These are times when we are living through a joke. Here’s one that comes from the land of Uttar Pradesh. On the occasion of the ‘Alvida Jumma’, or the last Friday before Eid, the Sambhal administration decided to prohibit namaz from being offered on roads – and, in a curious new twist, on rooftops as well.We have just been witness to Holi revellers being allowed a complete run of public streets – sometimes before mosques themselves – and the question arises, why were there no similar prohibitory orders against that unending public hooliganism, when a 30-minute genuflection before Allah is deemed a public nuisance?I was watching a journalist interview a police officer in Sambhal on the issue: “No namaz on the street?” “Yes”. “No namaz on rooftops of homes?” “Yes.” The journalist then poses his third question: “Will namaz be allowed inside the homes?” The irony was lost on the man in khaki, who answered with a straight face, “No restrictions on private prayers.”How do we, as conscientious communicators and journalists, respond to such patently biased and unjust state power?As his latest video, ‘Naya Bharat’ demonstrates, Kunal Kamra’s way is to do it through jokes designed to sting and to sing. This one programme has launched millions of memes, posts, tweets, each a flag-bearer to free speech.The thing about Kamra is the steely intent behind his persona as a joker. Here is a man who understands the immense social power of satire. He also knows well the anger his comic act can trigger. As he put it in a 2020 affidavit on a contempt case before the Supreme Court, “Irreverence and hyperbole are essential tools for the comedic enterprise. A comic raises questions on issues of public interest in their own unique way.”The affidavit also held a warning: “Should powerful people and institutions continue to show an inability to tolerate rebuke or criticism, we would be reduced to a country of incarcerated artists and flourishing lapdogs.”In the five years since, those words have proved prophetic.When Kamra asks his audience whether they will shout out, “I consent to comedy”, there is a deadly seriousness amidst the seeming humour. His ‘Naya Bharat’ video show was not all about Eknath Shinde being called a traitor, although one could get that impression given the Shinde Shiv Sainiks’ display of aggro on speed. It was actually a neat dossier on New India today delivered with the raw power and timing of a Muhammad Ali punch.There are bits that may cause a wince among us older folk (the excessive reliance on expletives to force a laugh from juveniles, for instance, or references to Anant Ambani’s girth, which did amount to body shaming no matter what Kamra maintains), but here is someone who can cut through national hypocrisies and fakeries like a hot knife through butter and pierce the social apathy of the emerging generation.In that video he captured how corruption had become normalised; how claims of India as a great tech hub are hollow; how democratic institutions are being weaponised; how political sycophancy is swamping us.I, for one, haven’t heard a better exposition of “men’s rights” or a more succinct profile of the standard north Indian male whose craving for “phula hua rotis” is endless. As he puts it, this trend called men’s rights is not about reducing men’s rights, surprisingly, but fighting for men’s rights, basically because they believe they are not able to “express their feelings”.Which leads Kamra to ask on whose feelings have the world been reduced to its current mess, with never-ending wars breaking out. Has any important political figure – the Modis and the Shahs, the Yogis and the Sarmas – people never short of words, or opportunities to spout them, ever seen things this way?This is why satirists are important. Through their invaluable craft they zero in on patent, but often invisiblised, flaws, injustices, cruelties in society and expose them through the pressure regulator of laughter.This is the antivenin we need in an era marked by blind bestiality, ethical deformity and the overweening arrogance of the powerful and the almost immediate response to Kamra’s ‘Naya Bharat’ video held a mirror to the times. His detractors could not stomach his words because they knew they were so close to the truth, so they rushed to demolish the studio where he performed to create a chilling effect and insulate themselves against future transgressions of this kind.What they wanted most of all was to gag the man so thoroughly that not another joke could slip from his lips; perhaps even strangulate him so that all speech is rendered stillborn. And if they could not do this physically, they get a music company to file a case that makes the offending video vanish from the public space.They dive deep into the recesses of memory and come up with the phrase to justify their indefensible actions and say that “for every action there is a reaction”. We remember that phrase from the times of 2002 anti-Muslim pogrom in Gujarat, and it is no coincidence that it should be given another airing in such circumstances.But Kamra is now a battle-scarred veteran of many a free speech battle and he knows his detractors probably better than they know themselves. It is to be hoped, for the future of Article 19(1)(a), that he continues to provoke his detractors and continues to delight us with his power to infuse the air with laughter.On its part, the Supreme Court, in a case involving MP Imran Pratapgadhi, has spoken:“Seventy-five years into our Republic, we cannot be seen to be so shaky on our fundamentals that a mere recital of a poem, or for that matter, any form of art or entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, can be alleged to lead to animosity or hatred amongst different communities.”This, it went on to say, would “stifle all legitimate expressions of view in the public domain, which is so fundamental to a free society.”There will be joke-making in the dark times.