Are Indians losing their sense of humour?

[MenInG]

Seems so!

==


A monologue by one of India's top comedians has outraged some in the country, prompting complaints to police and criticism from fellow performers.

During his show in the US, Vir Das described a country of two sides where people "worship women during the day but gang rape them at night".

In response to the strong backlash, he called it "satire about the duality of two very separate Indias".

Others have shown support for the comic, who received a standing ovation.

The monologue was performed in Washington DC on 12 November during his current world tour.

A seven-minute video was uploaded online and quickly went viral.

"I come from and India where the AQI (air quality index) is 9,000 but we still sleep on the roof and look at the stars," Mr Das, 42, told the sold out crowd.

"I come from an India where we take pride in being vegetarian, and yet run over the farmers who grow our vegetables," he continues, referring to a car, owned by a government minister, allegedly being driven into protesting farmers last month, killing at least eight people.

A Delhi spokesman for the ruling right-wing BJP political party said he had lodged a complaint with the police, accusing Mr Das of making "derogatory statements against women and India".

"They were made in the US and malign the image of our country internationally. I want police to conduct an investigation," said Aditya Jha.

Mr Das also faced criticism from some fellow performers, including actress Kangana Ranaut who called Mr Das's actions "soft terrorism" in an Instagram story, adding that "strict action should be taken against such criminals."

However several opposition politicians stood up for the comedian.

Writing on Twitter, Shashi Tharoor, a member of the Congress Party, said Mr Das "spoke for millions" and called him a "stand-up comedian who knows the real meaning of the term 'stand up' is not physical but moral".

Mr Das defended his performance, in an Instagram post that said the show was about "two very separate India's that do different things.

"Like any nation has light and dark, good and evil within it. None of this is a secret," he wrote.

"It ends in a gigantic patriotic round of applause for a country we all love, believe in, and are proud of," he said, referring to the standing ovation he received.

"Please do not be fooled by edited snippets."
The backlash against Mr Das echoes another recent case, that of comedian Munawar Faruqui who was imprisoned for more than a month for allegedly making "indecent remarks" about Hindu gods.

Mr Faruqui has since seen a series of his concerts cancelled after threats from a right-wing Hindu group.

Observers have raised concerns about freedom of the press and freedom of expression in India in recent years. Authorities, under prime minister Narendra Modi, have been accused of going after those who show the BJP party in a bad light and arresting journalists for critical reporting.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-59323282

 

[Itachi]

I don't approve rape jokes under any context. You can make a satire but even then I don't think it is ok.

Going by statistics, sexual harassment of women in UK is 25% which means every 1 of the 4 women in UK is sexually harassed. Does that mean UK is a rape prone country?

 

[JaDed]

World is losing it’s humor not just India, A episode of Office was cancelled, cancel culture is across the world .

Didn’t Dave Chappell go through this recently?

 

[Itachi]

World is losing it’s humor not just India, A episode of Office was cancelled, cancel culture is across the world .

Didn’t Dave Chappell go through this recently?

The framework of judgement changes over time. Child marriage was a norm in ancient society but over time, it has been changed. The degree of attributes acceptance will vary across different time period and I don't see anything wrong with that.

Some people may find dark humor funny but most will be disgusted by it. In the name of humor, where one should draw the line?

 

[street cricketer]

Err..I don't think it was done as a joke or to evoke humour. It was a monologue on the ironies in India.

 

[JaDed]

The framework of judgement changes over time. Child marriage was a norm in ancient society but over time, it has been changed. The degree of attributes acceptance will vary across different time period and I don't see anything wrong with that.

Some people may find dark humor funny but most will be disgusted by it. In the name of humor, where one should draw the line?

You draw the line at freedom of speech. Was anyone being referred to specifically here?

You can’t compare actions to a generic standup.

I’m all for making fun of religion, are you saying you don’t think Charlie hebdo should had been allowed to print those?

 

[Itachi]

You draw the line at freedom of speech. Was anyone being referred to specifically here?

You can’t compare actions to a generic standup.

I’m all for making fun of religion, are you saying you don’t think Charlie hebdo should had been allowed to print those?

No. It crosses the line at times. I don't approve of attacking their office and I also don't approve of hurting religious sentiments.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

No. It crosses the line at times. I don't approve of attacking their office and I also don't approve of hurting religious sentiments.

I agree some humour can cross the line, but I think you need a sense of humour in the first place to judge fairly. Can't say I recall much humour in any of your posts down the years.

 

[drubwrubnat]

No they never had one to begin with. They might not even ever have one ever.

