Diljit Dosanjh stopped by Jimmy Fallon to promote his new album, explain some simple Punjabi phrases and talk about his tour. Dosanjh explained that his tour kicked off in Vancouver playing to 55,000 people, just a few kilometres away from the Komagata Maru incident. In 1914, the Japanese steamship, Komogata Maru, arrived in Vancouver carrying 376 passengers (340 Sikhs, 24 Muslims, and 12 Hindus). Despite being British subjects they were denied entry to Canada because the country had taken measures prevent South Asians from immigrating. Ultimately only 24 people were allowed to disembark, the ship sat for two months in the port before being forced to travel back to India without being allowed to make any stops en route. When the ship arrived in Kolkata, Indian Imperial Police attempted to arrest the group leaders on the ship, leading to police opening fire and killing 20 passengers. The Komagata Maru incident highlights Canada’s racially discriminatory immigration policies.
