The problematic aspects of sexism and rape jokes in Indian stand-up comedy

Earlier this week, comic Vir Das sparked huge outrage on-line after he shared his “Two Indias” gig that he carried out on the Kennedy Middle in the USA on his YouTube channel. Within the 7-minute lengthy video, Das may very well be seen delivering a monologue whereby he peddled anti-India propaganda underneath the garb of performing stand-up comedy. 

There have been a number of problematic facets in Das’ gig in the USA, the foremost being an Indian comic attempting to mission a patently improper picture of the nation on a international soil, just like that peddled by the Congress celebration through the years of India being the land of snake-charmers and quacks. 

Das additionally hailed Barkha Dutt in his monologue, lavishing praises on her for her “actual journalism”, although she was accused of indulging in vulture journalism. Throughout his monologue, Das additionally performed the “faith card”, portray Hindus as illiberal and inherently antagonist in direction of Muslims. 

He then raised aspersions on the integrity of PM Modi by propagating lies concerning the PM Cares Fund. The ‘comic’ additionally raked up the Lakhimpur Kheri incident to unfold one-sided narrative concerning the episode that led to the demise of 9 folks after a mob of farmers attacked BJP convoy with sticks and stones. In part of the monologue, he stated, “I come from an India the place we worship girls through the day and gang-rape them through the night time.”

The lying of Vir Das in propagating fictional account of India with using distortions, mistruths and propaganda drew the ire of the social media customers, who accused the actor-comedian of pushing an agenda to discredit the present regime underneath the pretext of a stand-up gig. 

Vir Das slammed for objectifying girls and utilizing derogatory language towards them

Amidst strident criticism of the video and complaints filed towards him, Vir was pressured to problem a clarification whereby he acknowledged that monologue “I come from two Indias” weren’t meant to insult the nation. Nevertheless, the criticism directed at Vir Das highlighted the malaise prevalent within the Indian stand-up fraternity.

Quickly after Vir Das’ abominable video began getting talked about on varied social media platforms, a number of Twitter customers identified how Vir, who insinuated in his monologue that India is a rustic of gang-rapists, was amongst those that overtly objectified girls via his tweets. They dredged up an previous tweet by Vir Das the place he was casually referring to girls’s personal elements. 

In one other occasion, Vir Das was seen making derogatory remarks towards West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. “There may be fireplace in my vagina,” stated Das whereas mimicking Mamata Banerjee at a stand-up comedy occasion.

“There may be Fireplace in Mamata Banerjee’s panty” – @thevirdas @MahuaMoitra is pleased with him😭 pic.twitter.com/J1MwSqv54I

— squineon (@squineon) November 17, 2021

One other clip of his standup comedy the place Das was mocking former UP Chief Minister and Dalit chief Mayawati.

Pay attention what @thevirdas is speaking about @Mayawati. pic.twitter.com/gzIbaj7jpX

— Info (@BefittingFacts) November 17, 2021

“Who else is working this nation? F*cking Mayawati, man. I don’t hate Mayawati as a result of she appears like a person. I don’t hate Mayawati as a result of she seems like a penguin with an Uttar Pradeshi accent. I hate Mayawati as a result of someplace I noticed Mayawati with a garland of cash and that pissed me off. As a result of she took to primal male fantasies, cleavage and cash and mixed them within the ugliest attainable method,” he stated.

So that you see, when the person who commonly objectifies girls, particularly politicians, in his personal comedy gigs, when he takes an ethical excessive floor and pontificates about ‘Indians gang-rape within the night time’, it simply reminds one of many fashionable dialogue from the 70s films of ‘girebaan mein jhaank ke dekho‘.

The vices of Indian comedian business

Because it seems, Vir just isn’t alone within the Indian stand-up fraternity to perpetuate sexually pervert behaviour and degrading girls to their physique elements. The Indian Comedian scene just isn’t as honest and harmless because it appears. Although they’ve the tendency to take the ethical excessive horse and preach Indians on the whole lot underneath the solar, a cursory look at their antecedents reveal they don’t seem to be as honourable as they declare to be.

The rot lies deep and to the extent that it’s endemic to your entire Indian comedian business. There are numerous ‘comedians’, together with the distinguished ones, who’re accused of not solely cracking sexually wicked jokes but additionally of perpetrating sexual harassment. 