Im serious

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

I don't approve rape jokes under any context. You can make a satire but even then I don't think it is ok.

Going by statistics, sexual harassment of women in UK is 25% which means every 1 of the 4 women in UK is sexually harassed. Does that mean UK is a rape prone country?

Same old debunked argument. Almost as bad and intellectually dishonest as the ‘minorities going from 21% to 3% in pakistan’ argument.

The metrics of what qualifies as sexual harassment in UK and India are very different. In UK inappropriately chatting to a woman on a bus would be counted as a sexual harassment incident. In india it would be called Eve teasing and laughed off.. no comparison

 

[Itachi]

I agree some humour can cross the line, but I think you need a sense of humour in the first place to judge fairly. Can't say I recall much humour in any of your posts down the years.

I don't know how one measures sense of humor to state whether one has or has not. If you could explain, I might give more details in that direction.

 

[sweep_shot]

Cancel culture worldwide is ensuring comedy's death.

India, under BJP, has become more intolerant. Comedians have to be careful.

 

[MenInG]

The tornado raging over Vir Das' recent monologue at the Kennedy Centre raises far many uncomfortable questions. For starters, let's ask ourselves who exactly qualifies as a 'Good' Indian? Does speaking up about issues that impact every citizen make a person a 'Bad' Indian? Going by the organized campaign to arrest Vir Das for his six minutes of carefully-constructed venting at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, one thing becomes abundantly clear - a section of our hyper-loyal society does not want to hear, see, much less speak about the ugly Indian - ugly in thought, word and deed, the Indian who has assumed the power to appropriate what being an Indian means in today's times. It was never easy being an Indian - the very notion is riddled with contradictions! Just as Vir Das spoke about the 'Two Indias' in his inimitable way, there are others who can identify multiple Indias - each one complete and flawed in itself.

Every Indian has the right to define his/her version of the nation. Every version has validity. There are as many Indias as there are citizens. No single India can win the race to claim supremacy or superiority over the other Indias. We have lived with suspended realities of countless versions of ourselves for centuries. And survived! So why this sudden over-reaction? The "How dare he run down the country on foreign soil" argument is hollow if not downright stupid. We occupy a virtual universe, in which the physical location is rendered irrelevant. Vir Das could as well have addressed Martians on Mars, and his post would still have gone viral.

I am waiting for those who described Vir's performance as "venomous and inflammatory", besides being specifically orchestrated to 'defame India on foreign soil', to accuse him of being a Pakistani agent who was paid zillions to run down India in America. Soon he will be told to pack his bags and move to the neighbouring country. Because, in today's India, there is no place for a Vir Das.

At the moment, at least on social media platforms, there seem to be two distinct Indias at war with one another - Vir Das' and Kangana Ranaut's. Both individuals represent showbiz albeit in entirely different contexts and disciplines. Both have massive fan support and enjoy cult status in the eyes of their followers. To the best of my knowledge, Vir Das has not aligned himself to any political party/ideology, and cannot be accused of playing power politics for personal gain. At the moment, he is being intimidated and threatened by forces which have gone so far as to want him charged for sedition. Kangana has called him a criminal and accused him of "soft terrorism". Das has not been sufficiently blessed to receive political patronage, forget protection. Padma Shri Kangana Ranaut (who I genuinely admire on many levels) is privileged enough to get Y-category police protection, paid for by citizens and provided by the State of Maharashtra. Vir Das is a lone ranger who talks directly to his fans through material he writes himself as a hugely successful stand-up comic. Das is from Dehradun, Ms. Ranaut is from Bhambla. In that sense, both function outside the charmed circles of the entertainment industry they belong to. And yes, neither can be accused of benefitting from nepotism. There, the commonalities end.

Ranaut's strident posts on Instagram are designed to generate heat (refer to her recent '"bheekh'' comment), Vir ends his impassioned Kennedy Centre monologue appealing for love over hate. He repeatedly calls India "great". Their respective versions of being patriotic occupy opposite ends of the spectrum. And yes, both qualify as 'disrupters' of the status quo. Frankly, we need them both! Enough of smugness, enough of denial, enough of pretending 'AAL EEEZ WELL'. Hell, it's not!

Vir's 'truths' have made us cringe. So do Kangana's. But for entirely different reasons. Padma Shri Kangana's version of history and the Independence movement challenges all recorded accounts by eminent individuals and attempts to alter the-widely endorsed and popular perception of Mahatma Gandhi as the Father of the Nation. She claims true Independence for India only began in 2014 (errrr - ignore the coincidence!). In a way, Vir insists true loss of Independence also began in 2014! Both are entitled to their viewpoints. Isn't that what one recognizes as an important arm of a functioning a democracy where every citizen has an equal say?

