was “un-Islamic” and were outraged that a woman was singing onstage. The incident is depicted in an upcoming documentary called “Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam.”

There are other bands that are part of Taqwacore, and the music style can vary a little. The Kominas’ style mixes punk, ska, and funk. Al-Thawra, a band from Chicago, sings about more political topics with a more heavy metal sound. Other known bands are Sarmust from Washington D.C. and Vote Hezbollah from Texas. All the bands record and sell their own albums, and many of the members have full-time jobs. In addition to a Muslim and Hindu immigrant following, the groups have recognized Latino punks following their music. A Boston anthropologist says that the identity message behind the music will connect with immigrant populations, and the movement is “a good opportunity for stereotype-smashing.”

The Kominas, in an attempt to break their stereotype, will sing songs in Hindi on their next album, instead of only in English. Some of the members admit that they are not necessarily religious, despite their families’ wishes. Though the bands do face some discrimination because of their open attitude, they still focus on their music.