§A despicable verdictThe verdict of Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra of the Allahabad high court of March 17, which laid down that the grabbing of the breast of an 11-year-old girl and trying to drag her beneath the culvert and breaking the string of her pyjama by the accused persons did not amount to rape, sent shock waves through the country.According to their deeply misogynistic and troubling interpretation, the court saw the accuseds’ actions as constituting nothing more than “molestation and disrobing”.Mainstream media covered it to an extent but it was left to feminist organisations like the Delhi-based Saheli to frame it as it should be framed. In a public petition to the chief justice of India by Saheli, important points are made with regard to this verdict.One, it takes the country back by at least a century, an extremely troubling phenomenon in a country where crime of rape, and sexual abuse and assaults on children, are rising exponentially.Two, the court has chosen to view the case, not through the lens of established modern jurisprudence, not as a crime, but as an act amounting to the “gratification of male passion”.The petition also takes note of the disturbing trend of “shielding the perpetrator of crimes against the socially weak, especially women”.It concludes that if this judgement remains in the statute books, “it will cause severe damage to rights of women, undermine all the progressive reforms to strengthen women’s rights, and all progress made to access gender justice.”This requires not just taking suo motu cognisance of this matter and passing an appropriate order, but the setting up of systems to ensure that the judiciary in India is sensitised to the “realities of sexual violence and trauma unleashed on survivors at regular intervals”.Immediate pushback from civil society organisations of this kind has had a major impact. In this instance, the Supreme Court has stayed that order. The possibilities of adverse and prompt public response to skewed judgements – which Indians should be prepared for given the implantation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in the judicial system of the country – are immense.§Journalism of discovery and recoveryI have always felt that a great piece of journalism should introduce us to aspects of life about which we were ignorant. This “discovery” aspect of good journalism is often overlooked. A piece in Nivarana republished in The Wire highlighted the crime of “obstetric violence” (‘Compassion in Short Supply: The Unsettling Truth About Indian Healthcare’, February 13).Coming as it did after the recent ruling by the Chhattisgarh high court that any sexual intercourse by a man with his wife, including unnatural sex that could lead to her death, won’t amount to rape, it came as a reminder of the uncountable abuses to which the female body is subjected.The article notes the abuse routinely extended to birthing women:“Labour rooms in India have become the “birthplace of violence against patients,” with outdated and harmful practices normalised as routine care – repeated, unnecessary per vaginal examinations, unwarranted episiotomies (cutting of vaginal wall to prevent natural tearing and facilitate birth), and unnecessary application of fundal pressure (pressing a pregnant woman’s abdomen from the top to help push the baby out) to hasten delivery.”It goes on to ask why such violence happens, and then unpacks a saga of class/caste consciousness and social status, in which a “deeply ingrained hierarchy in the health system” translates into a denial of respect and dignity for women lower down the ladder of social hierarchies.It also decries the current medical curriculum that does not educate the student on the “ground realities of oppressive societal structures like caste, class and gender.”If the journalism of discovery is commendable, so indeed is the journalism of recovery – media work that contributes to healing social fractures through voicing thoughtful opinion.Here I would like to congratulate the writer of the piece, ‘We Need Festivals of Confluence, Not Orgies of Conflict’ (March 15), more so as news has just come in from Bengal’s BJP leader, Suvendu Adhikari, that an estimated one crore Hindus will participate in 2,000 Ram Navami rallies across Bengal on April 6.And this is just one state. I am sure there will be fraternal competition between BJP-ruled states for which one witnesses the greatest mayhem on Ram Navami.‘We Need Festivals of Confluence, Not Orgies of Conflict’ starts with the reminder that traditionally, festivals in India had brought people together, not divided them: “Hindus attend Iftar parties, Muslims and Sikhs celebrate Diwali, and both Hindus and Muslims celebrate Christmas with India’s minuscule Christian community.”Today, this norm has been upended: “Consider Bisfi-Madhubani BJP MLA, Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul’s, ‘appeal’ to Muslims on March 10: “I want to appeal to Muslims, there are 52 jummas (Fridays) in a year. One of them coincides with Holi. So, they should let Hindus celebrate the festival and not take offence if colours are smeared on them. If they have such a problem, they should stay indoors. This is essential for maintaining communal harmony.”It goes on to quote the communalised orders of circle officer Anuj Chaudhary of Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, as well as the chief minister of the state’s endorsement of it, that Muslims are better off staying at home on Holi rather than go to the mosque.The article goes on to quote a qawwali sung by the 13th century Sufi poet and mystic Amir Khusrau for his spiritual master, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. Legend has it that Khusrau met his master on the day of Holi and wrote the qawwali in his honour.The piece ends with a fervent wish: “Perhaps if those who claim to be ‘real’ Hindus (but who spend their time vandalising mosques and persecuting Muslims) were to, by some miracle, realise that love for God is love for all humanity, they might just find the peace and satisfaction that has eluded them thus far.”Perhaps we need to improvise on C.L.R. James’ famous line, “What do they know of cricket who only cricket know?”