Vir's comments on the status of women in India has enraged millions - those virulent critics too have the right to feel enraged. But is he entirely wrong in saying what he did about women's safety in a country that supposedly 'worships' women? Ditto when he spoke about India's under-30 population having to listen to leaders over 75 who propagate 150-year-old ideas to thunderous applause in the packed-to-the-rafters Kennedy Centre. Were those hired/paid crowds? Tickets to hear Das at the Kennedy Centre were priced between $29 to $59 - not exactly cheap. It was a sell-out performance as was evident from the clips he put out. He was not exulting, nor playing to the galleries. He was merely saying it like it is - but hey, we absolutely cannot stand people who do that and upset our complacency. There was no dramabaazi in his delivery. No 'stuntbaazi' either. At the end of those six minutes, most of us felt numb. Why? Because Vir Das had cut too close to the bone - and we were afraid to bleed.

This is the power of a performance that hits a home run thanks to its raw, unfiltered appeal. No sugar coating. The time for 'mithai' melas is over.

He walked off the stage with the audience still clapping and clamouring for more. None of this can be manipulated - authenticity wins in the end. His message was incontrovertibly positive as he urged us all to turn our backs on hate and haters. Is that a crime? If it is seen as one, then all that he talked about acquires instant validity. Jai Hind!

NDTV

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I don't know how one measures sense of humor to state whether one has or has not. If you could explain, I might give more details in that direction.

I think that reply explains quite well by itself really.

 

[Napa]

Just another idiot who tries to make money by going abroad and slandering his own country. There are quite a few of these, including "journalists" who write for rags like NYT and WaPo. Not surprising given that the population is 1,300 million.

India has one of the lowest rates of rape, 1.8 per 100,000 compared to 27 for the US and 72 for SA.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/rape-statistics-by-country

https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Crime/Rape-rate

Understandable that some Indians are enraged by other Indians slandering their country to foreigners, but probably best to just ignore them.

 

[Kroll]

Just another idiot who tries to make money by going abroad and slandering his own country. There are quite a few of these, including "journalists" who write for rags like NYT and WaPo. Not surprising given that the population is 1,300 million.

India has one of the lowest rates of rape, 1.8 per 100,000 compared to 27 for the US and 72 for SA.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/rape-statistics-by-country

https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Crime/Rape-rate

Understandable that some Indians are enraged by other Indians slandering their country to foreigners, but probably best to just ignore them.

Just like covid rates, its well under reported.

 

[Lego20]

Just like covid rates, its well under reported.

Covid-19: Is India entering endemic stage of coronavirus?
India, the first nation to transition to endemic Covid

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-58302480
https://www.newindianexpress.com/op...n-to-transition-to-endemic-covid-2383617.html

Now go find some other dirty rocks throw at us.

 

[Itachi]

I think that reply explains quite well by itself really.

In that case, I guess we can agree to disagree.

 

[Napa]

Just like covid rates, its well under reported.

It is allegedly under-reported everywhere. NYT and Obama claimed that one in four women college students are assaulted. That brings up the rate of assaults to 6,250 per 100,000 assuming an average woman spends 4 years in college.

"1 in 4 Women Experience Sex Assault on Campus"

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/...ence-unwanted-sexual-contact-study-finds.html

One has to work with data available rather than saying "I know better than the data".

 

[Itachi]

Audience claps at anything in studio. Even lily Singh or Amy Schumer (who only throws genital jokes or periods jokes) gets claps from the audience. That doesn't mean anything.

My point was, generalizing a community is uncalled for. For example, just because there Islamic terrorists organizations out there, should we joke about every Muslim being a terrorist?

Going by the logic of some people here, I think it should be acceptable. But in my point of view, that will be crossing the line. Just think about some bombings happens and a comedian throws a joke about Muslims probably involved in that incident.... It leaves a very bad taste in mouth.

 

[Napa]

Audience claps at anything in studio. Even lily Singh or Amy Schumer (who only throws genital jokes or periods jokes) gets claps from the audience. That doesn't mean anything.

Audience claps because they have spent their time and money to be there... if they can't get themselves to believe they are enjoying themselves they will have to admit to themselves that they have wasted their time and money, something they are loath to do

 

[rhony]

Cancel culture has taken over the world. It's weird that it's embraced by both the left and the right but not at the same time. Make a joke about genders etc the left will cancel you. Joke about your own country, the right will cancel. Social media has given voice to weirdos across the spectrum that have no funny bone. Comedy is supposed to be edgy. It is supposed to be ironic. People need to worry about bigger things.

