Diljit Dosanjh Recalls Komagata Maru Following Packed Vancouver Stadium For Aura Tour - Why Is It Significant?

Diljit

Dosanjh has come a long way in his career. From being a Punjabi sensation to representing India globally, he has achieved fame and popularity after years of relentless hard work. A packed concert is a dream seen by every artiste. Talking on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Diljit recalled performing for over 50,000 Indians at his recent Vancouver concert amid the ongoing Aura tour. Connecting it with the Komagata Maru incident, the Punjabi actor-singer shared why it was an emotional moment for him. Diljit reunited with Fallon after two years.

What is Komagata Maru incident?

During the episode, Diljit recalled the Komagata Maru incident and said that when people from Punjab reached Canada in 1914, they were denied entry. Now, in 2026, the same Vancouver stadium that was just two kilometres away, was filled with over 50,000 people, including Punjabis.

The Komagata Maru incident happened in 1914 due to an immigration dispute. Passengers aboard the Japanese steamship Komagata Maru were denied entry in Vancouver. The 376 passengers included 340 Sikhs, 24 Muslims and 12 Hindus from British India’s Punjab province. They denied entry despite being British subjects. Reportedly, only 24 passengers were allowed to disembark, and the ship was forced to return to India under naval escort. Upon reaching Budge Budge, near Calcutta, now Kolkata, the Indian Imperial Police attempted to arrest the group leaders, leading to violence in which police opened fire and killed 20 passengers, while others were arrested or imprisoned. This threw light on Canada’s racial discrimination.

Government response

Many decades later, the incident was formally addressed. In 2016, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologised. The Vancouver City Council also issued an apology in 2021.

Diljit Dosanjh's Aura tour

After the Dil-Luminati Tour, Diljit returns with the Aura Tour. It spans major arenas and stadiums across North America, beginning in Vancouver and concluding in San Francisco. The tour kicked off on April 23 in Vancouver. The next concert is on April 30 in Calgary. Diljit will be performing in Edmonton on May 2, followed by Winnipeg on May 7. The Toronto concert is scheduled for May 31. The tour concludes in June with Los Angeles and San Francisco. Workwise, Diljit was last seen in Border 2 as Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC, an officer of the Indian Air Force. Next, he will star with Vedang Raina, Sharvari and Naseeruddin Shah in the upcoming Imtiaz Ali film. It is titled Main Vaapas Aaunga.