Phulkari Art, Folksong, and the Expression of Indignation: An Interdisciplinary Review With Indian Psychological Perspectives

This narrative review article examines the intricate interplay between Phulkari embroidery, Punjabi folksongs, and the articulation of indignation within the cultural landscape of Punjab. Moving beyond their aesthetic and narrative appeal, the study investigates how these traditional art forms function as mediums for expressing and processing experiences of social injustice and emotional unrest. Employing an interdisciplinary framework grounded in Indian psychological concepts, it explores the symbolic motifs embedded in Phulkari and the thematic undercurrents of discontent in folksongs. In order to analyse Punjab’s oral and visual traditions—which are essential for sociocultural evaluation, emotional fortitude, and collective memory—this study combines viewpoints from cultural psychology and indigenous knowledge systems.