 

[Itachi]

Cancel culture has taken over the world. It's weird that it's embraced by both the left and the right but not at the same time. Make a joke about genders etc the left will cancel you. Joke about your own country, the right will cancel. Social media has given voice to weirdos across the spectrum that have no funny bone. Comedy is supposed to be edgy. It is supposed to be ironic. People need to worry about bigger things.

That's against natural trait of human psychology. In order to overpower the cancel culture, you will require another entity/element in the mixture which will unite the people to overpower. But then, that element itself will be the target for cancel culture.

Its a part of natural human response. You can forcibly inhibit it but it will show up one way or the other.

 

[Giannis]

Did they ever have one?

 

[MP2011]

Well said Vir Das. That was a very reasonable monologue.

I know which category will have troubles in accepting what he said.

 

[MP2011]

So how long will it take for Vir Das to be called a Pakistani and be asked to move to Pakistan?

 

[LaLoco]

Audience claps because they have spent their time and money to be there... if they can't get themselves to believe they are enjoying themselves they will have to admit to themselves that they have wasted their time and money, something they are loath to do

Out of many excuses, this exaggeration of audience clapping because they paid for it, takes the cake.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Truth is bitter and Vir Das is right here.

 

[MP2011]

Out of many excuses, this exaggeration of audience clapping because they paid for it, takes the cake.

How dare anyone spoke the truth about India? Btw, Vir Das is far more Indian than these NRIs who are frothing at mouth as to why he spoke the truth and that too in US which has deeply inconvenienced these guys living in US!

 

[MP2011]

Truth is bitter and Vir Das is right here.

Bigot is all lies and bluster and hence his followers hate truth.

 

[Napa]

Out of many excuses, this exaggeration of audience clapping because they paid for it, takes the cake.

There is a difference between an excuse and an explanation. I have no reason to find an excuse for the audience's idiocy

 

[Zaz]

Well said vir das A tolerant society is where the good and bad are freely highlighted

These days under the bjp there seems to be more bad then good

 

[LaLoco]

There is a difference between an excuse and an explanation. I have no reason to find an excuse for the audience's idiocy

Be it excuse or explanation, either way it has hit the nerve. Those who are in love with color orange are the easiest to trigger by stating the truth about them. An idiot can trigger color orange with some truth bombs

 

[PakLFC]

Indian's or at least most of them have always been very sensitive with people equating all jokes with their religion and culture. I would by and large say Pakistanis are also the same in this regard if not worse. The jokes that Russell Peters tells of smelly Delhi and how "I turned back Canadian so fast!" or " We don't do toilet's here!" are indeed hilarious It s normally the BJB/RSS family who spit the dummy when people laugh at India because it spoils and exposes the image they tried or are trying to build))

 

[Itachi]

Be it excuse or explanation, either way it has hit the nerve. Those who are in love with color orange are the easiest to trigger by stating the truth about them. An idiot can trigger color orange with some truth bombs

Different people have different priorities in life. For Indians, it is nationality.

For Muslims, it is religion. If i joke in a sarcastic manner here in PP about prophets, especially for Islam, I'll be banned. Should I say ppers who are Muslims are insensitive?

Thats not the case. You respect others emotions even when you are doing comedy act. And PP admins are well within right to ban me if jokingly insult Islam and prophet

Its easier to laugh at others but if you are at receiving end, the same people will cry more than others

 

[Itachi]

Indian's or at least most of them have always been very sensitive with people equating all jokes with their religion and culture. I would by and large say Pakistanis are also the same in this regard if not worse. The jokes that Russell Peters tells of smelly Delhi and how "I turned back Canadian so fast!" or " We don't do toilet's here!" are indeed hilarious It s normally the BJB/RSS family who spit the dummy when people laugh at India because it spoils and exposes the image they tried or are trying to build))

Its rich coming from someone who gets offended against strangers mistaking his identity anything other than Pakistani.

You've been showing double standard all along your history in PP. I hope, in personal life, the same doesn't reflect in reality.

 

[PakLFC]

Its rich coming from someone who gets offended against strangers mistaking his identity anything other than Pakistani.

You've been showing double standard all along your history in PP. I hope, in personal life, the same doesn't reflect in reality.

