Desi swing songs that became global protest anthems long before 'Jimmy'

While Faiz's verses fuelled Shaheen Bagh protests and solidarity marches for Kanhaiya Kumar, 'Give me some sunshine' from 3 Idiots was used effectively by anti-DACA agitators on the US-Mexico border

Bappi Lahiri’s cult classic composition, “Jimmy Jimmy Aja Aja” from Disco Dancer (1982) — a song that arguably began the disco era in Bollywood — has found new currency the past few days, this time in China. The song’s catchy hook is homophonous to the mandarin phrase “jie mi” which means “Give me rice.” Thousands of Chinese social media users have taken to dancing to the 1980s Hindi superhit as they brandish empty bowls and pans. The song has become an expression of anger and frustration over the country's stringent zero-Covid policy. The empty vessels signify the scarcity of essential