‘If my childhood were a thread it would connect all the vibrant colours into a phulkari and remind me to be proud of my parivaar, my family.’

- from Pardes by Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa

In this episode of 3CR's Spoken Word show which aired on Thursday 20 March 2025, you will hear multiform artist Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa talk about racism, representation in the arts and her debut novel.

Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa OAM is a writer, performer, producer and cultural leader based in Boorloo. Her work as a multi-form artist for the last decade has been recognised at the Performing Arts WA Awards, Mona Brand Writing Awards, WA Multicultural Awards and Australian Sikh Awards. Her passion for storytelling began as a finalist in the Australian Poetry Slam in 2014, semi-finalist on Australia’s Got Talent in 2016 and winner of The Moth GrandSLAM in 2019.

Sukhjit has supported Missy Higgins and L-FRESH the Lion on their national tours in 2016 and 201717 and and her debut hip-hop single ‘Collectables’ is now streaming on global music platforms. Sukhjit was selected to participate in a Broadway producing program with Theatre Producers of Colour in New York (2023). She is currently producing ‘A Hairy Tale’, a documentary exploring female body hair.

Her debut novel Fully Sikh: hot chips and turmeric stains (Upswell Publishing) is available now.

Poems written and performed by Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa in this episode:

• To Advance Australia Fair
• Pardes
• Collectibles (song)

Note

Spoken word and poetry come from the heart and touch on all the topics peculiar to the human condition. As such there may be content in this show that could cause distress. Please practice self-care when listening and seek help if you need it.

Credits

Recorded and produced by Indrani Perera.

Thank you to Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa for sharing her poetry and to you for listening!