What double standards have I been showing? I have spanked your nonsense many times here calling out your contradictions and inconsistencies so you must be hurting badly. Pointing or correcting something only means getting upset in your book. As I say only kids like you bother what others think here, you probably have no friends so are here to make some for a change. I on the other hand am here to express my views. I don't even want to think what you are in reality for heaven sake!

Obviously my previous mail that you quoted has hit the bullseye lighting another fire beneath you as usual.

 

[PakLFC]

Bit of a contraction here methinks. Few people here think I get offended easily then start thumping their chests in rage when I laugh at India. That's Indian's for you full of contradictions! Not my fault that a Russell Peters laughs at his own country and smelly Delhi! It's good to be infamous here

 

[Rajdeep]

Truth is bitter and Vir Das is right here.

What truth you are talking about? He said Indians worship women in day and gang rape them at night.

You are an Indian too. If this is truth, are you willing to accept his charge? Have you gangraped any women at night?

He could have said all bad things about Indian govt/BJP/Modi etc. and no body would have an issue. But when you speak on sensitive social topics like this in a foreign country, it sets a bad precedent.

 

[Stewie]

What truth you are talking about? He said Indians worship women in day and gang rape them at night.

You are an Indian too. If this is truth, are you willing to accept his charge? Have you gangraped any women at night?

He could have said all bad things about Indian govt/BJP/Modi etc. and no body would have an issue. But when you speak on sensitive social topics like this in a foreign country, it sets a bad precedent.

Relax dude. It’s a figure of speech. It’s a satire. He didn’t mean to imply everyone does it. But there seems to be a certain observation there.

Women are considered holy in Hinduism and yet there seem to be a lot of rape cases happening there.

What he said was a play with words on that situation. Don’t take it literally!

 

[LaLoco]

Different people have different priorities in life. For Indians, it is nationality.

For Muslims, it is religion. If i joke in a sarcastic manner here in PP about prophets, especially for Islam, I'll be banned. Should I say ppers who are Muslims are insensitive?

Thats not the case. You respect others emotions even when you are doing comedy act. And PP admins are well within right to ban me if jokingly insult Islam and prophet

Its easier to laugh at others but if you are at receiving end, the same people will cry more than others

What?

What are you blabbering about, man?


What has Islam and his monologue about India's irony has to do?

My comment was about the supposedly "excuse or explanation" - whatever you wish to label as.

Ya'll need to take a step back, rehashed how Orange brigade wants to discredit Vir Das because, "The audience paid for the tickets and that is why they were clapping", is probably the most half-baked way to discredit him and his monologue.

Performing at Kennedy Performing center of the art is a huge deal for any artist - show some respect for his work and achievement.

 

[Rajdeep]

Relax dude. It’s a figure of speech. It’s a satire. He didn’t mean to imply everyone does it. But there seems to be a certain observation there.

Women are considered holy in Hinduism and yet there seem to be a lot of rape cases happening there.

What he said was a play with words on that situation. Don’t take it literally!

I get that but Satire on certain sensitive topics looks bad. It is quite clear Vir Das dont like the govt but he choose to insult India overseas to take his frustration out. Every country has some social issues but that dosent mean you go overseas and insult your country

 

[LaLoco]

I get that but Satire on certain sensitive topics looks bad. It is quite clear Vir Das dont like the govt but he choose to insult India overseas to take his frustration out. Every country has some social issues but that dosent mean you go overseas and insult your country

He wasn't insulting, you being Modi's fan, find it insulting, he does not like the India that you want it to be, matter of fact anyone but Modi's fan would not like the India you want to live in, that new India is being re-hashed for only Hindu majority.

 

[Rajdeep]

He wasn't insulting, you being Modi's fan, find it insulting, he does not like the India that you want it to be, matter of fact anyone but Modi's fan would not like the India you want to live in, that new India is being re-hashed for only Hindu majority.

I see...so people who are "not Modi Fans" dont find gangraping women at night insulting. Maybe you are experienced in it but I have never touched a woman without her consent. So as an Indian I find it very insulting.

As far as hindu majority is concerned, India has always been hindu majority country since 1947 unless you were living under the rock for so long. And bcoz its a hindu majority country it is a secular democracy. Do you see any other secular democratic country in neighbouring countries?

I think the word you are looking for is 'Hindu Rastra' which India is not (yet) as much as I want it to be. But its a separate debate all together which my liberal brothers wont like if we discuss in this thread.

 

[LaLoco]

I see...so people who are "not Modi Fans" dont find gangraping women at night insulting. Maybe you are experienced in it but I have never touched a woman without her consent. So as an Indian I find it very insulting.

