Diljit Dosanjh drops some real Vancouver knowledge on Jimmy Fallon show
Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday and was spitting facts about Vancouver and some of its not-so-great history.
Dosanjh performed in front of a sold-out crowd of 55,000 people earlier this month at BC Place, and he mentioned the performance on Fallon’s show, referencing some of Vancouver’s darker history.
“The stadium we did in Vancouver, like 1914, when our people came [for the] first time in Canada, they didn’t allow us to come to Canada,” Dosanjh said, referencing the Komagata Maru incident, which took place in 1914.
The Komagata Maru incident occurred when a ship carrying Indian passengers travelled aboard a steamship to Vancouver. The vessel’s name was Komagata Maru. Hundreds of passengers were denied entry, and the ship was turned back to India. Many were fired upon and killed when they returned.
“That stadium is just two kilometres away from the Guru Nanak Jahaz Komagata Maru incident,” Dosanjh pointed out.
“So, that’s a big thing for us now, 55,000 people in the one stadium there, it’s just two kilometres. You didn’t allow us to come, and now we are here, man.”
Fallon’s crowd erupted in applause in response to his comments, and Dosanjh got a “that’s amazing” from Fallon.
Fallon also pointed out that they’re teaching a course about Dosanjh at the University of Toronto. He then asked Dosanjh what his “message” is.
“My message is just love,” he said in response. “Forgiveness and respect. That’s my message. That’s it.”
@fallontonight Diljit Dosanjh (@Shivaeya) has one message: Love, forgiveness, and respect ❤️ #FallonTonight #TonightShow #DiljitDosanjh #DiljitOnFallon #JimmyFallon ♬ original sound – FallonTonight
Dosanjh also got lots of positive feedback in the comments for him and the Sikh community.
“We are so enriched by the Sikh community here in the PNW and the Lower Mainland,” one of the comments says.
Someone else said, “His whole vibe is the best energy, and we need this right now!!”