School Is In

"We’re bringing Desi back

Them ABCD’s don’t know how to act

We’re gonna show them how to do their maths

And get them back on the premed track”

Ah the sweet melodies of self-mockery. Desi a cappella group Kranti, is spicing up academic life at the University of Baltimore, with their take on the traditional singing ensemble. Although a capella groups have been a staple on college campuses for decades, only over the past 10 years, an increasing number of desi groups been flourishing at campuses across the U.S.

While drawing inspiration from the progenitor of all desi a cappella groups, Penn Masala, the new groups sing in Hindi and English, riffing on everything from popular Bollywood songs to spoofs of English songs with desi inspired lyrics.

Groups such as Penn Masala (University of Pennsylvania), Raagapella (Stanford), Kranti (University of Baltimore), and Desi Hungama (Clark University) perform and compete around the world to hungry audiences eager for some desi flavor.

Get a taste.

Penn Masala, www.pennmasala.com

Kranti, www.jhu.edu/kranti

Desi Hungama, www.clark.edu/students/desihungama

Raagapella, www.raagapella.com