As far as hindu majority is concerned, India has always been hindu majority country since 1947 unless you were living under the rock for so long. And bcoz its a hindu majority country it is a secular democracy. Do you see any other secular democratic country in neighbouring countries?

I think the word you are looking for is 'Hindu Rastra' which India is not (yet) as much as I want it to be. But its a separate debate all together which my liberal brothers wont like if we discuss in this thread.

Relax buddy!, He is upset about Indian women getting raped and everyone knows not every Indian men is raping every night, it is Modi's brigade who are insinuating. Remember the march, News from all over the world, netflix made a show, damn Netflix, time to sue them?

Secular democracy, huh!

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I must say I haven't heard of this guy much but he makes some amazing points about hypocrisy that can be extrapolated across the whole subcontinent.

i'm not sure if Indians have lost their sense of humour because I'm not really sure what they were like previously. However, online Indians are quite sensitive and overly nationalistic - more so than any other country.

They dont seem to like jokes but go to any thread anywhere about Pakistan and they will make them at the expense of Pakistan.

So it seems a case of can dish it out but not take it.

 

[street cricketer]

I must say I haven't heard of this guy much but he makes some amazing points about hypocrisy that can be extrapolated across the whole subcontinent.

i'm not sure if Indians have lost their sense of humour because I'm not really sure what they were like previously. However, online Indians are quite sensitive and overly nationalistic - more so than any other country.

They dont seem to like jokes but go to any thread anywhere about Pakistan and they will make them at the expense of Pakistan.

So it seems a case of can dish it out but not take it.

Isn't that the case with every country though. Everyone loves to hear the good bits about their country and getting that validation certificate from foreigners. And if there's one thing every country hates, it's to hear their country being shamed in front of foreigners, particularly white foreigners for the subcontinent as getting the white approval is always very valuable for desis.

What do you think the reaction would've been if the same monologue had been done by a Pakistani stand up comedian in front of foreigners in America. I'm guessing he wouldn't have received flowers either. There's a reason liberals are hated in every country.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

I get that but Satire on certain sensitive topics looks bad. It is quite clear Vir Das dont like the govt but he choose to insult India overseas to take his frustration out. Every country has some social issues but that dosent mean you go overseas and insult your country

Yeah they should learn from you and blindly support the government from outside. I have told you thousand times that you should start living in India before preaching Indians living in India. Your opinion about us means nothing. You are an outsider.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

I get that but Satire on certain sensitive topics looks bad. It is quite clear Vir Das dont like the govt but he choose to insult India overseas to take his frustration out. Every country has some social issues but that dosent mean you go overseas and insult your country

It is pretty clear andhbhakhts and BJP politicians didn't take his satire lightly and started criticising him. After that few congress leaders also jumped into his support. Kangana called this 'soft terrorism' and also called him a criminal for saying the bitter truth. All in all some of you have successfully politicised his statement and doing pretty well to hide the actual issue which is rape.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

I see...so people who are "not Modi Fans" dont find gangraping women at night insulting. Maybe you are experienced in it but I have never touched a woman without her consent. So as an Indian I find it very insulting.

As far as hindu majority is concerned, India has always been hindu majority country since 1947 unless you were living under the rock for so long. And bcoz its a hindu majority country it is a secular democracy. Do you see any other secular democratic country in neighbouring countries?

I think the word you are looking for is 'Hindu Rastra' which India is not (yet) as much as I want it to be. But its a separate debate all together which my liberal brothers wont like if we discuss in this thread.

Yeah we should trust you. The kind of opinion you have and the way you think, it is pretty hard to believe people like you. Good that you decided to settle abroad.

 

[Rajdeep]

Yeah they should learn from you and blindly support the government from outside. I have told you thousand times that you should start living in India before preaching Indians living in India. Your opinion about us means nothing. You are an outsider.

But in this case he is making these comments outside India...so a NRI living abroad of course I will have an opinion. On one hand you say NRIs should not poke their nose in India's internal matter but then why people like Vir Das need to come to USA and insult his country in front of same NRIs? So I have all the right to comment bcoz we NRIs need to justify ourselves for the mess these clowns create.

 

[Rajdeep]

It is pretty clear andhbhakhts and BJP politicians didn't take his satire lightly and started criticising him. After that few congress leaders also jumped into his support. Kangana called this 'soft terrorism' and also called him a criminal for saying the bitter truth. All in all some of you have successfully politicised his statement and doing pretty well to hide the actual issue which is rape.

