A SONG OF BELONGING: EXPLORING DIASPORIC ROOTS AND RESILIENCE THROUGH THE SONG “I WEAR MY ROOT AS A MEDAL” BY SINGER DHEE

*Alisha Kumari, S., & **Sulagna Mohanty

*Research Scholar, Department of English and Foreign Languages, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

**Assistant Professor, Department of English and Foreign Languages, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Abstract

Music is one of the most powerful media and a universal language for effective communication and understanding. Singer Dhee, a Tamil-Australian, gives a strong voice to diasporic identity, cultural memory, and resilience through her single I Wear My Roots Like a Medal, expressing the intersection of personal narratives and collective histories within diasporic communities through the lens of contemporary music. This paper looks at how Dhee’s song shows the complex experiences of diasporic identity, cultural memory, and generational trauma by mixing pop music and Western electronic sounds with elements of Indian traditional music, creating a sound that reflects cultural blending, memory, and migration. This study examines how Dhee’s song serves as a representation of the lived realities of the diasporic communities, particularly the Tamil diaspora, by highlighting their strength and struggles. The study also emphasises how representing diasporic memory contributes to the field of diasporic studies. The song not only serves as an artistic expression but also serves as a sociocultural bridge, providing a voice that connects diasporic communities with their home and host countries, enabling them to reconnect with their roots. The paper argues in its findings that Dhee’s song is a voice of empowerment and recognition for global diasporic identities by contributing to the broader spectrum of growing diasporic heritage through art and literature.

Keywords

diaspora, fusion music, tamil diaspora, music, migration, dhee

References

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Bureau, The Hindu. “I Wear My Roots Like a Medal: Dhee Returns to Her Roots in Her Latest Single.” The Hindu, 8 Aug. 2024, https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/i-wear-my-roots-like-a-medal-dhee-returns-to-her-roots-in-her-latest-single/article68500970.ece.

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To cite this article

Alisha Kumari, S., & Sulagna Mohanty. (2025). A Song of Belonging: Exploring Diasporic Roots and Resilience through the Song “I Wear My Root as a Medal” By Singer Dhee. John Foundation Journal of EduSpark, 7(2), 42-49.

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