…What do they know of Holi, who only Holi know?Also read: Compassion in Short Supply: The Unsettling Truth About Indian Healthcare§Readers write inA story that resonates with aspiring readersWe received a touching mail from Bishal Raj Biswas who lives in Malbazar, Jalpaiguri. Biswas has written a volume of poetry entitled, ‘Art Never Comes First: Verses of Silence and Sorrows’:“I am reaching out to propose a feature story for The Wire, highlighting the journey of aspiring writers from small towns in India and the themes of mental health and personal loss that shape their work. I am a 24-year-old poet from Malbazar, a small town in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district, who completed my Masters from the University of North Bengal and qualified for UGC NET twice in 2024. However, my most personal achievement is the publication of my poetry collection, ‘Art Never Comes First: Verses of Silence and Sorrows’.“Much like Emily Dickinson, my journey has been deeply intertwined with loss and suffering. My poetry explores themes of mental depression and the silent struggles people endure through life. One of my poems, ‘Samsa Syndrome’, is inspired by Gregor Samsa from The Metamorphosis, symbolising the plight of every working man, who is valued only as long as they can provide. While writing my book, I faced my own personal tragedies, losing two of my baby cats and witnessing my mother’s battle with lupus. In fact I wrote a poem about her, capturing the immense pain caused by this autoimmune disorder.“I believe my story resonates with many aspiring writers who come from small towns, often struggling for recognition despite their passion and talent. If featured in The Wire, it could inspire countless others while also shedding light on important social issues like mental health and chronic illness awareness.”My response: Thank you for writing in, Mr Biswas. Unfortunately, The Wire is a news portal and doesn’t focus on features of the kind you suggest.Dietrolgia, or the science of what is behindA long-time The Wire reader from Brussels, Leo Levy, catches up…“It’s been long since I have written to the Wire. With regard to the title of this column, ‘Backstory’, it reminds me of a nice name that Italians used for activity consisting in reading the news behind the news, behind the curtain of the obvious and the propaganda: ‘dietrologia’, the science of what is behind!“I have always wondered why there is so little analysis of what and who is behind Modi, although it is obvious he is a nobody. Of course some invoke a culturalist, that is orientalist, interpretation based on Indian polytheism, of Modi playing the incarnated God card. But why don’t they talk about the obvious: the ventriloquist card, that is, Amit Shah’s voice behind the curtain?“The recent worldwide broadcasted vaudevillian spat between two well-known presidents showed the obvious: J.D. Vance’s voice behind Trump, exactly as Amit Shah’s is behind Modi.“The next step is to further analyse Vance’s or Shah’s politico-economical strategy behind Modi’s confused game. Ah, the good old times of “dietrologia”, or back stories.”Respect the rights of the BalochisDr Roshmi Goswami, co-chairperson and Dr P. Saravanamuttu, bureau member, of South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of human rights defenders, write in:“SAHR strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of Mahrang Baloch, a prominent Baloch human rights defender, as well as the recent arrests of the leaders of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and the use of disproportionate force on peaceful protesters which included women and children. SAHR calls for the immediate release of all peaceful protestors, including leaders of the BYC, and calls upon the provincial government of Balochistan and the federal government of Pakistan to refrain from using force against peaceful protestors. Instead the state should immediately engage in a political dialogue to find solutions with its people to end these crises. SAHR has consistently urged the Government of Pakistan to end enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention, and to engage in a political dialogue with all stakeholders. SAHR notes that the Constitution of Pakistan protects the Fundamental Rights of due process and freedom of expression and assembly and further notes that Pakistan is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that binds it to respect the civil and political rights of individuals, including the freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and rights to due process and a fair trial. Furthermore, SAHR emphasises that enforced disappearances must end immediately. The practice of abducting and detaining individuals without a fair trial is a violation of fundamental rights of people, as enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan. SAHR notes that the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has repeatedly appealed to the state to investigate all cases of enforced disappearances.“In compliance with its commitments, we urge the Pakistani government to respect the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association, and to ensure that those responsible for human rights abuses are held accountable.”§End noteFinally this columnist received a reprimand from Paranjoy Guha Thakurta for implying (in the section, ‘Animal Farm’, carried in the Backstory dated March 15) that the first critical piece on the Ambanis’ ‘Vantara’, had appeared in a Himal piece dated March 20, 2024, and entitled ‘The costs of Reliance’s wildlife ambitions’. As Thakurta pointed out in his mail, the NewsClick story that he had co-authored with Ayaskant Das, ‘An Amazing ‘Zoo Story’’, had appeared on February 29, 2024. For failing to cite this, sincere apologies are due.Write to ombudsperson@thewire.in.