Not sure if you listened to his entire monologue but it was entirely political from the beginning. He mentioned about PM not wearing masks, farmers protest, NRC etc. So no one has made it political...it was done with political vendetta all along. And that is totally fine as he has all the right to voice his opinion. Not that it would help bcoz its not as if Indians would start voting for Pappu Gandhi just bcoz this third rate comedian made a speech against Govt in USA. But he should not have generalized rape which was in poor taste. Also if you watch some of his past sexist tweets, one get a clue the kind of person he is.

 

[Zaz]

Not sure if you listened to his entire monologue but it was entirely political from the beginning. He mentioned about PM not wearing masks, farmers protest, NRC etc. So no one has made it political...it was done with political vendetta all along. And that is totally fine as he has all the right to voice his opinion. Not that it would help bcoz its not as if Indians would start voting for Pappu Gandhi just bcoz this third rate comedian made a speech against Govt in USA. But he should not have generalized rape which was in poor taste. Also if you watch some of his past sexist tweets, one get a clue the kind of person he is.

And what type of person is he? Seems like its becoming widespread in india to not look at the message but to shoot the messenger instead

He like many doesnt like the double standards certain people in india potray The fact its becoming intolerant and a democracy in name only where people throw their dummy out n become rabid because they cant handle the truth

 

[JaDed]

And what type of person is he? Seems like its becoming widespread in india to not look at the message but to shoot the messenger instead

He like many doesnt like the double standards certain people in india potray The fact its becoming intolerant and a democracy in name only where people throw their dummy out n become rabid because they cant handle the truth

Sorry can you explain which part is intolerant here which hasn’t happened in other democracies after FLOYD?

 

[Rajdeep]

And what type of person is he? Seems like its becoming widespread in india to not look at the message but to shoot the messenger instead

He like many doesnt like the double standards certain people in india potray The fact its becoming intolerant and a democracy in name only where people throw their dummy out n become rabid because they cant handle the truth

Generalization is the issue here. He said - "Indians worship women during the day and gang rape them at night". Just imagine how wrong and disrespectful that statement is for 1.5 billion Indians. My question is simple - Do all Indians gang rape women at night?

Sorry neither the message and nor the messanger is right. I didnt even know who this third rate comedian is until this story broke out. So no question of shooting the messanger.

 

[MenInG]

While humour doesn’t necessarily demand disparaging others, from televised roasts to impressions on social media, mainstream comedy has long thrived on laughter borne of derision and insult. But as Dave Chappelle faces the music for ridiculing transgender people, Munawar Faruqui is facing the brunt of BJP’s fascism for a joke he didn’t even crack while Vir Das is getting called out for ‘insulting India’.

In the meanwhile, comedians like Trevor Noah, Joe Rogan and Russell Peters appear invincible in spite of their heavy political satire, raising of taboo subjects and race-based comedy, respectively.

So when compared to artists channeling their wit and grit into propagating for change in an era marked by a socio-political awakening, Pakistani comics appear to be churning out stale, regressive mimicry with their unhinged inclination towards the superiority theory. Case in point, YouTubers like Saad ur Rehman and Zaid Ali T, who, in recent times, have been called out for scorning TikTokers and using women as a punchline in the name of ‘entertainment’.

But according to comedian Akbar Chaudhry, while comedy can take the hedge off taboo topics and be used as a form of resistance, entertainment for the sake of entertainment is also a noble pursuit, provided the intentions aren’t mala fide and the jokes aren’t tone-deaf and offensive. The comedian whose mimicry of Indian politician Shashi Tharoor, inspired the latter into requesting him for another mimicry on Imran Khan, rose to fame with his imitations of hit memes and icons. His exaggerated ‘Karachi accent’ and curly hair have become his signature but even while he receives praise for his work, he explains how his sensitivities have evolved.

‘Idiots of the internet’

“I received immense appreciation for Idiots of the Internet but when I look at it now, I understand why people would think that I am mocking a certain class,” Chaudhry tells The Express Tribune. His mentioned video sees a compilation of statuses, captions and tweets – from non-English-speaking Pakistanis on social media – that make little to no sense. “But there is a distinction between making fun of someone and taking a dig at something that someone has done,” explains Chaudhry. “So personally, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with cracking a joke about something that is inarguably laughable,” he adds.

But Chaudhry feels his taste has evolved. “I feel there are things that I found funny five years ago that I don’t anymore. Our sensitivity and taste evolve with learning. Just ten years ago, we all were of such different mindsets. And in the profession of comedy, we need to stay up to date to understand how mindsets are evolving so we can stay relevant, so our comedy can whither the shift in time,” elaborates Chaudhry.

