Welcome back to another PopShift newsletter. Today we’re looking at the parallels between the US and India when it comes to revising (or just ignoring) important historical topics in public school curriculums. Then we shine a spotlight on TikTok’s favorite lover boy, Dhruv, before announcing a surprise 👀 Scroll to find out!

— Rosh

Ignoring History Won’t Change It

The US and India, the world’s oldest and largest democracies respectively, are both in the throws of passionate debates about public education history curriculums.

What is India doing?
India’s National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) recently announced that they will remove chapters about Mughal rule and Islamic history from the standardized school curriculums in the new academic year.

The Mughal Empire, though an imperial regime, undeniably created a lasting legacy in modern India. It was during these two centuries that some of the country’s most iconic monuments – The Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, etc. – were built. For a government that is increasingly criticized for Islamophobic policies, this move is just the latest controversy.

What is the US doing?
US public schools have already been long criticized for poor Black history curriculums. Little is taught about the major contributions Black Americans have made to the country or about world history outside of Europe. Now, multiple states have passed legislation that restricts what can be taught in schools, especially materials that can cause students “discomfort” or “guilt.”

Educators feel that reevaluating curriculums to exclude material on critical race theory, which teaches how the country’s social institutions – criminal justice, housing, healthcare, etc. – are inherently embedded with racism, will only make the problems worse.

Why are people upset?
By ignoring critical race theory, we fail to acknowledge the US’s very real racist history and how it impacts the present. How can we build toward an equitable future if we refuse to acknowledge the existing racial inequities? Similarly, if we outright refuse to teach about Mughal history, then there is little to explain how India came to be what it is today.

Historians in both countries are outraged by these decisions and weary of the precedent it will set for these supposed democratic nations. They argue that we can teach about racism and imperialism without glorifying either and that ignoring the events teaches an inaccurate chronology.

Refusing to acknowledge history does not change history, but it does set the stage for history to get lost. There’s a reason why tragedies are always accompanied by the phrase, “Never forget.” If we don’t know our history, how can we avoid repeating mistakes from the past?

Save the Date: PopShift is Coming to NYC!

PopShift Music Festival is a two-day experience that will feature a unique blend of art, music, and culture. On May 19, the festival kicks off with an Art Mixer, where attendees can engage with various visual art installations and listen to up-and-coming South Asian artists. On May 20, the festival continues with a Music Concert featuring a talented lineup of artists who will perform live on stage.

Our loyal PopShift Newsletter subscribers will be the first to know details + get early access to tickets!

Watchlist: Dhruv and his Soulful, Safe Sounds

Singer-songwriter Dhruv Sharma will make you do a “double take.”

His soulful voice and chill R&B beats have attracted a large fan base on social media. You may know about the famous “Photo Crop” TikTok challenge that features Dhruv’s song “Double Take.” It’s hard to miss, especially since the song has 504M+ listens on Spotify and 2.3M+ videos on TikTok.

@paigeandhollyofficial

we’re not competitive at all 👀 #doubletakechallenge #lgbt #wlw

Dhruv’s rise to fame happened naturally by embracing his identity: brown, Singaporean, and queer. The London-born artist went from studying at Yale University to touring with stars like Joji and having his tracks featured in Netflix originals.

While many South Asians grew up in environments laden with toxic masculinity, Dhruv embraces the soft emotions of love. On “Moonlight”, he croons “I wanna feel safe with you / But never be tame with you,” admitting that he wants someone else to make him feel secure.

The popularity of Dhruv shows us the importance of normalizing feelings instead of repressing them. And his melancholic vibes are sure to help you get into your feels.

Other Notable News

• Raghav and Tesher released a new track “Desperado.”

• PEAK released a new album “99 Reasons.”

• Netflix released a new South Asian reality dating series “IRL: In Real Love.”

• Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is set to direct the new “Star Wars” film.

• Simone Ashley is set to play the role of Indira in the new film “The Little Mermaid.”

• Sani is now available at Nordstrom.

Listen to the PopShift Playlist on Spotify.

Writers: Roshni Lalchandani, Saumya Monga

Editors: Raghu Alla, Roshni Lalchandani