Again in 2018, the #MeToo motion took India by storm and one comic, Utsav Chakraborty, discovered himself mired within the eye of this raging storm. A number of girls got here out to accuse Utsav of barging into their chats uninvited and making sexual overtures. A yr later, after the frenzy round it had subsided, Utsav alleged that at the least 4 of them have been mendacity.

Nonetheless, the #MeToo motion was chargeable for the downfall of fairly quite a few celebrities, most notably ‘comedians’. The motion lastly delivered to reckoning the comedians who pontificated on sexual misconduct of their stand-up act however later indulged in that very same sort of perverse behaviour. 

All India Bakchod co-founders Tanmay Bhat and Gursimran Khamba have been requested to go away the organisation on account of their involvement and complicit behaviour in separate sexual harassment allegations. Subsequently, Bhat was requested to step away from the corporate and Khamba was placed on indefinite go away. Bhat had admitted that he knew about Utsav’s predatory behaviour and sexual harassment whereas Khamba was himself accused of sexual harassment by an unidentified lady.

Following his fall from grace, a number of folks on Twitter additionally shared an previous tweet posted by Tanmay Bhat whereby he was seen expressing glee on the prospect of watching breasts of child women.

Propagandist who masquerades as ‘comic’ Kunal Kamra was additionally amongst those that knew about Utsav Chakraborty’s behaviour however remained a mute spectator and condemned his behaviour solely after a number of girls got here out in public and accused Utsav of sexually harassing them. On Twitter, Kunal shared a long-winded message, admitting to understanding about Utsav’s transgressions and never doing something about it. 

In February 2018, a preferred identify within the poetry circle, 24-year-old Shamir Reuben who commonly spoke on empowerment, gender equality and feminism, was accused of sexually harassing minors. And even then hardly anybody spoke up towards ‘one in all their very own’.

Then in 2019, Hindustan Occasions columnist Mayank Soofi shared a picture of a rotten orange on the web site Instagram with a seemingly sexist caption. For the uninitiated, fruits like oranges are sometimes used as ‘inventive image’ for a vagina. This half orange is used to suggest how a ‘free lady’ who has had ‘many lovers’ could be like. 

Extra not too long ago, ‘comic’ Sanjay Rajoura has been accused of sexual harassment by a lady in her early 20s. The girl has taken to Instagram to accuse the comic of sexual abuse. Rajoura is a member of the comedy collective ‘Aisi Taisi Democracy’. Varun Grover was additionally accused of sexual harassment in 2018 by an nameless lady. The comic later categorically denied allegations levelled towards him.

Moreover all these, the Indian comedian business can be accused of perpetuating sexism and physique shaming, with jokes cracked round these topics changing into more and more frequent and frequent. Many ‘woke comedians’ who commonly wax eloquent on girls empowerment, gender equality and feminism discover no compunction in making sexually express jokes towards girls or objectifying them throughout their gigs. And what’s even worse? They attempt to normalise such behaviour by arguing that they have been made in jest, aimed toward evoking laughter and humour.

How comedians cover behind the veil of “comedy” and “humour” to understate their depravity

That is the standard modus operandi adopted by ‘comedians’ who’re confronted for his or her vile sexist remarks or feedback. Most of them don’t even hassle addressing criticism directed at their sexist or misogynist tweets. Those that do attempt to deflect the criticism by giving sanctimonious lecture that their “joke” was meant to create an consciousness concerning the social evil.

In his clarification, Das stated he didn’t imply to insult the nation, including that his intention was to a function a reminder that the nation, regardless of its points, was “nice.” That is illustrative of the disingenuous responses that comedians resort to after being referred to as out for his or her tomfoolery. Identical to Das claimed that his video was to indicate India was nice regardless of its shortcomings, when comedians are confronted for his or her sexist feedback or objectionable behaviour, they usually cover behind the masks of “comedy” and “jokes” to flee the criticism.

Comedians like Vir Das give us an correct perception into the thoughts of a typical liberal comic, who has no qualms insulting the nation by hiding behind the veneer of “humour”, however will search ethical grandstanding when he’s held to account for his transgressions. The common liberal comic is a hypocrite of highest order, who has a behavior of preaching sermons to the plenty although he himself won’t be training it.