Comedy without a purpose

“I personally never liked political satire but I’m an advocate of self-awareness. And in a country like Pakistan, it is very clear from the get-go what things can be joked about. Just like in India, where Muslims are already being prosecuted regularly, it is not surprising why – like Munawar Faruqui – even considering joking about Hinduism can get you the short end of the stick,” says Chaudhry.

The artist, who’s also an aeronautical engineer, agrees that the term ‘woke’ has turned into a slur while the pseudo-woke and fascist individuals pressurise comedians and artists into limiting themselves to a certain style of expression. “An artist should have the right to talk about everything but personally, I’d rather stay away from drama. I believe if Chappelle’s jokes were offensive to a community, he should not have cracked those jokes either,” remarks Chaudhry, who had said in an interview last year that Chappelle was his inspiration.

But Chaudhry is also against people who criticise jokes that are genuinely not in bad taste. “I feel a comedian’s purpose is to spread happiness. If there is a message being conveyed through comedy, well and good! But that shouldn’t be the rule, it’s an exception. There should be no compulsion in that regard,” he asserts.

Giving the example of his latest standup performance, Chaudhry explains why comedy alone, is sometimes enough. “We did a show on a Tuesday night and 100 people showed up. That is unheard of in the comedy scene. But as soon as the show ended, everyone thanked us for helping them unwind. Many had come straight from their work and comedy served as an escape from their mundane 9-5 routine.”

‘Relevant’ comedy that isn’t compromised

As a comedian, knowing how to stay relevant has a lot to do with understanding one’s audience, its daily struggles, language and sensitivity. Chaudhry has managed to inadvertently bridge gaps between the classes and masses through his connection to both via vlogs and sketches.

“Doing a morning show opened my eyes to our diversity and since I am an engineer, my brain runs on pattern recognition. Thus, I was able to pinpoint the things that are relevant to every Pakistani, with the primary being our native language,” explains the host.

Recalling advice his friend gave him, Chaudhry recollects, “He told me to take the example of film trailers, how they’ll be enticing so they can lure people in. And a lot of times, when we end up watching these films, we receive messages we did not expect the film could convey. So we just need to convey our message in a language people can familiarise with and before doing that, we need to promise them an entertainment-filled night so they’re willing to listen.”

https://tribune.com.pk/story/233450...what-things-can-be-joked-about-akbar-chaudhry

 

[Dingolfy]

But in this case he is making these comments outside India...so a NRI living abroad of course I will have an opinion. On one hand you say NRIs should not poke their nose in India's internal matter but then why people like Vir Das need to come to USA and insult his country in front of same NRIs? So I have all the right to comment bcoz we NRIs need to justify ourselves for the mess these clowns create.

Do you realize people in other countries can read news and don’t need Vir Das to know about the horrific gang rapes in India? I lived in US and had to face questions from colleagues about the Delhi rape incident. The whole world knows India is one of the worst places in the world for a woman. Dude, our people practice forced arranged marriage and even foeticide while living in West.

 

[ex-q-zit]

"Vir Das, Come To Kolkata": Trinamool MP After Bengaluru Show Cancelled

New Delhi:

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O'Brien has invited stand-up comedian Vir Das to Kolkata, a day after his show in Bengaluru was cancelled at the last minute following protests by Hindu right-wing groups.

The protesting groups alleged that the show, scheduled to be held on Thursday, would hurt Hindu religious sentiments.

"Hello @thevirdas Come to #Kolkata. We would love to have you here this winter. DM me please. Let's get this going," the TMC's leader of the House in Rajya Sabha said in a tweet.

Mr Das later uploaded a video on Twitter to deter any assumptions made on his content. In the video, Vir Das can be seen asking his audience if anything he said during the show defamed India or hurt any sentiment. The crowd is seen answering in the negative.

"I made this video after one of my shows, Just in Case. I have no interest in media spectacles or being used for headlines. I'm an artist. I shouldn't be on the news. Many assumptions are made about my content. I trust my art and my audience to speak for me. #TrustTheAudience," Das tweeted.

Mr Das' monologue "I come from two Indias" had stirred a row a year ago when he was criticised for allegedly defaming the country.

Referred to as India's Silicon Valley, Bengaluru is home to people from across the country, especially those in the Information Technology sector.

Over the last few years, several shows by stand-up comedians in the city were cancelled.

Two shows of Munawar Faruqui were cancelled in November 2021 and August this year. In December 2021, multiple shows of Kunal Kamra were cancelled following "threats to close down the venue".

NDTV